It’s been a long time since Meghan Markle went by anything other than ‘The Duchess of Sussex’, leading many people to forget that the royal’s real name actually isn’t Meghan at all.
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The Suits actress turned British royal revealed the detail way back in February 2016, during an interview on UKTV Play.
When asked if she had a middle name she answered, “Yes, it’s Meghan. My first name is actually Rachel.”
That’s right – although the duchess goes exclusively by ‘Meghan,’ her birth name is actually ‘Rachel Meghan Markle’.
Back in 2016 when she made the revelation she was also playing the fictional character Rachel Zane on the US legal drama, creating a surprising parallel fans never expected.
And when Harry and Meghan announced their engagement just under two years later, it sparked plenty of questions about what name Meghan would use in her vows.
She went by Meghan or ‘Ms Markle’ (remember, she was a divorcee when she met Harry) in most official settings in the lead-up to the wedding, but her birth name was used on some official documents.
That included for a handful of the more official documents, like the official marriage approval from the Queen, where she’s referred to as Rachel and Harry is referred to by his proper name, Henry.
“I Meghan, take you, Harry, to be my husband, to have and to hold , from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part,” Meghan vowed after Harry did the same.
She continued to use the name Meghan as she transitioned into royal life, becoming known officially as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
Even when she and Harry decided to leave their roles as senior working royals in 2020, Meghan continued to go by her middle name and there’s nothing to indicate she’ll ever use the name ‘Rachel’ publicly.
In 2018 the duchess made it clear to Esquire that her parents have been calling her by her middle name from a young age, recalling how her dad Thomas Markle called her ‘Meg’ when she was 11.
But she’s never explained exactly why she goes by her middle name instead of Rachel, the that particular mystery remains unsolved.
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