When Mindy Kaling agreed to appear on With Love, Megan, the latest Netflix special produced by Meghan Markle, she likely expected a lighthearted conversation about childhood memories and a fun-filled kids' party planning session. Little did she know, Episode 2, titled Welcome to the Party, would deliver far more than balloons and cake. Instead, Mindy found herself in the middle of a masterclass in royal branding—courtesy of Meghan Markle herself.
The moment came when Mindy casually referred to Meghan as "Meghan Markle," a name the entire world knows her by. But that seemingly innocent remark turned out to be a grave mistake. "It’s so funny too that you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know, I’m Sussex now," Meghan corrected, her tone faux-casual but masking a deeper irritation.
Cue the visible confusion on Mindy’s face. You could almost hear her internal monologue: Wait, what? Sussex? That’s not how names work—and certainly not how the public refers to her. But Meghan, undeterred, doubled down. "You have kids, and you know, I share my name with my children," she gushed, explaining how "Sussex" is now her oh-so-cherished family name.
Never mind that Sussex is actually a county, not a surname, or that most married women take their husband’s last name—in this case, Windsor, if we’re playing by royal rules. Mindy, ever the polite guest, nodded and muttered something along the lines of, "Well, now I know—and love it." But her face told a different story.
The internet wasted no time zooming in on Mindy’s priceless reaction. Her rapid blinking, micro-expressions of barely concealed disbelief, and hesitant nods as Meghan waxed poetic about her deep emotional connection to the Sussex name were all captured perfectly. The best part? The camera subtly cut away to the back of Mindy’s head for a suspiciously long time—almost as if they were trying to hide the "WTF" expression undoubtedly plastered across her face.
This moment is just the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of Meghan Markle’s identity rebrand. First, she was an actress, then a royal, then a victim of the monarchy’s "cruel and unjust ways." But now, the title she once seemed desperate to escape has suddenly become a core part of her identity.
Let’s not forget, this is the same woman who famously refused to call Catherine by her full name, opting for the casual and widely criticized "Kate Middleton." Yet now, the way her name is spoken is of utmost importance. The irony is almost too much to handle.
And of course, there’s the glaring contradiction of Meghan clinging to the Sussex title after years of bashing the royal family. Didn’t she accuse them of racism, coldness, and neglect? Didn’t she claim they abandoned her in her time of need? Wasn’t she reportedly suicidal under their "oppressive rule"? And yet, here she is, holding onto the Sussex title like it’s a life raft in the turbulent waters of public opinion.
Where were Meghan’s actual friends during all this? You know, the ones prepped to exclusively refer to her as "The Duchess of Sussex" at all times? Surely, Serena Williams or Priyanka Chopra would have been a safer bet for this segment.
In the end, Mindy Kaling walked away with more than just party planning tips. She got a firsthand lesson in what happens when you step into Meghan’s world—a world where even the simplest name can become a battleground for identity and branding. No matter how many times Meghan says "Sussex," one thing’s for sure: the internet will never let this moment go.
