- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Montecito Today
By the People, for the People
Meghan Markle Sparks Debate Over Calling Prince Harry "Papa Sussex"
The Duchess of Sussex's Instagram post celebrating International Women's Day drew mixed reactions from royal fans.
Published on Mar. 9, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Meghan Markle's recent Instagram post marking International Women's Day sparked debate among royal fans after she referred to her husband Prince Harry as "Papa Sussex." Some felt the wording was odd, while others defended Meghan's "sweet post" for her daughter. The couple's use of the Sussex name has been a point of contention, with some critics arguing they should not use the titles given to them by the Queen.
Why it matters
The couple was given the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex by Queen Elizabeth II upon their marriage in 2018. Calls to strip them of their aristocratic titles grew after they left the palace for a new life in the United States in 2020. Meghan still uses her duchess title online and during official appearances, but also sometimes includes "Sussex" as if it were her family name, which has drawn criticism from some royal fans.
The details
In her International Women's Day post, Meghan shared a photo of herself hugging her daughter Lilibet, with the caption noting that the photo was taken by "Papa Sussex" - a reference to Prince Harry. Some Reddit users criticized Meghan for the wording, with one writing "Calling him Papa Sussex is weird IMO why not Papa Harry?" and another calling it "incredibly performative." However, others defended Meghan, noting that Archie and Lilibet do call Harry "papa" and that Sussex is the family's shared surname.
- Meghan Markle posted the photo on Instagram on International Women's Day 2026.
The players
Meghan Markle
The Duchess of Sussex, who is married to Prince Harry and has two children with him.
Prince Harry
The Duke of Sussex, Meghan Markle's husband.
Queen Elizabeth II
The former monarch of the United Kingdom, who granted Meghan and Harry the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex upon their marriage in 2018.
The takeaway
Meghan Markle's use of the Sussex name and titles continues to be a point of contention among some royal fans, with her recent Instagram post highlighting the ongoing debate around the couple's decision to step back from royal duties and forge their own path.
