It’s Meghan Sussex now, not Markle: Top takeaways from the duchess’ new show

This image released by Netflix shows Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in a scene from her series "With Love, Meghan." (Netflix via AP)

Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Meghan Markle has carved out a new path, one leaning into storytelling with her latest venture, With Love, Meghan, which dropped on Netflix on Tuesday.

But that new path has not been without controversy; in fact, it’s quickly become a cultural talking point. The Netflix series offers an intimate look into her world, blending lifestyle, wellness, and personal reflections.

Beyond its polished aesthetics and heartwarming narratives, the series is packed with revealing insights about Meghan’s life, values and future aspirations. Here are the top five takeaways from With Love, Meghan that have sparked the most conversation.

Meghan’s reflections on post-royal life – ‘the before, during and after’

Since stepping away from royal life, Meghan has largely remained private about the transition. However, in With Love, Meghan, she provides a candid glimpse into how she has adjusted to life outside the palace. The Duchess speaks openly about the relief of reclaiming her independence and the joy of making choices on her own terms, often referring to it as “the before, during and after.”

She describes how moving to California with Prince Harry and their children, Archie and Lilibet, has allowed them to prioritize their well-being and create a nurturing home environment. Meghan says how liberating it has been to refocus her energy on passion projects rather than royal obligations, noting that she now has the freedom to collaborate with organizations and projects that align with her values. Her reflections confirm what many had suspected: that leaving the royal fold was not about abandoning duty but rather about forging a new way to serve on her own terms.

She’s Meghan Sussex now – not Meghan Markle

The Duchess of Sussex recently shared her deep connection to the Sussex title, particularly during a memorable moment in her Netflix series. A cooking session with Mindy Kaling, in episode 2, entitled “Welcome to the Party” revealed how much this name means to her family.

“It’s so funny that you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know I’m Sussex now,” Meghan tells Kaling during their conversation. She opens up about the name’s significance, especially since becoming a mother. Queen Elizabeth II gave Harry and Meghan the Sussex title at their 2018 wedding. This name has now become their family’s identity. Their children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, carry Sussex as their surname, continuing the royal tradition.

“I love that that is something that Archie, Lili, H and I all have together. It means a lot to me,” Meghan says, adding that the name’s importance grew stronger with time. “I hadn’t recognized how meaningful that would be to me until we had children”.

The Tig is back!

One of the biggest surprises in the series is Meghan’s confirmation that she is reviving The Tig, the lifestyle blog she ran before marrying Prince Harry. The original Tig -- named after her favourite wine, Tignanello -- was a curated space where she shared personal essays, travel guides, recipes, and reflections on self-empowerment. Meghan reveals that The Tig 2.0 will be an evolution of its predecessor, featuring expert contributions, deeper storytelling, and a renewed focus on social impact.

Rather than just another influencer-driven lifestyle brand, she envisions a platform that inspires women to embrace their authentic selves and pursue meaningful lives. The decision to relaunch The Tig is significant -- it signals Meghan’s return to her creative roots and her determination to build a brand that reflects her personal philosophy. It also suggests that she is leaning into her influence outside the royal structure, paving the way for a media empire shaped on her terms.

Her passion for representation in culinary media

Food has always played a meaningful role in Meghan’s life. From her early Tig days, where she documented her love for cooking, to her involvement with the Grenfell Tower community cookbook, Together, she has consistently used food as a tool for connection and empowerment. In With Love, Meghan, she explores this passion further by highlighting diverse culinary voices, particularly women of colour who are underrepresented in mainstream media.

In a revealing segment, Meghan discusses the lack of diversity in cooking shows, particularly on platforms like Netflix. She says that while food is universal, many of the most prominent chefs given major platforms come from similar backgrounds, leaving talented women of colour overlooked. By spotlighting global cuisines and lesser-known chefs, Meghan aims to celebrate cultural heritage and encourage inclusivity in the culinary space.

The series features intimate conversations with female chefs, home cooks, and food activists, making it clear that Meghan’s approach to food is about much more than recipes -- it’s about storytelling, representation and breaking barriers. And I, for one, am totally here for it.

Show unveils private moments with Prince Harry – and his salt (and bacon) addiction

With Love, Meghan gives us some insight into Prince Harry’s eating habits. In episode two, “Welcome to the Party,” Markle cooks with Office US star Mindy Kaling. As she preps ahead of Kaling coming over, she’s chopping vegetables, and she decides to make some bacon.

“I’ll make some bacon too. I find when I’m cooking bacon, my kitchen very immediately becomes full of husband and three dogs,” Markle says. “It’s not my perfume that’s bringing them all in. My bacon brings all the boys to the yard.” Later in the episode, she revealed Prince Harry’s love for salt. As Kaling questions how she manages to season her eggs so perfectly, Markle explained that Harry’s influence has prompted her to be more careful. “Well, I have a family, a husband, who no matter what meal is put in front of him, before he tastes it, puts salt on,” she said. “So, I try to under-salt.”

Prince Harry also pops up in With Love, Meghan in a touching finale that gives us a window into the couple’s private life. The series features subtle hints of Harry’s involvement through archival footage and candid moments. Prince Harry’s predicted appearance happens in the eighth episode, “Feels Like Home.” He strolls in at the 31-minute mark wearing a casual light blue button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves, dark jeans and aviator sunglasses. The Duke joins Meghan’s celebration brunch with friends and family, including her mother Doria Ragland. The couple shares a sweet moment when he arrives, exchanging a quick kiss before Harry tries the carefully selected spread. Harry speaks only 17 words during his appearance. He first responds to Meghan’s offer of “some bubbles” with “Yes, why not?” Later, he hugs his wife and whispers into her hair, “Well done, you did a really great job. I love it.”

The series captures several sweet moments between them. Harry watches Meghan proudly as she gives a heartfelt toast about her new chapter, and he raises his glass with a simple, “To you!” Viewers get a hint of Harry’s playful side when he grins at the camera while eating strawberries. A crew member shares that Harry often visited the set but stayed in the background because he wanted “this to be Meghan’s moment to shine.” The series ends with a touching shot of the couple hugging, as Meghan says, “To love. Can’t end on a better note than that”. Cute, cute.

With Love, Meghan is not just a lifestyle series – it showcases a woman who has endured immense public scrutiny, yet remains committed to leading with love and intention. Through food, storytelling, and personal reflection, Meghan offers viewers a window into her world, one where authenticity and genuine impact take centre stage. The series confirms what many royal watchers have suspected: Meghan is carving out her own legacy beyond the royal family, and she is doing it on her own terms. As With Love, Meghan continues to captivate audiences, one thing is clear - this is just the beginning of a new and powerful chapter in Meghan Markle’s journey.