Sussex residents reveal how they REALLY feel after Meghan Markle insisted people use the county’s name when referring to her – despite only visiting there once

Residents have revealed how they feel about Meghan Markle adopting Sussex as her surname despite having only visited the county once.

They say the Duchess should earn the right to use the name by doing something worthwhile in Sussex.

And they called for her to become a patron of a children’s charity or get involved in a good cause.

Meghan’s assertion her surname was Sussex came during the second episode of her Netflix cookery show, With Love, Meghan.

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, corrected her celebrity friend Mindy Kaling when she said, ‘I don’t think anyone in the world knows that Meghan Markle has eaten Jack In The Box and loves it.’

Trying to mask her irritation with a forced smile, Meghan quickly corrected Kaling, saying, ‘It’s so funny, too, that you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know I’m Sussex now.’

Kaling, clearly caught off guard by the correction, awkwardly responded, ‘Well, now I know and I love it.’

The couple were bestowed their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after they wed in 2018.

But they have only ever visited the county to which they owe their titles once – for just six hours.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle greet crowds in Chichester during an official visit to Sussex in 2018 – said to be the only time they’ve visited 

Now, locals have revealed what their thoughts are on Meghan’s claim Sussex is her surname   

Jeff Hall, 56, in Lewes said: ‘I’m sure the Sussex title is a very lucrative thing to have and, having married into the Royal family, she should be able to use it’

The newlyweds carried out a whistlestop tour of Sussex in October 2018, where they visited Brighton, Chichester, Peacehaven and Bognor.

Despite being cheered by ecstatic crowds everywhere they went they have never returned to the historic county.

Today residents hit out at the Duchess for claiming the county as her surname.

Jeff Hall, 56, said: ‘I’m sure the Sussex title is a very lucrative thing to have and, having married into the Royal family, she should be able to use it.

‘However, if she is going to use it then I would like to see her over in the county a bit more. One visit in eight years isn’t really good enough. She should come more often to earn the right to use the name.’

His brother, Colin, who runs Hall’s Fruits, said: ‘If she’s going to claim the title then she should have more connection with the place.

‘She should get involved in a children’s charity or do something else worthwhile in the county. Simply adopting Sussex as a surname to use to your own ends is cynical.’

Eleanor Feltham said: ‘It’s quite preposterous really. She’s never even spent a night in Sussex. Surely she can’t be serious?

‘Technically she’s not Sussex as she married into the House of Windsor but her response is just so Hollywood. She appears to live in quite a strange La La world.’

Colin Hall, who runs Hall’s Fruits, said: ‘If she’s going to claim the title then she should have more connection with the place’

Nigel Large, a market trader, said: ‘I really don’t care whether she uses the name or not – it really doesn’t interest me’

Bryan Jenkins, 72, who lives in Lewes, said: ‘She can call herself what she wants but she seems to suggest she has an affinity with Sussex which is nonsense.

‘She clearly wants to get as far away from the Royal family as possible so why she should want to claim this title is quite odd.’

Nigel Large, a market trader, said: ‘I really don’t care whether she uses the name or not – it really doesn’t interest me.

‘As far as I’m concerned she can use it all she likes. It has as much bearing on things as someone in Australia changing their names.’

A student, who gave her name as Josie, said: ‘I suppose she can claim the name if she want to; she still retains the title but I don’t really know why she would want to.

‘I think when they decided to step away from the Royal family everything should have been stripped from them. It would prevent this type of confusion.’

Her friend, Ed, said: ‘I think she has a difficult job. She married into an institution as an outsider and I don’t think she’ll ever be able to fully understand the traditions and protocols.’

Market trader, Jon, 52, of Brighton said: ‘I don’t really know why people get so upset about her. If she wants to call herself Sussex let her be.’

Shopper, Deena, 34, said: ‘I’m sure she’s using her Royal connections to be paid millions by Netflix which I don’t agree with at all.

‘If she doesn’t want to be part of the Royals then don’t be but please don’t use it just to make money. It’s not very nice.’

Felicity Roder of Storrington, West Sussex said: ‘I think people have a valid point. You have to ask why she wants to use the name. 

‘Is it because she has a deep affinity with Britain and Sussex in particular? Or does it highlight her British and Royal connection and thereby make her more marketable in America? I know where my money is but she has every right to do it.’

Jessie Oaks, 32, said: ‘She live in a weird vacuous Hollywood world but I really don’t care one way or the other. I think people need to get over themselves and think about something else. Turn the telly off.’

Bettina, a visual artist from Brighton, said: ‘It’s what I’d expect really though I’m not going to be a hater. She married Harry so I suppose she can call herself anything she likes.’

Brighton resident Clare Edwards: ‘I think she saw marrying into the Royals as a way of boosting her career but I’m not sure that’s been the case.

‘She might have bigger exposure but I’m not sure it’s done her career that much good. If she wants to trade on the name though I suppose it’s okay. They should visit more though.’

Eveta, a visitor to Brighton, said: ‘I would love it if she was here. It would be a reason to visit again. She should do more. Come and see the pier in Brighton, have an ice cream. I think it’s a good idea.’

Sussex formed part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom which eventually became part of the Kingdom of Wessex in around 827, before becoming part of England.

Today, it is divided into West and East Susses and has its own dog breed, the Sussex spaniel, and contains the South Downs National Park as well as an iconic coastline that includes the white cliffs of Beachy Head.

In the second episode of With Love, Meghan, which dropped on Tuesday, the Duchess and her friend, Mindy, shared a light-hearted moment as they chatted about their childhoods while assembling cucumber sandwiches.

After the Duchess corrected her friend on her surname the awkward exchange continued as Meghan elaborated: ‘You have kids and you go ‘No, I share my name with my children’.

‘I didn’t know how meaningful it would be to me but it just means so much to go ‘This is OUR family name. Our little family name’.’

Kaling, clearly caught off guard by the correction, awkwardly responded, ‘Well, now I know and I love it.’

The Duchess’s insistence on using her title as a surname has caused a stir among royal fans today, with many questioning her decision to adopt ‘Sussex’ as her family name, despite the couple’s limited connection to the county.

One royal fan mused: ‘Her name is NOT Meghan Sussex. Her name is technically Rachel Mountbatten-Windsor. Sussex is a county in England & part of a courtesy title-NOT her last name.’

Another added: ‘Meghan Markle married Henry Mountbatten Windsor not Harry Sussex! She’s a delusional woman.’

While a third was shocked at how Meghan had hit out at her friend: ‘So who criticizes a guest like that? And her last name is not Sussex. Wouldn’t it be Mountbatten-Windsor?’

A fourth wrote: ”Duchess of Sussex’ is a courtesy title she holds only through her marriage. It is not her surname and I’m quite sure she doesn’t have ”Meghan Sussex’ on her California drivers license. Legally her last name should be Mountbatten-Windsor.’