news

Who Was Duchess of Sussex Before Meghan Markle?

We already know there was one Duke of Sussex before Prince Harry, but what about Meghan Markle’s predecessor? You might be surprised to learn there wasn’t one.

Karwai Tang/WireImage

As it turns out, Markle is the first Duchess of Sussex in history. Although the royal was given the title in 2018, it didn’t exist prior to her wedding day.

This might confuse some people, considering Prince Harry wasn’t the first Duke of Sussex. The title was originally given to Prince Augustus Frederick, who is the son of King George III and Queen Charlotte. The name went into (temporary) extinction after his death in 1843. Augustus and his ex-wife, Lady Augusta Murray, annulled their marriage before he inherited the title, so there was no need for a Duchess of Sussex…until now.

When Queen Elizabeth chose the Sussex title for Prince Harry, the duchess variation automatically went to Meghan. Since it’s very common for royal families to recycle official titles, the monarch likely chose the name due to its historical significance (and excessive time spent in retirement).

Steve Parsons/WPA Pool/Getty Images

In case you’re wondering, the Sussex title first originated in 827 in the Kingdom of Sussex, an Anglo-Saxon empire that was controlled by the Kingdom of England. The word “Sussex” was often used to describe ealdormen, aka someone with a high status. The term means “duces” in Latin, which is sometimes translated to “dukes.”

The more you know.

Love Prince Harry & Meghan Markle? Listen to ‘Royally Obsessed,’ the Podcast for People WhoCan’t Get Enough of the Royal Family

Shop Meghan Markle's Favorite Beauty Products:

Tatcha The Rice Polish Foaming Enzyme Powder

65
Buy Now

Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious Mascara

Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15

24
Buy Now

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

46
Buy Now

Greta Heggeness

Senior Editor

Greta Heggeness is a California-based editor at PureWow and has been writing about entertainment since 2015. She covers everything from awards shows to exclusive celebrity...
read full bio

Why You Should Trust Us

PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.