Meghan Markle is opening up about the deeper meaning behind the Sussex title.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE for this week’s cover story, Meghan revealed that the title — given to her and Prince Harry by Queen Elizabeth on their wedding day in 2018 — has taken on a far greater significance since becoming a mother.

“It’s our family name, and I didn’t realize just how much it would mean to me until we had kids,” Meghan shared.

Their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, carry the Sussex name as their surname, following a royal family tradition. Prince Harry himself went by “Harry Wales” in school, using his father King Charles’ title, Prince of Wales, as his last name.

“I love that it’s something Archie, Lili, H, and I all share. It really means a lot to me,” Meghan said.

She also explained that the Sussex name is a significant part of their love story. “I think as the kids grow up, they’ll be so curious about how Mama and Papa met,” she said. “That part of our story will come with time, but for now, sharing the name Sussex is a big part of our love story.”

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Mindy Kaling in With Love, Meghan.Courtesy of Netflix

The Sussex name comes up during an episode of Meghan’s Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. When her friend Mindy Kaling calls her “Meghan Markle,” Meghan kindly points out, “It’s so funny that you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know I’m Sussex now. When you have kids, you start to say, ‘No, I share my name with my children.’ I never realized how meaningful it would be, but it really does mean so much to say, ‘This is our family name, our little family name.’”

Kaling smiles and responds, “Now I know, and I love it.”

Previously, Archie and Lilibet were referred to as “Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor” and “Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.” However, when their grandfather, King Charles, took the throne in September 2022, they were officially granted the titles of prince and princess.

Meghan and Harry first used these titles publicly in March 2023 while announcing Lili’s christening. Shortly after, their names were updated on the royal family’s official website to “Prince Archie of Sussex” and “Princess Lilibet of Sussex.”

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex photographed in Montecito, CA, in March 2024.

With her new Netflix series launching on March 4, Meghan is opening up about her personal passions, such as cooking, hosting, and decorating, to her largest audience to date.

She reflects, “When your kids reach a certain age—when you’re no longer just playing in the sandbox with them but also reconnecting with your own passions—it’s incredibly fulfilling.” She adds, “As a woman, a mom, and a wife, finding yourself again—something that’s always been there but perhaps didn’t get as much attention when the kids were younger—is such a wonderful feeling.”

Prince Harry, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie.Archewell

Since relocating to California five years ago, Meghan reflects on how much her life has transformed.

“Five years ago, Archie was just 8 or 9 months old, so my life has changed a lot,” she shares, opening up about her journey through motherhood—welcoming a newborn, managing pregnancy while raising a toddler, and now parenting both Archie and Lili. “Anyone with children will tell you, it’s a major evolution as a woman during that time.”