World2 min(s) read
Published 11:18 12 Mar 2026 GMT
Fans have lashed out at critics of Prince Harry and Megan Markle after The Duchess of Sussex revealed their family’s nickname for the prince in a post on Instagram.
On Sunday, March 8, Megan, 44, uploaded a heart-warming tribute to her daughter to mark International Women’s day.
The picture showed the Princess and Duchess sitting together cuddled up on a beach in the sun looking out at the water.
Megan credited the photograph of herself and four-year-old Princess Lilibet to her husband but, used an endearing nickname that angered people online.
The caption on her post said: “for the woman she will be one day… Happy International Women’s day” and credited the photograph to “Papa Sussex”.
Critics flocked to the comments section to express their outrage at the pet name.
One social media user said: "Papa Sussex? They really know how to be cloying and insufferable. Meghan pushing the use of Sussex again".
Another chimed in with: Can this woman stop with the cheap teases?? 'Papa Sussex'?? They’re both jokers!"
Someone else seethed: "I wonder why she has to refer to her husband as Papa Sussex when taking photos of their children. Why not say that he’s daddy?
"Will the children call their father their papa Sussex?"
However, just as quickly fans jumped in to defend the Royals.
One fan explained "They call him Papa, just like many British kids do. Adding the Sussex at the end is to distinguish Harry from Papa, his dad, King Charles, because Harry calls his dad Papa.
"It’s no different than when we refer to our parents as Grandad (Paternal last name) and Grandad (maternal last name). It was done for the photo caption. The kids call him Papa."
Another recommended haters avoid the family’s content, saying: "Here's an idea: if you dislike these two so much, skip over every story that mentions them.
“Because it makes too much sense and sounds like you have some degree of emotional regulation?"
Since Megan and Harry stepped down from senior royal duties in 2020, before the birth of their daughter the following year, there has been huge discourse online over their royal titles and surname.
In an episode of her Netflix show With Love, Megan, she explained that the family has used the name Sussex since the couple got married so that they all share a name.
‘I share my name with my children. I didn’t know how meaningful that would be to me, but it just means so much to go, ‘This is our family name, our little family name’,” she told Mindy Kaling.
