Fact Check: Oprah Winfrey gently poked fun at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Sussex last name on a recent podcast

Published July 27, 2025

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VERDICT

True

# Fact Check: Oprah Winfrey Gently Poked Fun at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Sussex Last Name ## What We Know On July 16, 2025, Oprah Winfrey app...

Fact Check: Oprah Winfrey Gently Poked Fun at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Sussex Last Name

What We Know

On July 16, 2025, Oprah Winfrey appeared on Kelly Ripa’s podcast, “Let’s Talk Off Camera,” where she made a light-hearted joke about the last name of her friends, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. During the episode, Ripa asked Winfrey what she would do if someone gifted her baby chicks. Winfrey humorously responded that she would take them to the “Sussexes,” playfully adding extra “xes” to the name, which she repeated for emphasis (source-2, source-3).

Winfrey is known to have a close relationship with the couple, having attended their wedding in 2018 and conducted their first interview after they stepped back from royal duties (source-2, source-4). The couple’s last name has been a topic of discussion since Meghan Markle clarified her name change during an episode of her Netflix show, “With Love, Meghan,” where she stated, “It’s so funny, too, that you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know I’m Sussex now” (source-2).

Analysis

The claim that Oprah Winfrey poked fun at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s last name is substantiated by multiple sources. The podcast episode where this occurred is publicly available, and Winfrey's comments were reported by several reputable outlets, including Harper's Bazaar and Page Six.

The context of Winfrey’s joke is significant; it reflects her long-standing friendship with the couple and her familiarity with their family dynamics. The playful nature of the comment aligns with Winfrey's personality and her history of light-hearted banter with friends.

However, it is essential to consider the tone and intent behind the joke. While some sources describe it as a gentle jab, others suggest it was merely a humorous remark without any malice (source-4, source-5). The reliability of the sources is generally high, as they are established media outlets known for covering celebrity news. However, some may have a tendency to sensationalize for clicks, which is a common practice in entertainment journalism.

Conclusion

Verdict: True. Oprah Winfrey did indeed poke fun at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Sussex last name during her appearance on Kelly Ripa’s podcast. The evidence from multiple reliable sources confirms that her comments were made in a light-hearted context, reflecting her friendship with the couple.

Sources

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