Was Oprah simply having fun—or was there a hidden message behind the laughter?
When one of media’s most influential voices playfully pokes at Harry and Meghan’s surname, it’s hard not to wonder if there’s more beneath the surface. During a recent podcast appearance, Oprah Winfrey mimicked
the Suss*xes’ royal last name in a cheeky moment that sparked smiles—and whispers of subtle critique. Could this lighthearted jest be hinting at a shift in the once-close relationship between the couple and the media powerhouse who helped amplify their story?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle found themselves back in the spotlight, this time thanks to Oprah’s good-natured ribbing of their family name, “Suss*x.”
The story unfolded when Oprah, 71, appeared on Kelly Ripa’s Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast, where she recounted a whimsical Easter anecdote involving the royal couple. Oprah revealed that Harry had called her on Easter Saturday with an unusual request related to ducks.
“I got a call from Prince Harry on Easter Saturday,” Oprah said with a smile. “He said, ‘Sorry to bother you, O, but we’ve got a duck situation. Our pond is more like a stream. Can we bring the ducks to your place?’”
She laughed as she continued, “‘No, we’re coming over!’ he insisted. And, naturally, I said yes.”
The amusing exchange led Ripa to ask if Oprah would be interested in receiving baby chicks for Easter—a trend gaining popularity. Oprah’s response came with a chuckle, “I’d run them straight over to the Suss*xes,”
deliberately stretching and exaggerating the pronunciation of their surname for comic effect, playfully adding extra syllables and “x’s.”
Though Oprah’s tone was clearly jovial and affectionate, some rumors swirled that Harry and Meghan found the teasing a bit irksome. However, a spokesperson for the couple promptly dismissed these claims as “categorically untrue.”
Still, the moment reignited a broader conversation: how exactly should one say “Suss*xes”?
Here’s a quick grammar tip: when a name ends in “x,” the plural is usually formed by adding “-es,” unless the “x” is silent. For example, “Felix” becomes “the Felixes,” whereas “Bordeaux” simply becomes “the Bordeauxs.”
The debate gained extra fuel after Meghan revealed in March that she, Harry, and their children—Archie (6) and Lilibet (3)—have been using “Suss*x” as their family name in private.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Meghan explained that the title was officially bestowed by the late Queen Elizabeth II on their wedding day and has since become a meaningful family identifier.
“It’s our family name, and I didn’t realize how much it would mean to me until we had children,” Meghan shared. “I love that it’s something Archie, Lili, Harry, and I all share.”
Meghan even addressed the topic directly in her Netflix series As Ever, Meghan, gently correcting actress Mindy Kaling who referred to her by her maiden name.
“You keep saying Meghan Markle,” she joked. “But I’m Suss*x now. When you have kids, it’s like—no, we share a name. It’s our little family name, and I didn’t realize how special that would feel.”
While Oprah’s playful take on “Suss*xes” was clearly meant in jest, it stirred renewed speculation and underscored the intense scrutiny surrounding the couple’s evolving public identity. Meghan’s consistent emphasis on using “Suss*x” as their surname—highlighted in interviews and media appearances—reflects the deep personal significance the name holds for them.
In an era where titles, names, and personal branding carry profound weight, even a lighthearted joke can seem like a subtle probe into the core of their identity. Whether intentional or not, Oprah’s quip serves as a reminder of how carefully every word, name, and laugh tied to the Suss*xes is watched—and interpreted.