Duchess of Sussex
Duchess of Sussex is the principal courtesy title held by the wife of the Duke of Sussex.
Two British princes have been dukes of Sussex but there has been only one duchess of Sussex. The first prince to hold this title, Prince Augustus Frederick, married in contradiction of the Royal Marriages Act 1772, making his marriages legally void. His wives were thus prohibited from sharing his titles. Meghan Markle gained the title upon marrying Prince Harry on 19 May 2018.History
The title Duke of Sussex was first created for Prince Augustus Frederick by his father, King George III of the United Kingdom, on 24 November 1801. He was also created Baron Arklow and Earl of Inverness. His marriage to Lady Augusta Murray contravened the Royal Marriages Act 1772 and she was never called Duchess of Sussex.
The Duke's second marriage, to Lady Cecilia Buggin, also contravened the Royal Marriages Act 1772 and she could not share his title either. His niece Queen Victoria eventually made her Duchess of Inverness.
On 19 May 2018, Queen Elizabeth II made her grandson Prince Harry Duke of Sussex. Upon her marriage to Prince Harry that day, Meghan Markle became Duchess of Sussex. She is the first woman to hold that title. The Duchess of Sussex also holds the subsidiary titles Countess of Dumbarton in Scotland and Lady Kilkeel in Northern Ireland.
