For a man who once said he was leaving royal life to find freedom, it seems Prince Harry wanted to do more than just wave goodbye to Buckingham Palace.
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According to new reports, the Duke of Sussex seriously considered changing his last name from Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer – his late mother Diana’s family name. The idea? A powerful statement of allegiance to his mother, and perhaps, a rejection of his father—who won’t speak to Harry—and brother. But as with most things royal, it wasn't so simple.
Prince Harry allegedly wanted to change his surname to Spencer
The Mail on Sunday claimed that Prince Harry had actively explored the idea of changing his surname to Spencer. He reportedly discussed it with his uncle, Earl Spencer, during a rare visit to the UK. A friend of Harry told Daily Mail:
They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step.
The change would have meant distancing himself from the Mountbatten-Windsor name, the current surname of his children, Archie and Lilibet.
Mountbatten-Windsor is the formal family name used by descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. But Harry's desire to adopt ‘Spencer’ was said to be deeply emotional – and symbolic.
Had the name change gone ahead, their daughter might have been known as Lilibet Diana Spencer. That would have been a powerful tribute to Princess Diana, and perhaps a not-so-subtle message to the rest of the Royal Family.
This idea would have been upsetting for King Charles, who has a deep connection to the Mountbatten name. The late Prince Philip adopted it upon becoming a British citizen, and Charles viewed Philip’s mentor, Lord Louis Mountbatten, as a key figure in his life.
Could Prince Harry legally change his surname?
So, could Harry have made the switch? Technically, yes – but not without complications.
According to the UK Government, a person doesn't need a legal process to start using a new name. However, official documents like passports and driving licences must be changed via a deed poll.
But when it comes to royals, things are rarely so straightforward. The Daily Mail reported that legal barriers were deemed ‘insurmountable’ after Harry spoke to Earl Spencer about the move.
Still, it's worth noting that royal names have changed throughout history. As The Express pointed out, King George V famously changed the Royal Family’s surname from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to Windsor in 1917.
Later, in 1960, Queen Elizabeth II decided her descendants would carry the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.
While Harry could have theoretically made the switch, doing so would have complicated his children’s identities and required navigating an entrenched royal protocol. Perhaps it’s no surprise that the idea remained just that: an idea.
What is Prince Harry’s surname now? And what about Meghan and the kids?
So what surname does Prince Harry use? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think.
Technically, Harry was born as 'Henry Charles Albert David' without a surname listed on his birth certificate. When he needed one, such as during his military service, he used 'Wales', based on his father's then-title. His brother William did the same.
After marrying Meghan Markle in 2018, Queen Elizabeth gave them the titles Duke and Duchess of Sussex. And it seems they’ve embraced 'Sussex' as their family name.
In her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, the Duchess corrected guest Mindy Kaling by saying:
It’s so funny you keep saying Meghan Markle – you know I’m Sussex now.
She continued:
I didn’t know how meaningful it would be to me but it just means so much to go “This is OUR family name. Our little family name.”
Meghan further explained in an interview with People:
It's our shared name as a family... I love that that is something about Archie, Lili, H and I all have together.
Despite this, on their official birth certificates, the children are listed with the surname Mountbatten-Windsor. After King Charles became monarch, Archie and Lilibet also assumed their titles as Prince and Princess.
The Royal Family’s website now lists them officially as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
This came after Meghan's 2021 interview with Oprah, where she expressed shock that Archie had initially been denied the title of prince. She told Oprah:
It's not their right to take away.
In those months when I was pregnant, all around this same time, so we [had] the conversation of he won't be given security, he's not going to be given a title. And, also, concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born.
Queen Elizabeth's famous response, 'some recollections may vary', hinted at the Palace's discomfort with the accusations.
While the Sussex family appears to be leaning towards using 'Sussex' as their day-to-day surname, the legal and royal records reportedly still reflect the formalities of Mountbatten-Windsor.
Read more:
Prince Harry caught knocking on wrong door while searching for friend's house
Prince Harry claims King Charles 'won't speak to him': Friend of monarch says 'he can't'
Prince Harry believes his police protection was withdrawn to keep him in the UK
Sources used:
Daily Mail: Prince Harry sought advice from Princess Diana's brother asking if he should change family name to Spencer
The Express: Can Prince Harry change his surname to Spencer? Royal rules explained
Grazia Daily: Yes, Prince Harry’s Last Name Is Sussex
