Prince Harry Spoke to Princess Diana’s Brother About Changing His Family’s Last Name to Spencer

Prince Harry once reportedly thought about adopting his late mother Princess Diana’s maiden name, Spencer, as his surname.
However, he was advised against the idea by his maternal uncle, Charles Spencer.

As reported by The Mail on Sunday, the Duke of Sussex, 40, had considered replacing the Mountbatten-Windsor surname — the one currently used by his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet — with his mother’s family name.

During a rare trip to the UK, Harry discussed the matter with Diana’s brother, the 9th Earl Spencer. While the conversation was said to be friendly, Earl Spencer advised Harry not to proceed due to the potential legal complications.

A source told the outlet, “They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step.”

Neither Harry’s nor Earl Spencer’s representatives commented publicly on the matter.

Archie, 6, and Lilibet, who just turned 4 on June 4, are officially listed as Mountbatten-Windsor on their birth records.

However, the family now generally uses “Sussex” as their informal surname — continuing a royal practice. For example, Harry was known as “Harry Wales” during his youth, a nod to his father’s title, Prince of Wales.

In an earlier interview with PEOPLE, Meghan spoke about the emotional significance of sharing the Sussex name with her family.
“It’s our shared name as a family, and I guess I hadn’t recognized how meaningful that would be to me until we had children,” she said. “I love that Archie, Lili, H, and I all share that. It means a lot.”

The topic of surnames resurfaced in March during Meghan’s Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, when she gently corrected friend Mindy Kaling for referring to her as “Markle” instead of “Sussex.”

Mountbatten-Windsor is the official surname used for descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The name combines “Windsor,” adopted in 1917 by King George V, with “Mountbatten,” which Prince Philip chose when he became a British citizen in 1947.

In 1960, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip agreed that this would be the surname for their direct descendants who don’t hold royal titles.

Choosing to abandon this name could have been perceived as a slight toward King Charles III, who reportedly values the Mountbatten name, just as his father did. Tensions between Harry and King Charles have remained strained since Harry and Meghan stepped back from their royal duties in 2020.

One ongoing point of contention is the loss of taxpayer-funded security for the Sussex family.
In a past interview with the BBC, Harry emphasized his concerns, saying he “can’t see a world” where he would feel safe bringing his children to the UK without adequate protection.

Though royal family members rarely use surnames in everyday life, their children often adopt a version of their parents’ titles for school or military purposes. For instance, both Harry and his brother William used “Wales” as their last name while growing up.

After King Charles ascended the throne in September 2022, Archie and Lilibet automatically became prince and princess under longstanding royal rules.

Their titles were updated on the royal family’s website to reflect “Prince Archie of Sussex” and “Princess Lilibet of Sussex.”

The titles “Duke and Duchess of Sussex” were originally granted to Harry and Meghan by Queen Elizabeth in May 2018, on the day of their wedding.

In keeping with royal tradition, last year, PEOPLE confirmed that the couple had officially chosen “Sussex” as the surname for their children.

Related Posts

Their acne is severe

Their acne is severe

A person should see a dermatologist if they have cysts, nodules, and deep, painful acne. They have late-onset or persistent acne: Late-onset acne may occur in adults…

Former Ilhan Omar Associate Pleads Guilty in .9 Million Fraud Scheme

Former Ilhan Omar Associate Pleads Guilty in $2.9 Million Fraud Scheme

A former campaign associate of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has pleaded guilty to participating in a multi-million-dollar pandemic food fraud conspiracy, adding another chapter to the growing…

Is raelb ombs Hamas leaders in Qatar

Is raelb ombs Hamas leaders in Qatar

Israel has carried out unprecedented strikes on Qatar targeting Hamas’ senior leadership in a move that threatens to further destabilise the Middle East. Huge billows of smoke…

Old Biker Carried Abandoned Heart Baby Thro

Old Biker Carried Abandoned Heart Baby Thro

At 71, Tank had lived a life most wouldn’t dare—decades on the road, bar fights, crashes, even a tour in Vietnam. But nothing he’d faced compared to…

A Country in Turmoil: Trump’s Approval Rating Hits an All-Time Low

A Country in Turmoil: Trump’s Approval Rating Hits an All-Time Low

The mood across the United States is growing increasingly uneasy. The numbers on paper—rising grocery bills, ballooning household debt, record-high rent, and the ever-present anxiety over inflation—are…

“Kicked Out by My Stepmom, Saved by Grandpa’s Love”

“Kicked Out by My Stepmom, Saved by Grandpa’s Love”

When Emily turned 18, her stepmother Sharon demanded rent and claimed it was time she learned “responsibility.” For two years, Emily worked, studied, and helped raise her…