Prince Harry reportedly explored changing his family surname from Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer, his late mother Princess Diana’s maiden name, in a bold move that underscores the deep rift within the Royal Family.
According to close sources, the Duke of Sussex sought counsel from his maternal uncle, Earl Spencer, during a rare visit to the UK.
The conversation was described as “amicable,” but Earl Spencer is said to have advised Harry against the name change due to the legal and constitutional hurdles it would involve.
“They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step,” a friend of Harry’s revealed.
The move would have symbolically distanced Harry and his family from the House of Windsor and the monarchy, in favor of aligning more closely with his mother’s legacy. It would have also impacted the identities of his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who currently use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.
Mountbatten-Windsor: A Royal Tradition
The surname Mountbatten-Windsor was established in 1960 by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip for their direct descendants. It merges Windsor, the reigning royal house, with Mountbatten, Prince Philip’s adopted surname after becoming a naturalized British citizen.
The name carries deep emotional weight for King Charles III, who is said to revere the Mountbatten lineage, particularly his great-uncle Lord Louis Mountbatten, a mentor to both Philip and Charles.
Changing to Spencer — while legally possible via deed poll — would be symbolically loaded, possibly seen as a rejection of the royal identity Harry was born into.
A Tribute or a Statement?
If the name change had gone through, it would have meant Meghan and Harry’s daughter being known as Lilibet Diana Spencer — an unmistakable and profound tribute to Princess Diana. Royal biographer Tom Bower has even suggested that Meghan sees herself as continuing Diana’s legacy, saying:
“Meghan decided her real object in life was to be Diana.”
The potential shift would almost certainly have upset both King Charles and Prince William, underlining the ongoing estrangement between Harry and the core royal family.
Public Identity and Titles
The couple has become increasingly vocal about the way they wish to be identified. Meghan recently insisted her surname is “Sussex,” not Markle, during an episode of her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, saying:
“It’s so funny you keep saying ‘Meghan Markle’ — you know I’m Sussex now.”
The couple’s children, Archie (6) and Lilibet (4), were officially recognized as prince and princess when their grandfather became King in 2022. Previously listed as Master Archie and Miss Lilibet, they now appear on the royal website with their full titles — Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
Final Thoughts
While Prince Harry ultimately did not pursue the name change to Spencer, the mere contemplation of such a move speaks volumes about his ongoing identity struggle and complicated relationship with the royal institution.
The story has reignited public debate around royal traditions, family legacy, and how far Harry and Meghan are willing to go to forge a distinct identity outside of the monarchy.
