Latest news with #Mountbatten-Windsor
Daily Mirror
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Have your say on Prince Harry changing his surname to Spencer
The Duke of Sussex has reportedly been exploring ways to change his surname from Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer - and we want to hear your thoughts on Prince Harry's latest move Prince Harry reportedly consulted Princess Diana's brother about the possibility of changing his surname from Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer - and we want to hear your thoughts on the topic. During a rare visit to the UK, the Duke of Sussex is believed to have discussed the matter with his uncle Earl Spencer, but was advised that the legal hurdles involved were too significant to overcome, reports the Mail on Sunday. The dramatic move would mean giving up the Mountbatten-Windsor surname, which is also used by his children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, three. His current surname is only available to descendants of the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, which combines the Royal Family 's title of Windsor and the Duke of Edinburgh 's adopted surname. Following her accession to the throne in 1952, Queen Elizabeth confirmed the Royal Family name of Windsor. In 1960, the Queen and then Duke of Edinburgh elected for their direct descendants to carry the surname Mountbatten-Windsor - a name cherished by King Charles. Sources have claimed that Harry has been keenly exploring ways to adopt his late mother's surname, as a friend of the Duke told MailOnline: "They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step". Royal author Tom Bower has claimed that 'Meghan decided her real object in life was to be Diana'. If the name change had succeeded, Meghan's daughter would have become Lilibet Diana Spencer. According to the Government, you do not have to follow a legal process to start using a new name, but it suggests on its official website using a 'deed poll' to apply for, or to change official documents such as a passport or driving licence. This move could mean that Harry's children, Archie and Lilibet, would also lose their existing surname of Mountbatten-Windsor, sources suggest. However, it is widely believed that the family use the surname Sussex, to reflect Harry and Meghan's roles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. During an episode of her Netflix show, Meghan corrected her friend Mindy Kaling saying: "It's so funny you keep saying Meghan Markle – you know I'm Sussex now. You have kids and you go, 'No, I share my name with my children'. 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.'" Get Prince Harry updates straight to your WhatsApp! While Harry was reportedly told that the legalities surrounding the name change were too great to overcome, his request reflects the Sussexes' expanding rift with the Firm after stepping down from royal duties in 2020. Following revelations that the Duke reached out to his uncle to discuss changing his family name, we want to know if you think Harry should switch to Spencer. Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Prince Harry Nearly Adopted Princess Diana's Maiden Name, Severing Royal Ties
Prince Harry Nearly Adopted Princess Diana's Maiden Name, Severing Royal Ties originally appeared on Parade. A new report claims nearly adopted Princess Diana's maiden name after reportedly discussing the matter with her brother, Charles Spencer. In doing so, Harry would have severed his ties to the House of Windsor for good. Per The Mirror's Richard Eden, sources revealed the Duke of Sussex entertained the idea of adopting Princess Diana's maiden name, Spencer, after discussing the matter with her brother, the 9th Earl Spencer, during a visit to the United Kingdom. Reasonably, if Harry did change his name, the switch would mark a definitive split between Harry and his royal kin. Additionally, the surname of Harry's children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, Mountbatten-Windsor, would also be affected. Eden states, "It is understood he discussed the issue with Earl Spencer, whose family seat is Althorp in Northamptonshire, during a rare visit to Britain, but was told that the legal hurdles were insurmountable. They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step, said a friend of Harry." Parade Daily🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 He adds, "Nevertheless, the fact that he consulted the Earl over the issue, a proposal that would dismay his brother and father, is a vivid expression of the toxic rift with his family. Mountbatten-Windsor is the surname available to descendants of the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. It combines the Royal Family's name of Windsor and the Duke of Edinburgh's adopted surname." Even if Harry found a way to legally take on his mother's maiden name, he would not be entitled to inherit his mother's ancestral property, Althorp House. Princess Diana's family home will be passed down to her nephew, Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp. As the only son of Charles Spencer, Louis is set to inherit the estate and earldom under the traditional practice of male primogeniture, which is an age-old system that favors male heirs, bypassing his three older sisters. Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, use Sussex as their last name. Harry was known as "Harry Wales" when then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana held the royal title of Prince and Princess of Wales. Subsequently, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were granted the titles Duke and Duchess of Sussex by Queen Elizabeth on their 2018 wedding day. The couple's children were titled prince and princess after King Charles's accession. Per the BBC, upon stepping back from their duties as senior royals, the couple were allowed to keep their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles. However, they are no longer addressed as His or Her Royal Highness (HRH). Additionally, Harry had to give up all of his military titles after a decade-long career in the armed forces. Prince Harry Nearly Adopted Princess Diana's Maiden Name, Severing Royal Ties first appeared on Parade on Jun 2, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Prince Harry asked Princess Diana's brother if he should change his family name to Spencer amid royal rift: report
Prince Harry had reportedly asked his uncle and Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, about changing his family name — signaling that the royal rift is far from over. The Duke of Sussex sought out his uncle's counsel about taking his late mother's last name during a recent trip to the UK, the Daily Mail reports. Had he taken his mother's surname, the Invictus Games founder would have had to relinquish the Mountbatten-Windsor family name — one that his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, once shared. 5 Prince Harry had reportedly asked his uncle and Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, about changing his family name. Getty Images Harry, 40, was discouraged from pursuing the change by his 61-year-old uncle, who reportedly warned that the legal process would be overly complex. 'They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step,' a friend of the 'Spare' author told the outlet. The Post has reached out to reps for Harry and Earl Spencer for comment. Unsurprisingly, the move likely would not have been well received by King Charles and Prince William, both of whom have long taken pride in the Mountbatten-Windsor name. 5 As it stands, members of the monarchy who are descendants of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are able to take up the Mountbatten-Windsor last name. Getty Images 5 Unsurprisingly, the move likely would not have been well received by King Charles and Prince William. via REUTERS As it stands, members of the monarchy who are descendants of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are able to take up the Mountbatten-Windsor last name. The family name combines the Windsor name with Philip's adopted surname of Mountbatten. On their birth certificates, the children of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are listed as Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. 5 Prince Harry pictured with his late mother, Princess Diana, in 1987. Getty Images While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's children were previously known by the Mountbatten-Windsor surname, it emerged last year that the family had formally chosen 'Sussex' as their official last name. Indeed, this was further confirmed by Meghan Markle earlier this year, who revealed that she also goes by Meghan Sussex now. In Netflix's 'With Love, Meghan,' she was quick to correct actress Mindy Kaling about her last name. 'It's so funny that you keep saying 'Meghan Markle.' You know I'm Sussex now,' Markle told the 'Mindy Project' star, 45. 'You have kids and you go, 'No, I share my name with my children,'' said the duchess, who has only visited the county of Sussex in England once. 5 It emerged last year that Harry and Markle had formally chosen 'Sussex' as their family's official last name. Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation '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.'' After the episode aired, she was then called 'Meghan Sussex' during her interview on 'The Drew Barrymore Show.'
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Prince Harry asked Princess Diana's brother for advice on changing family name
Names and titles continue to be a highly sensitive subject for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It has now been revealed Prince Harry reportedly explored ways with Earl Spencer to change his family name Prince Harry reportedly sought advice from Princess Diana 's brother about changing his family name. It's been almost thirty years since Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris at the age of 36. Her younger brother Earl Spencer was just 32 years old at the time, while their sister Sarah and Jane were 42 and 40 years old. Earl Charles Spencer recently made a heartbreaking admission about her death during a special episode of Loose Men. The Earl made his debut as a panellist on Loose Men today, as the panel were talking about their close bonds with their siblings. Explaining how it felt to lose a sibling, Earl Spencer said it's like an "amputation." He later revealed that for years after his sister's tragic death, he thought he had to "ring her to tell her something" – before realising he couldn't anymore. The Duchess of Sussex gave up her royal title along with husband Prince Harry when they stepped down as senior royals in March 2020. They still retain the HRH titles, which Harry has had since birth, but are not supposed to use them for commercial purposes. Names and titles continue to be a highly sensitive subject for the pair. The Sussex title was given to the pair on the morning of their wedding in May 2018 by Prince Harry's late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. But, the Mail on Sunday has revealed Prince Harry explored ways to take his mother's surname and ditch Mountbatten-Windsor, used by his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet and a name cherished by King Charles. It is understood Prince Harry discussed the issue with Earl Spencer during a rare visit to Britain, but was told that the legalities surrounding the change were to great to overcome. A friend of Prince Harry told MailOnline: "They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step". The surname Mountbatten-Windsor is only available to descendants of the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. It combines the Royal Family 's name of Windsor and the Duke of Edinburgh 's adopted surname. Royal author Tom Bower has claimed that 'Meghan decided her real object in life was to be Diana'. If the name change had succeeded, Meghan's daughter would have become Lilibet Diana Spencer. According to the Government, you do not have to follow a legal process to start using a new name, but it suggests on its official website using a 'deed poll' to apply for or to change official documents such as a passport or driving licence.
