Latest news with #MountbattenWindsor
Fox News
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Prince Harry deepens family rift by reportedly considering name change: expert
Prince Harry reportedly made a move that has deepened his ongoing rift with his family. The Duke of Sussex spoke to his uncle, Earl Charles Spencer, about the idea of taking his late mother Princess Diana's surname for his family, People magazine reported. According to The Mail on Sunday, the 40-year-old was considering adopting his mother's last name, which would have meant abandoning the surname used by his children: Mountbatten-Windsor. Fox News Digital reached out to a spokesperson for the prince and the earl for comment. "Trying to change his surname has an air of revenge," British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard claimed to Fox News Digital. "Such a hurtful and vindictive move to King Charles," she claimed. "It highlights Prince Harry's little to no regard for his family. A huge amount of bitterness and frustration bubbling away in Harry could have led to him feeling the Spencer name would help grow his royal court." "For Harry to consider doing this, he must still feel very embittered," royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital. "King Charles will regard this with great sadness… What will Harry think up next?" The Mail on Sunday reported that Harry discussed the idea of the name change with the 9th Earl Spencer, who is Diana's younger brother, during a visit to the U.K. "They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step," a friend of Harry's told the outlet. "Once again, Prince Harry has managed to make yet another deeply divisive and emotionally charged move, further fracturing his already tenuous relationship with the royal family," British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. "The overwhelming advice from within his own family, particularly from his Uncle Earl Spencer, is to abandon the ludicrous idea due to its legal and emotional consequences," she claimed. "Even his inquiry highlights the enduring complexities of Harry's relationship with his royal roots… It further thwarts any future reconciliation." Fordwich claimed that the royals are "hurt and dismayed" by this latest revelation, "causing additional damage to the already strained family relations." WATCH: PRINCE HARRY LOOKING TO RECONCILE WITH KING CHARLES, ROYAL FAMILY "In addition, it's viewed as a direct insult to his father, King Charles III, as well as his extended royal family," Fordwich claimed. "Ironically, Harry was close to Prince Philip, who fought for the historical significance of the Mountbatten-Windsor name for his descendants. So it is a direct insult to him." People magazine reported that Harry's two children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, who turns 4 on June 4, have Mountbatten-Windsor as their last names on their birth certificates. However, the family now uses Sussex as their last name, just like how Harry was known as "Harry Wales" during his childhood when his parents held the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales. It's a tradition within the royal family for children to take their parents' titles as a surname. Mountbatten-Windsor is the British royal family's official surname. The outlet noted that dropping the surname would be viewed as a slight to the king, who "cherishes the Mountbatten name just as his father did." The Mountbatten name was adopted by the Greek-born Philip when he became a British citizen in 1947 and joined the Royal Navy. Windsor was adopted by King George V as the British royal surname in 1917. People reported that in 1960, Queen Elizabeth II and Philip determined that Mountbatten-Windsor would be the surname for their direct descendants. Fordwich claimed that in Harry's eyes, using Spencer would be honoring his mother, Princess Diana, and "distancing himself from the rest of the royal institution he feels alienated from." "There is also some speculation that Harry's wife, Meghan Markle, wants their children to be more closely associated with Diana's legacy, especially their daughter, Princess Lilibet, whose full name is Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor," said Fordwich. Still, Fordwich noted that "family relations remain immensely strained," and this latest report would only hurt the king. "King Charles III is hesitant to speak with Harry, and Prince William is disgusted that he keeps referencing their mother," Fordwich claimed. "Trust and communication are currently at an all-time low. Any hope of rapprochement is now said to be 'in tatters,' particularly given Harry's wish to change his surname, which is viewed as a final break from his royal roots." Harry's troubled relationship with his family and the U.K. establishment has played out in public for years – in books, interviews, TV programs and the courts. Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, stepped back as senior royals in 2020, citing the unbearable intrusions of the British press and a lack of support from the palace. That same year, they moved to California, where they are raising their two children. Since the couple's royal exit, they have aired their grievances and made blistering allegations against the royal family. Harry's explosive 2023 memoir, "Spare," was stuffed with private details and embarrassing revelations. Harry's rift with his family burst into the open once more with a raw interview he gave to the BBC in May after losing a court case over his security. In a long and at times emotional conversation, Harry said he wanted reconciliation. He admitted that his father, who is battling an undisclosed form of cancer, won't speak to him. Harry's pals previously told People magazine that the king, 76, won't respond to Harry's phone calls and letters. Royal experts also claimed to Fox News Digital that Harry's older brother, William, who is heir to the British throne, refuses to speak with him. "Spencer may be an aristocratic name famously shared by Prince Harry's late mother," said Chard. "However, if Harry hoped to use the surname Spencer to rehabilitate his image, he needs to rethink the bonkers possibility." "Prince Harry is beginning to resemble the hapless 'Frank Spencer,' the fictional character in the old British sitcom 'Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em," she added. The series, which aired from 1973 to 1978, follows the misadventures of accident-prone Spencer, who "fails to navigate the simplest tasks of daily life, while also trying to look after his wife and baby." Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital he wasn't surprised that Harry considered changing his surname to Spencer. He pointed out that the prince has a closer connection to his late mother's family. "Prince Harry, at the time of this alleged conversation, was at a very low ebb," Turner explained. "He found tremendous support from Earl Spencer and Diana's two sisters, who rallied around [him]… The Spencer name is always a potential path for the beleaguered couple and their children. But at this stage, it's not on the horizon." "The royal family and Harry are still seemingly at war with each other," Turner added. Chard claimed that Harry could have plenty to gain from using the Spencer surname. "No doubt Prince Harry feels reinventing himself keeps him relevant," she claimed. "The world still has a love affair with the late Princess Diana. Harry and Meghan could take a cash grab of Princess Diana's legacy. [However], tarnishing Princess Diana's legacy would leave a bitter taste in the public's mouths." Meghan previously told People magazine that taking the Sussex name has a deep meaning for 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," the 43-year-old told the outlet. "I love that that is something that Archie, Lili, H and I all have together. It means a lot to me."
Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Duke of Sussex ‘asked Diana's brother if he should change his family name to Spencer'
Prince Harry asked Princess Diana's brother about changing his family name to Spencer, according to reports. During a rare visit to Britain, Prince Harry is said to have sought advice from his uncle Earl Spencer, about whether to assume his mother's surname. It would have meant dropping his current family name, Mountbatten-Windsor, which is used by his children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, three. The Duke, 40, was advised against the move by the Earl, 61, because of the legal hurdles, according to the Mail on Sunday. 'They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step', a friend of the Duke told the newspaper. Mountbatten-Windsor is the surname available to descendants of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. It combines the British Royal family's House name of Windsor and Prince Philip's adopted surname of Mountbatten. The Duke's apparent desire to abandon the name speaks to the growing rift with his family. An interview with the BBC last month, in which he made a series of comments about the Royal family, is understood to have deepened the divide between Buckingham Palace and the Duke and his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. On their birth certificates, the couple's children are Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. However, it was revealed last year, they had started using 'Sussex' as the official surname for their children. The Royal family name of Windsor was confirmed by Queen Elizabeth II following her accession to the throne in 1952. But in 1960, the late Queen and then Duke of Edinburgh elected for their direct descendants to carry the name Mountbatten-Windsor. This meant that when the Queen's children needed to declare a surname, it would be Mountbatten-Windsor. Mountbatten-Windsor first appeared on an official document on Nov 14 1973 upon the marriage of the Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Prince Harry asked Princess Diana's brother if he could change his family name to Spencer
Emily Jane Davies, News Reporter Published: Invalid Date, PRINCE Harry reportedly considered changing his name to Spencer and ditching his family name Mountbatten-Windsor. The 40-year-old is believed to have asked Princess Diana 's brother - Earl Spencer - for advice during a visit to the UK. 5 5 But it is understood that the Duke of Sussex was told the legal side of doing this would be too difficult. A friend of Harry's told the Mail: "They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step." Harry's children go by Mountbatten-Windsor - which combines the Royal Family's name of Windsor and the Duke of Edinburgh's surname. If the prince had gone ahead with the name swap, his daughter would have become Lilibet Diana Spencer. It follows claims by royal author Tom Bower that: "Meghan decided her real object in life was to be Diana." Mountbatten-Windsor is the surname of descendants of the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Philip adopted the Mountbatten name when he became a British subject and gave up his Greek and Danish royal title in 1947. He and the late Queen and Philip decided ten years later that they wanted their direct descendants to be known as Mountbatten-Windsor. While you don't need to go through a legal process to use a new name, it is recommended to use a deed poll to change documents such as passports and driving licences. This is not the first time Harry and Meghan have been touchy on their names or titles. The became the Sussexes when the late Queen gave them the titles when they married in 2018. Harry previously had the title Prince Henry of Wales. But on his wedding day, he became The Duke of Sussex, a title which had been vacant since 1843. When they married, Meghan adopted the female equivalent of Harry's name, so became Duchess of Sussex. And Meghan was seen to firmly correct Mindy Kaling after her friend called her Markle on her Netflix show. In an episode on With Love, Meghan, the Duchess said: "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.' " Questions were raised when Harry and Meghan called their daughter a princess for the first time in 2023, when her christening was announced. The children were then officially named as prince and princess on the Royal Family's official website. Archie and Lilibet are sixth and seventh in line to the throne. Before their titles were listed as prince and princess on the royal website, they were down as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor. They gained the titles when King Charles become the King, as they are grandchildren of the monarch. Meghan also recently raised eyebrows after it was revealed she is still using her HRH title - despite promising the late Queen she wouldn't after leaving royal duties. Although she used it around her friends instead of for "commercial purposes', a royal expert criticised her for using the title for her advantage. In a podcast interview with pal Jamie Kern Lima, a photo showed a gift basket of ice cream and strawberry sauce Meghan sent her a year ago. With it came a note on monogrammed paper, signed: "With the compliments of HRH the Duchess of Sussex." However, during the chat, Meghan opened up on a number of personal topics, including describing royal life as being 'in the trenches.' 5 5
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Prince Harry sought advice from Princess Diana's brother asking if he should change family name to Spencer
Prince Harry sought advice from Princess Diana 's brother about changing his family name to Spencer, The Mail on Sunday has learned. Sources said the Duke of Sussex actively explored ways to assume his mother's surname – a move that would have involved ditching Mountbatten-Windsor, used by his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. 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. 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. On their birth certificates, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's children are Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. 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, who is believed to have met the King only once, would have become Lilibet Diana Spencer, a more fulsome tribute to Harry's late mother. The move would be particularly hurtful to King Charles, who cherishes the Mountbatten name just as his father did. A mentor to Prince Philip, the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma was also a strong influence on his great-nephew, the future King Charles. Philip adopted the Mountbatten name when he became a naturalised British subject and renounced his Greek and Danish royal title in 1947. The Queen and Philip decided in 1960 that they would like their own direct descendants to be known as Mountbatten-Windsor. 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. Names and titles are a highly sensitive subject for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They were given their Sussex titles by Queen Elizabeth on the day of their wedding in 2018. Meghan recently insisted her surname is Sussex, correcting a guest on her Netflix cookery and lifestyle programme. In episode two of With Love, Meghan, which was released in March, the 43-year-old former actress was joined by comedienne Mindy Kaling. Meghan told her: 'It's so funny you keep saying 'Meghan Markle' – you know I'm Sussex now.' As Ms Kaling looked confused, the duchess, who has visited the county of Sussex only once, continued: '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.' ' The Sussexes used the title princess for their daughter, Lilibet, for the first time after her christening in California was announced in 2023. A spokesman for the couple said: 'The children's titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace.' The children were subsequently officially named as prince and princess on the Royal Family's official website. Archie, now aged six, and Lilibet, who turns four on Wednesday, were named as the Prince and Princess of Sussex on the line of succession page of the official Royal Family website. They are sixth and seventh in line to the throne. Previously they were listed as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor. The rules governing the titles of royal children were set out by George V – Queen Elizabeth's grandfather – in 1917. Archie and Lilibet were not prince and princess at birth, because they were not grandchildren of the monarch, but they gained the right to these titles when King Charles acceded to the throne. During the Sussexes' explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Meghan suggested to the American chat-show host that Archie had been denied his birthright of the title 'prince' by the Palace and that the decision went against protocol. During an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Meghan suggested that Archie had been denied his birthright of the title 'prince' by the Palace She spoke of her shock at being told he would not get police protection because he did not have a title, and suggested that the decision was taken because of his mixed race. 'It's not their right to take away,' Meghan said. Asked by Ms Winfrey, 'Do you think it's because of his race?', the duchess replied: '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.' At the time the claims caused shock and bewilderment at Buckingham Palace, with the late Queen subsequently publishing a statement including the memorable phrase, 'some recollections may vary'.
