03-06-2025
Harry Changing His Last Name Would've Been a ‘Slap in the Face' to Prince Philip—It's a ‘Public Rejection' of Charles' Family
Prince Harry changing his last name from 'Mountbatten-Windsor' to 'Spencer' would've offended more than King Charles. It would've hurt the entire side of his father's family as well.
Robert Jobson, a royal expert and the author of Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The Biography, told Newsweek in June 2025 that news of Harry almost changing his last name from his father's to his mother Princess Diana's would've been a 'slap in the face' to his grandfather, Prince Philip, where the Mountbatten name came from. (The Windsor part of Harry's surname came from his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.)
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'Let's be clear: changing his surname from Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer would've been no small thing. It would've been a public rejection of his father's family, a slap in the face to the late Prince Philip, who fought tooth and nail to get that name recognized in the first place. For Harry to ditch it now? That would sting,' Jobson said.
Jobson explained that, while Harry changing his name to his mother's may seem like a tribute to the late Princess of Wales, who died in 1997 when Harry was 12 years old, it also would've been a jab at Harry's father, King Charles, whom he's been in a feud with ever since Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, left the British royal family and moved to America in 2020.
'The idea of Harry becoming 'Harry Spencer' may appeal to some,' Jobson said. 'Those who see him as his mother's son, always fighting against the establishment. But let's not pretend this would've been a noble gesture.
He continued, 'It would've looked petty, performative, and, frankly, unnecessary. Another line drawn in a family feud already far too public.'
News that Harry almost changed his last name from his father's to his mother's came after The Daily Mail reported in June 2025 that Harry consulted Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, about making the move but was advised against it. 'They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step,' a friend of Harry's told the Daily Mail, explaining that Harry decided against changing his name due to the legal challenges of such a decision.
Jobson speculated to Newsweek that Harry may have also decided against the decision to not completely sever ties with Charles and his family. 'It hasn't happened. Perhaps Harry realized it wouldn't bring him closer to Diana—it would just push him further from the family he still claims to want to reconcile with,' he said.
He continued, 'At some point, the performance has to stop. A name change wouldn't heal wounds; it would just deepen them. For once, walking away from drama may have been the wisest move he's made.'
Ingrid Seward, author of My Mother and I, also questioned Harry's decision to change his last name. 'I can't see that Harry would have anything to gain but there is nothing to stop him becoming Harry Spencer. I think the king would just find it extremely hurtful,' she said.
News that Harry considered changing his name came ater Meghan corrected Mindy Kaling in an episode of her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, after Kaling referred to her as 'Meghan Markle.' 'It's so funny you keep saying Meghan Markle, you know I'm Sussex now,' Meghan told Kaling.
The name change report also comes after Harry told the BBC that he wanted to reconcile with his family, but his father was preventing those efforts. 'I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point,' he said. 'There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family.
Harry went on to add that he's 'forgiven' his family now that a lot of time has passed. 'I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious,' he said.
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