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Newsweek
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Prince Harry Name Change Would Hit King 'In the Gut'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Prince Harry changing his surname to match Princess Diana's family name would be "a public rejection of his father's family," a royal author told Newsweek. The Duke of Sussex reportedly asked Diana's brother about the possibility of him becoming "Harry Spencer," according to The Mail on Sunday. The newspaper reported that Harry approached his uncle Charles Spencer for advice on whether he should change his name, and was told it would be logistically difficult. According to the Mail, Harry therefore dropped the proposal. The U.K. tabloid is among Harry and Meghan Markle's most hated and has been sued by the couple four times. Newsweek approached a representative of the Sussexes for comment. Prince Harry leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London, England, after a hearing in the lawsuit he brought against the British government over his police protection, on April 9, 2025. Prince Harry leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London, England, after a hearing in the lawsuit he brought against the British government over his police protection, on April 9, Jobson, author of Sunday Times No. 1 bestseller Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The Biography, told Newsweek: "So now Prince Harry wanted to be a Spencer. That's the latest twist in the ongoing royal soap opera—and if true, it's a move that would've hit King Charles right in the gut. "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." The name Mountbatten came from Prince Philip's side of the family while Windsor came from Elizabeth's. "The idea of Harry becoming 'Harry Spencer' may appeal to some," Jobson continued. "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. "It would've looked petty, performative, and, frankly, unnecessary. Another line drawn in a family feud already far too public. "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. "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, expressed a degree of skepticism and told Newsweek: "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." Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Names and Titles It is not completely clear what would have motivated Harry to pursue the idea of becoming a Spencer but the Sussexes' names and titles have long been a matter of debate. On the one hand, fans of Meghan have bemoaned the fact that outlets including Newsweek continue to refer to her as "Markle" despite her losing her surname when she married Harry in 2018. And Meghan herself corrected Mindy Kaling during her 2025 Netflix cooking show With Love, Meghan, saying: "It's so funny you keep saying Meghan Markle, you know I'm Sussex now." That led to fans and Drew Barrymore calling her "Meghan Sussex," though the royal still refers to herself, including on her website, as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. On the other hand, critics of the couple have repeatedly called for them to be stripped of their titles, which usually refers to their duke and duchess titles rather than Harry's "prince" title. Needless to say, Harry has also talked about becoming a U.S. citizen, a process that conventional wisdom suggests would require him to drop his royal titles and give up allegiance to "any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty" as required by the Oath of Allegiance. If the Mail's story is true, one possible explanation could be that Harry was exploring what he would do in the event that he became an American citizen, losing his duke and prince titles and therefore needing a surname. Alphonse Provinziano, of U.S. law firm Provinziano & Associates, told Newsweek in 2024 that Harry might be able to challenge the rule at the Supreme Court: "If you're becoming a U.S. citizen, you have to renounce your titles so it treats similarly situated people differently," Provinziano said. "That law, that was created by Congress, actually creates an unequal system. "There is no Supreme Court case that interprets that code section merely because there's only been about a dozen American citizens who have had a prince or princess title. "It's something that theoretically could go all the way to the Supreme Court because the court would have to review the law to make sure it's constitutional. "The U.S. Supreme Court then, if it says Harry could keep his title or not keep his title, could have an effect on the line of succession of the British Monarchy, which is something that I don't think anyone ever contemplated. So it's fascinating." Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page. Do you have a question about Charles and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@ We'd love to hear from you.
Irish Daily Star
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Star
Prince Louis given 'affectionate' nickname by siblings hours after being born
Prince Louis, the youngest child of Prince William and Kate, reportedly earned a sweet two-word nickname inspired by his name when he was born seven years ago. In his 2024 book about Princess Kate , titled 'Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The Biography', author Robert Jobson shared the story of Prince Louis's birth in 2018. The young prince , who celebrates his seventh birthday today, was born in a private wing of St Mary's Hospital in London, where he was welcomed by his older siblings, the future King George and Princess Charlotte. The Prince and Princess of Wales later introduced their son to the world, with William humorously telling well-wishers that there was "thrice the worry now". Meanwhile, the smitten siblings had given the newborn a charming nickname. Princess Kate and Prince William's youngest turns seven on Wednesday (Image: Getty Images) Robert penned: "Catherine gave birth to her third child, a son they named Louis, on 23 April 2018, again at the private Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington. "Before introducing him to the world, William had brought the baby's older siblings, George and Charlotte, to meet him. They affectionately called him 'Lou Lou'." That wouldn't be the only nickname attached to a Royal that day, as the waiting media dubbed the future Queen "super mum". However, Robert mentioned that Kate felt "fragile" and was keen to leave quicker than on the previous two occasions. Louis was christened Louis Arthur Charles on July 9th, 2018, in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace. King Charles III and Queen Camilla turned up for the bash, along with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Princess Kate's kin. Former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond reckons that Kate "probably lets Louis run wild more" than she did George. William jokingly told well-wishers there was "thrice the worry now" (Image: Getty Images) Jennie Bond dished to the Mirror : "Catherine probably lets Louis run wild more than she did with George. She and William are very experienced parents and I'm sure they love all three kids equally but probably in different ways. "George because he's the firstborn and has a destiny to fulfil, Charlotte because she's the only girl, and Louis because he's the youngest." The Princess of Wales, who now calls her youngest "Lou-bugs", has been seen attempting to stop herself from laughing when Louis shows his mischievous side at the Royal Family's events. Kate previously shared insights into how she views her son. Speaking at a royal engagement at a maternity unit some years ago, she said: "I keep thinking Louis is a baby, but he's a big boy now." Louis's birthday plans haven't been revealed to the public, but it's thought that he will mark the day with his relatives. The Express also reports that Kate could make a cake, having once revealed that baking a cake for her children's birthdays had become something of a tradition.
