Prince Harry Wanted to Change His and Meghan Markle’s Last Name

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00:00Prince Harry wanted to change his and Meghan Markle's last name.

00:03Can you believe it? Harry now wants to change his last name from Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer to honor his mom.

00:09The intricate and often evolving nature of royal nomenclature has recently drawn significant public interest,

00:15particularly concerning the surnames adopted by Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children.

00:20This fascination stems from a blend of historical tradition, personal choice, and the shifting dynamics within the royal family.

00:28The Sussex family's journey through various surnames reflects a modern adaptation of long-standing royal practices,

00:34while also highlighting their unique path.

00:36Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, provided a direct clarification on this matter during her Netflix special, With Love, Meghan.

00:44She explicitly stated that her last name is now Sussex, definitively moving away from her maiden name, Markle, in her formal identity.

00:51You keep saying Meghan Markle, you know I'm Sussex now.

00:54The surnames of Prince Harry and Meghan's children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have also undergone a notable evolution.

01:02Initially, they were known as Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.

01:07Mountbatten-Windsor is the official surname used by members of the royal family who do not possess a specific princely title,

01:14having been established as the official surname for the descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip since 1960.

01:20However, with the ascension of King Charles III to the throne, Archie and Lilibet were granted the titles of prince and princess, respectively.

01:30Following this change, their names were updated on the royal family's official website to reflect their new designations,

01:36Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.

01:40This adoption of their ducal title as their surname aligns with a well-established royal tradition.

01:44Before settling on Sussex as the family surname, Prince Harry had, at one point, contemplated a more personal and poignant change,

01:52adopting his mother, Princess Diana's maiden name, Spencer.

01:56This consideration speaks volumes about his deep connection to his mother's legacy,

02:01and perhaps a desire to forge an identity that resonated more closely with her heritage.

02:06To explore this possibility, Prince Harry consulted with his maternal uncle, Charles Spencer, Diana's brother.

02:12The conversation between Prince Harry and Charles Spencer regarding the potential use of the Spencer surname was described as amicable.

02:20During their discussion, Charles Spencer advised his nephew against changing his surname.

02:24The primary reason for this council was the potential legal hurdles and complexities such a change might entail,

02:31particularly given Prince Harry's prominent position within the royal family,

02:35and the established protocols surrounding royal names.

02:37While the details of these specific legal challenges were not publicly elaborated upon,

02:43the advice from his uncle, who is well-versed in the intricacies of British aristocratic naming conventions,

02:49was clearly taken seriously by Prince Harry.

02:52Ultimately, Prince Harry made the decision to use Sussex as the family surname.

02:56This choice was significantly influenced by the fact that he and Meghan were bestowed the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex

03:03by Queen Elizabeth II in 2018, shortly before their marriage.

03:08Embracing Sussex as their family name provided a clear and consistent identity

03:13that was directly linked to their royal titles and the new chapter of their lives together.

03:18Meghan has openly expressed how profoundly meaningful it is for her family to share the Sussex surname,

03:24especially after the birth of their children.

03:26For her, this shared name symbolizes unity and a distinct identity for their family unit,

03:32separate from the broader royal lineage but still rooted in their ducal titles.

03:37It represents a cohesive family identity that she clearly values.

03:41The fluidity of royal surnames is, in fact, a historical norm rather than an exception.

03:47Throughout centuries, royal surnames have frequently changed

03:50based on the titles and designations held by individuals.

03:54For instance, Prince Harry himself used Wales as his surname while growing up,

03:58reflecting his father's title at the time, the Prince of Wales.

04:01When King Charles ascended the throne, the change in sovereign directly impacted

04:06the titles of Prince Harry and Meghan's children.

04:10As grandchildren of the monarch, Archie and Lilibet became eligible for Prince and Princess titles,

04:15a privilege that was subsequently reflected in the official records.

04:18Their names were updated accordingly on the royal family's website,

04:22solidifying their new designations as Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.

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