Prince Harry Reportedly Considered Taking on Princess Diana’s Last Name, Spencer
June 3, 2025 – In a quiet moment of reflection on family identity, Prince Harry is said to have considered changing his surname — and his children’s — from Mountbatten-Windsor to his late mother Princess Diana’s maiden name, Spencer, according to a report by The Mail on Sunday.
The 40-year-old Duke of Sussex reportedly raised the idea during a recent trip to the U.K., in a private conversation with his uncle, Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer. Sources say the discussion was amicable, but Earl Spencer advised against the change, citing potential legal complications.
“They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step,” a friend of Harry told the outlet.
Neither Prince Harry nor Earl Spencer’s teams commented publicly when contacted by PEOPLE.
What’s in a Royal Name?
Harry and Meghan Markle’s children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, who turns 4 this week, are officially registered under the surname Mountbatten-Windsor — the hyphenated name derived from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s descendants. Informally, the family now uses “Sussex” as a last name, following royal tradition.
Much like Harry and his brother William used “Wales” in school and military service (a nod to their father’s title at the time), Archie and Lilibet are now known as Archie Sussex and Lilibet Sussex in less formal settings.
In her Netflix series With Love, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex shared how meaningful the Sussex name had become for their family unit.
“It’s our shared name as a family,” Meghan said. “I hadn’t realized how much that would mean to me until we had children.”
The topic came up again during the show when Meghan gently corrected actress Mindy Kaling, who had referred to her as “Meghan Markle,” instead of “Meghan Sussex.”
Why Changing the Name Could Be Controversial
The name Mountbatten-Windsor has deep royal roots. Mountbatten was adopted by Prince Philip when he became a British citizen in 1947. Windsor, the royal house name since 1917, was merged with Mountbatten in 1960 when Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip declared it the official surname for their direct descendants.
Changing that name — particularly in favor of Princess Diana’s side of the family — could be seen as a symbolic rejection of King Charles III’s legacy, especially amid ongoing tensions between Harry and the royal household.
King Charles is reportedly proud of the Mountbatten name and its lineage, just as his father was. A switch to Spencer could have sent the wrong message — intentionally or not — to the monarch.
Royal Rift Remains Unresolved
Relations between Harry and his father have remained strained since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from their royal duties in 2020. A major sticking point has been their loss of publicly funded security — an issue Harry touched on in a BBC interview, saying he “can’t see a world” where he’d bring his family back to the U.K. without proper protection.
Still, Harry’s connection to his mother’s legacy remains central to his identity, and the idea of honoring Princess Diana’s family name appears to reflect that.
A Family Name That Reflects a New Chapter
Following their move to the U.S., the Sussexes have embraced their titles as an informal family name. In 2023, PEOPLE confirmed the couple had adopted “Sussex” as the everyday surname for their children, in keeping with royal custom.
When King Charles took the throne in 2022, Archie and Lilibet officially became prince and princess, and their titles were updated on the royal family’s official website.
As the family continues to navigate life in the public eye — from California to courtrooms and documentaries — their choice of surname remains more than just a formality. It’s a reflection of identity, legacy, and, for Harry, the delicate balance between his past and his future.
