Prince Harry reportedly thought of altering his surname from Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer — his late mom Princess Diana’s maiden identify — earlier than being suggested towards it by her brother, Earl Spencer.
In keeping with royal commentator Charles Rae, the transfer would have despatched a “horrible message” to the Royal Household and reveals Harry continues to be uncertain about his future. Talking on The Solar’s Royal Unique present, Rae mentioned the reported identify change highlights a shift in course simply weeks after Harry referred to as for reconciliation along with his father and brother.
“It was solely lower than a month in the past that he was pleading for a reconciliation along with his father and his brother,” Rae mentioned.
“And the subsequent factor we hear — and I believe the story was properly sourced — he desires to vary the identify from Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer. Effectively, that’s sending a horrible message to the Royal Household that he would not actually need a reconciliation,” added Rae.
Harry, now 40, stepped again from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to america along with his spouse Meghan Markle. Since then, he has publicly voiced his struggles with royal life and household tensions, together with in interviews and his memoir, Spare.
Earl Spencer, Diana’s youthful brother, reportedly suggested Harry towards making such a symbolic change. Whereas the Duke of Sussex has not commented publicly on the claims, royal watchers see it as one other signal of inner battle as he balances royal roots along with his present life overseas.
Mountbatten-Windsor: The Royal Household Surname Defined
Mountbatten-Windsor is the official surname utilized by the descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. It combines the royal home identify, Windsor, with Mountbatten — the adopted surname of the late Duke of Edinburgh.
Each of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s youngsters carry the identify: Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.
In keeping with royal writer Tom Bower, the thought of adjusting the household surname could have had deeper private that means. In a latest report, Bower claimed, “Meghan determined her actual object in life was to be Diana,” suggesting that the identify change might need been a symbolic tribute to Harry’s late mom. If the change had gone forward, their daughter would have been named Lilibet Diana Spencer.
For now, Harry continues to make use of the Mountbatten-Windsor identify, although hypothesis stays over what course his future decisions will take.
