Featured Image Credit: Eduard Kryzhanivskyi/Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Topics: Prince Harry, Royal Family, UK News, Meghan Markle, Instagram, Social Media
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: Prince Harry, Royal Family, UK News, Meghan Markle, Instagram, Social Media
Royal fans have been left asking questions over Prince Harry’s other surname, after spotting an unexpected detail in Meghan Markle's latest social media post.
Taking to Instagram yesterday, Meghan shared a pic of Harry from 10 years ago with her 4.1 millon followers.
The photo in question was taken while the royal was visiting Goodwood Aerodrome for the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, which at the time included a historic aircraft flypast.
In the throwback, b-day snap, the prince can be seen donning a green army jumpsuit with a full head of red hair.
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She captioned the snap: "Oh hi, Birthday Boy [fire emoji]."
Many critics soon shared their confusion over Meghan's choice of photo for the birthday tribute, namely because it was a decade old.
Additionally, people were quick to clock that Harry's name badge read 'Harry Wales' instead of 'Harry Mountbatten-Windsor' or his current 'Harry Sussex' moniker.
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"Why is he Harry Wales?" asked one X user, while a second similarly questioned: "Harry Wales?"
"But he's not Harry of Wales. Wales is reserved for crown princes," declared a third, while another claimed: "She actually wants everyone to see that his nametag says 'Harry Wales' which is what his name was when he was the unmarried son of the then Prince of Wales, his father Charles."
Another X user theorised: "She wanted to highlight his name, Harry WALES. Maybe she wants to be referred to as a Wales as well."
OK, it's clear there are a load of conflicting 'explanations' behind Harry's various surnames, but what do each of them actually symbolise?
For starters, Harry's birth name is His Royal Highness Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales.
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Yep, he didn't have a surname like you or I do at birth, as British royals traditionally use their titles rather than surnames.
So, because of a birth, Harry’s father was Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Harry was styled 'of Wales'.
In 1960, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, decided that descendants without royal styles (like prince or princess) would use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor, combining Philip’s surname (Mountbatten) with the royal house (Windsor).
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This meant that, technically, if Harry needed a legal surname, such as for official documents after stepping back from royal duties, Mountbatten-Windsor would be the default.
During his military career and at school, Harry used Harry Wales as a surname, derived from his father’s title, Prince of Wales.
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And, whilst in the British Armed Forces, he was Captain Harry Wales - hence the name badge on his jacket seen in Meghan's birthday post.
His brother, Prince William, was similarly Flight Lieutenant William Wales when he served in the RAF.
In May 2019, Queen Elizabeth II gave Harry the title Duke of Sussex when he married Meghan.
And, after stepping down from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan became widely known as Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
In some contexts, 'Sussex' functions like a surname - something which Meghan has publicly addressed on a few occasions now.
So, for example, their two children are Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
Equally, if Harry needed a surname today, Harry Sussex would be acceptable, though legally, it’s still reportedly Mountbatten-Windsor.