When Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcomed their son Archie Harrison in May 2019, the royal couple listed Mountbatten-Windsor as his surname on his birth certificate.
The same surname was later bestowed upon Archie’s younger sister, Lilibet, who was christened at a private service in March 2023. Her full name was Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, according to Vogue.
Now the pair go by the titles Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, and their surname is also different - all because of a change in the line of succession to the British throne, according to reports.
Despite stepping down as senior royals in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were allowed to retain their Sussex titles. This is because the couple can only lose their titles if legislation is enacted against them.
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Unlike us common folk, royals’ surnames often change when their title does.
For example, Prince William and Kate Middleton are the Prince and Princess of Wales. Their children are therefore called George Wales, Princess Charlotte Wales, and Louis Wales.
Before becoming a Sussex, Harry’s surname was also Wales. However, on the day of his wedding, Queen Elizabeth II granted him the title of the Duke of Sussex.
After saying ‘I do’ to the Spare author on 19 May, 2018, Meghan elected to change her name from ‘Markle’ to ‘Sussex’ to match her husband.
When Queen Elizabeth died on 8 September, 2022, the line of succession changed. King Charles III, formerly the heir to the British throne, became the ruling monarch, and his eldest son, William, became next in line.
This meant everyone else moved up one place in the pecking order, including Harry and his two children.
It’s this change that allowed Buckingham Palace to recognise both Archie and Lilibet as a Prince and Princess.
Moreover, according to Meghan, Charles' accession to the throne meant that her children could now go by her surname ‘Sussex’ rather than the royal family name, Mountbatten-Windsor.
Their official names are now Archie Harrison, Prince of Sussex, and Lilibet Diana, Princess of Sussex.
The children’s mother made the name-change announcement during an episode of her Netflix show, Love Meghan.
It came after actress Mindy Kaling referred to her as ‘Meghan Markle’.
"I don't think anyone in the world knows that Meghan Markle has eaten Jack in the Box and loves it," said The Office star in response to an admission the Suits actress made about eating the takeout food.
Meghan pointed out that she found it 'funny' that Mindy called her ‘Meghan Markle’.
"It's so funny you keep saying Meghan Markle, you know I'm Sussex now," she explained. "You have kids and you go 'No, I share my name with my children'.
"I didn't know how meaningful it would be to me but it just means so much to go 'This is OUR family name. Our little family name'."
In response, Mindy said: "Well, now I know and I love it."
Topics: Royal Family, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Princess Lilibet, Prince Archie, Parenting, UK News
Ella Scott