Featured Image Credit: Diego Cuevas/Getty Images/Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
Topics: Prince Harry, Royal Family, Meghan Markle, Princess Diana
Madison Burgess
Topics: Prince Harry, Royal Family, Meghan Markle, Princess Diana
It’s no surprise that Prince Harry would want to distance himself as much as possible from the British Royal Family, due to their ongoing feud.
For those not up to speed, the 40-year-old has reportedly been at logger-heads with the monarchy since 2020, when he and wife Meghan Markle announced their resignation from royal duties.
And after moving from the UK to Montecito, California, in the months that followed, the couple shocked the world when they revealed that the decision had been prompted by alleged mistreatment from both the British tabloid press and Harry's family.
As the family drama continues, it’s now been thrown into the mix that Harry reportedly considered changing his name.
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According to The Daily Mail, The Duke Of Sussex went to Earl Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother, for advice on the matter during a brief UK trip.
Harry allegedly explored the idea of swapping out his surname for his mother’s - changing Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer.
However, Earl Spencer is said to have told his nephew that the legal hurdles would be too much and so advised against it.
A ‘friend of Harry’s’ reportedly told the publication: “'They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step."
The family’s current name, Mountbatten-Windsor, combines the Royal Family's name of Windsor and the Duke of Edinburgh's surname.
And Harry and Meghan’s little ones are called Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.
So, if he had gone through with the change, Lilibet for example, would have become Lilibet Diana Spencer.
A move like this would have undoubtedly been painful for King Charles, who gave him the Mountbatten name.
It comes after Meghan opened up on her issues with her own name in an episode of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan.
"I don't think anyone in the world knows that Meghan Markle has eaten Jack In The Box and loves it," friend Mindy Kaling said in response to an admission Meghan made about eating the takeout food.
The Duchess 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."