• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content
Prince Harry's 'real name' exposed on son Archie's birth certificate

Home> News> Royal Family

Updated 13:29 6 Mar 2025 GMTPublished 11:20 6 Mar 2025 GMT

Prince Harry's 'real name' exposed on son Archie's birth certificate

The Duke of Sussex was given a totally different name when born to King Charles III and the late Princess Diana in 1984

This article contains affiliate links and LADbible Group will make a commission on anything purchased

Rhianna Benson

Rhianna Benson

Much has been said already this week on royal titles - but did you know that Prince Harry actually has a secret first name?

That's right - according to his son's birth certificate, when the Duke of Sussex was himself born to father King Charles III and the late Princess Diana back on 15 September 1984, he wasn't actually given the name 'Harry'.

Anyone else feeling like their whole life has been a lie?

Why so much discussion on royal titles recently?

Earlier this week, Harry's wife Meghan Markle revealed that the couple and their two children had actually been sharing a secret surname behind the scenes.

Speaking to PEOPLE Magazine, the former Suits actress broke the news that she, Harry, five-year-old son Archie and three-year-old daughter Lilibet have all been using 'Sussex' as their official surname for some time.

Advert

The Duchess told the news outlet that the name was bestowed on she and Harry by his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, on their wedding day.

"It’s our shared name as a family, and I guess I hadn’t recognised how meaningful that would be to me until we had children," she gushed.

"I love that that is something that Archie, Lili, H and I all have together."

As we say, this week's revelation has since peaked an unexpected interest in modern day monarchical monikers - particularly when it comes to Harry, with son Archie's birth certificate now also doing the rounds online.

Advert

Meghan this week broke the news of her family's 'new' surname (Toby Melville - Pool/Getty Images)
Meghan this week broke the news of her family's 'new' surname (Toby Melville - Pool/Getty Images)

Prince Harry's 'real name'

For those in need of a reminder, the eldest of the Sussex youngsters was born on 6 May 2019.

The infant was given the full name and surname 'Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor' at the time, with the title having been handed to he and sister Lilibet before their grandfather King Charles ascended to the throne in 2022.

Advert

What is more interesting, however, is that father Harry signed the document - which was subsequently obtained by Harper's Bazaar - 'His Royal Highness Henry Charles Albert David Duke of Sussex'.

'Henry?', I hear you ask. Yep.

Sure, long-term English tradition says that men named Henry have been nicknamed 'Harry'. And according to Metro, even notorious head-chopper-offer Henry VIII was known as 'Harry' by his buddies.

That said, however, 40-year-old Prince Harry once confessed that he hasn't the foggiest why his parents gave him a different moniker.

Advert





Advert

Speaking previously with a child named Henry at the WellChild Awards, he told the youngster - as per Entertainment Tonight: "My name is Henry as well. But everyone calls me Harry."

He went on to admit: "I have no idea why."

The same title was also used when Harry's engagement to Meghan was announced in November 2017.

An official palace statement released at the time read: "His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms. Meghan Markle Are Engaged to Be Married."

Don’t have Netflix? If you want to watch With Love, Meghan in the UK, you can sign up for a Sky Essential TV bundle that includes Netflix for £15 per month. If you’re based in the US, you can tune in with Verizon’s bestselling Netflix and Max bundle ($10 per month). T&Cs apply.

Featured Image Credit: Joshua Sammer/Getty Images

Topics: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Prince Archie, Royal Family, Celebrity, US News, UK News

Rhianna Benson
Rhianna Benson

Rhianna is an Entertainment Journalist at LADbible Group, working across LADbible, UNILAD and Tyla. She has a Masters in News Journalism from the University of Salford and a Masters in Ancient History from the University of Edinburgh. She previously worked as a Celebrity Reporter for OK! and New Magazines, and as a TV Writer for Reach PLC.

X

@rhiannaBjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • New photo of Prince Archie has royal fans making the same observation
  • Meghan Markle and Prince Harry defended after people highlight major issue with their children
  • Key detail in Prince Archie's birth certificate had royal fans very confused
  • Why Meghan Markle just 'professionally separated' from Prince Harry

Choose your content:

an hour ago
3 hours ago
  • DANIEL RAMALHO/AFP via Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Prince William spotted breaking major royal protocol after landing in Rio

    The Prince of Wales is carrying out a host of engagements in the South American country

    News
  • Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Donald Trump reveals he has 'no idea' who he is pardoning after freeing billionaire crypto tycoon

    Changpeng Zhao served four years in jail for violating both the Bank Secrecy Act and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act

    News
  • Jonathan Ernst-Pool/Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Lip reader reveals what Erika Kirk said to JD Vance during viral hug that fuelled major debate

    Erika Kirk welcomed guest of honour JD Vance to the stage of an event celebrating her move into the position of Turning Point USA's new CEO

    News
  • Getty Stock Images
    3 hours ago

    UK makes major decision on 'degrading' porn ban

    The Crime and Policing Bill will see both possession and publication of content showing a particularly 'dangerous' sex act criminalised

    News