Daily Mail: Prince Harry wants to drop Royal surname, embrace Spencer line

Prince Harry, a member of the British Royal family, has explored the possibility of changing his surname to Spencer — a symbolic shift away from his royal lineage — and sought counsel from his maternal uncle, Earl Spencer, The Daily Mail has learned.

According to sources close to the Duke of Sussex, Harry raised the idea during a recent visit to the UK, initiating a rare but reportedly amicable conversation with Earl Spencer, brother of the late Princess Diana. The proposed change would have replaced the official Mountbatten-Windsor surname — used by his children Archie and Lilibet — with Spencer, Diana’s maiden name.

"The conversation was friendly, and Spencer advised him against taking such a step," said a friend of Harry. The decision not to pursue the name change is said to have been influenced by the complex legal and constitutional implications, which were ultimately deemed insurmountable.

Still, Harry’s contemplation of such a drastic measure underscores the deep and ongoing estrangement between him and the rest of the Royal Family. A move to adopt the Spencer name would likely have caused dismay, particularly for his father, King Charles III, and brother, Prince William.

Mountbatten-Windsor — a blend of Queen Elizabeth II’s royal name and Prince Philip’s adopted surname — has been used by royal descendants not holding HRH status. On official documents, Harry and Meghan’s children are listed as Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.

Royal biographer Tom Bower has previously suggested that Meghan Markle sees Diana as her role model. Had the name change gone ahead, their daughter would have become Lilibet Diana Spencer — a name carrying a stronger direct homage to the late Princess of Wales.

By Khagan Isayev