Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have changed their children’s surnames in a move that comes after their children gained new titles within the Royal family.
In a groundbreaking move that underscores their unique position within the British royal family, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have introduced an interesting approach to their children’s surnames.
Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Prince Archie during a photocall in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
Their two children, Archie, aged 4, and Lilibet, aged 2, previously known by the surnames “Mountbatten-Windsor,” have now embraced their royal titles as part of their official last names.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Prince Archie at the at the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation in South Africa in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
In a gesture well-received by Harry and Meghan, when he ascended the throne in 2022, King Charles III offered his grandchildren the prestigious prince and princess titles. They accepted the titles, but it was only later that they were used for the first time.
This remarkable transition was publicly acknowledged in March 2023 during the christening of Princess Lilibet, where the titles were officially used for the first time. The children’s names have since been updated on the royal family’s official website to “Prince Archie of Sussex” and “Princess Lilibet of Sussex.”
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Prince Archie at the at the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation in South Africa in 2019 | Source: Getty Images
The adoption of “Sussex” as the family surname aligns with royal traditions, where titles and territorial designations often serve as surnames, further embedding the children’s royal lineage and their parents’ legacy within their names. This approach to surnames follows a historical precedent within the royal family, where names and titles are deeply intertwined with identity and heritage.
