It’s no surprise that Prince Harry’s relationship with the royal family has been rocky — he’s been involved in multiple long-running feuds. Things apparently got so tense a few years ago that he even considered changing his last name.
According to The Daily Mail, Harry “actively explored ways to assume his mother’s surname,” meaning he looked into dropping Mountbatten-Windsor and taking on the name Spencer instead.
Sources say he even brought it up with his uncle, Earl Spencer, during a visit to the UK. However, his uncle reportedly told him “the legal hurdles were insurmountable.” One of Harry’s friends told the outlet that “they had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step.”
If Harry had gone ahead with the name change, it would’ve meant Archie and Lilibet might be called Spencer, and Meghan would be known as Meghan Spencer. Pretty wild to think about!
Quick royal history recap: The surname Mountbatten-Windsor was created by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. They wanted a distinct last name for their children.
“Windsor” was originally chosen by King George V as the family name for his descendants, while “Mountbatten” came from Prince Philip’s mother’s side.
Interestingly, most royals don’t even use a last name at all. According to the official royal website: “For the most part, members of the Royal Family who are entitled to the style and dignity of HRH Prince or Princess do not need a surname, but if at any time any of them do need a surname (such as upon marriage), that surname is Mountbatten-Windsor.”