Overview

• Prince Harry explored adopting Spencer, his late mother’s maiden name, during a recent visit to Britain.
• He consulted his uncle Earl Spencer, who described their discussion as amicable but warned of insurmountable legal obstacles.
• Implementing the change would have required abandoning Mountbatten-Windsor, the surname on his children’s birth certificates.
• The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have maintained “Sussex” as their family surname since stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
• Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet remain registered as Mountbatten-Windsor and are styled as Prince and Princess of Sussex in official records.