Prince Harry consulted the brother of his late mother Princess Diana over changing his last name to Spencer, it has been reported.
According to the Mail on Sunday, the Duke of Sussex sought advice from Charles Spencer over whether he should take the surname of the maternal side of his family during a trip to the UK.
However, it also claimed Prince Harry‘s uncle advised against such a move due to the obstacles that could be encountered.
What is Prince Harry’s official last name?
Prince Harry’s official last name is Mountbatten-Windsor.
His full name is Henry Charles Albert David. But of course, we know him as Harry.
Did Prince Harry change his surname?
The newspaper claims Prince Harry “actively explored” ways in which he may make use of Princess Diana’s maiden name.
Additionally, it is implied Mountbatten-Windsor – the surname available to descendants of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and used by Prince Harry’s children – would be dropped.
However, according to the report, Prince Harry was told the resulting legal hurdles would be “insurmountable”.
Spencer advised him against taking such a step.
“They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step,” an unnamed friend of Prince Harry is quoted as saying.
Nonetheless, the newspaper considers the claim to be a proposal that would “dismay” Prince William and King Charles.
Furthermore, it is framed as a “vivid expression of the toxic rift with [Prince Harry’s] family”. That’s because, the Mail suggests, the king “cherishes the Mountbatten name just as his father did”.
The late Prince Philip adopted the Mountbatten name from his mentor, the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma – murdered by the IRA in 1979 – when he became a British subject in 1947.
Royal Insider has contacted representatives for Prince Harry for comment on MailOnline’s claims.
Harry ‘delivered insult’ to King Charles over last name discussions
Meanwhile, one royal commentator has additionally claimed the Sussexes may not have “thought out” how changing names could impact their standing.
Speaking about the report on GB News yesterday (Sunday June 1), host Anne Diamond expressed her shock at the “insult” from Prince Harry.
It comes after Harry made a public plea during a BBC interview last month. He said said he’d love to have a “reconciliation” with his estranged family.
“I can’t think of a more hurtful insult that Harry could deliver to his father, can you?” she asked author Richard Fitzwilliams.
She went on: “To say, ‘I no longer want your name. I want my mother’s name.’ It’s like declaring a divorce, only worse.”
Mr Fitzwilliams responded by pondering whether other moves could be contemplated by the Sussexes.
He said: “The problem with the Sussexes is, clearly very little has been thought out. They are supposed to have advisers.”
Meanwhile, speaking to the Express, Mr Fitzwilliams shared his thoughts on what the king might think.
He said: “This news will be deeply hurtful to King Charles, especially as it would have been a very public renunciation of the royal family only a relatively short time after he (Charles) had become king.”
The royal commentator said the king may feel “appalled” by Harry’s “drastic step”. He also insisted this will only “widen the royal rift”.
