Prince Harry’s ‘terrible message’ as King Charles urged to ‘sever him from royal family’ despite reconciliation plea

Prince Harry has been accused of sending a “terrible message” to the royal family following reports that he considered legally changing his surname to “Spencer”, a decision royal experts say contradicts his recent call for reconciliation with King Charles.

The explosive claim was first reported by the Daily Mail. It claimed that Prince Harry allegedly raised the idea about changing his family name during a private visit to the UK and even sought guidance from his maternal uncle, Charles Spencer.

According to a source close to the Duke of Sussex, the conversation between Harry and Charles Spencer was “amicable”. However, Earl Spencer reportedly advised against the name change, citing the legal complexities involved.

The move, had it gone forward, would have seen the Duke of Sussex drop his official family surname, Mountbatten-Windsor, in favour of his late mother Princess Diana’s maiden name.

It was later claimed Harry considered the move after his children Archie and Lilibet’s UK passports were being “blocked” because of their royal titles.

Prince Harry sends ‘terrible message’ to King Charles amid pleas for reconciliation

Royal commentator Charles Rae, speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, said the very consideration undermines Harry’s previous desire to repair family ties.

“It was only less than a month ago that he was pleading for a reconciliation with his father and his brother,” Charles noted.

“And the next thing we hear, he wants to change the name from Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer. Well, that is sending a terrible message to the royal family, that he doesn’t really want a reconciliation. He wants to be completely severed from the royal family. And I think the king should grant his wish.”

Charles added bluntly: “I think he should sever him from the royal family.”

The backlash comes just weeks after Prince Harry expressed his wish for reconciliation with his family.

In an emotional interview last month, he told the BBC: “I would love reconciliation with my family. I don’t know how much longer my father has. He won’t speak to me because of this security stuff. It would be nice to reconcile.”

It came after Harry lost his court appeal over the downgrade of his security in the UK. He lost his taxpayer-funded security in the UK when he and wife Meghan Markle stepped back from their senior royal roles in 2020. It’s now decided on a case-by-case basis.

But the surname saga has sparked renewed speculation over Harry’s true intentions, and whether he sees himself as part of the royal institution at all.

I think he should sever him from the royal family.

Royal correspondent Sarah Hewson questioned the symbolism behind the rumoured move.

“I mean, is it to send a message to the royal family?” She asked The Sun. “Is it to say, ‘Okay, fine, you don’t want to talk to us, then we’re not a part of this anymore’? Is it because he feels much closer to his Spencer relatives? Or is it to honour his mother?”

Harry and Meghan surname claims

Currently, Harry and Meghan’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.

This name combines the royal family’s House of Windsor and Prince Philip’s surname, Mountbatten.

Archie and Lilibet also gained prince and princess titles when their grandfather Charles became king in 2022.

Despite stepping back from their senior royal roles in 2020, Harry and Meghan kept their Sussex titles as well as their HRH titles.

However, in an agreement with the palace, they said they wouldn’t use their HRH titles publicly.

But controversy resurfaced last month after Meghan appeared on entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima’s podcast. A gift box she once sent Jamie was shown during the interview.

The gift basket contained a note that read: “With the Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex.”

Critics immediately claimed the duchess had breached the agreed boundaries. However, a source close to the couple insisted the card was part of a personal, non-commercial exchange.

Despite their physical and symbolic distance from the Crown, Harry and Meghan’s children were officially updated on the royal website in 2023 as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

However, speculation over Harry’s identity, intentions, and place in the royal family has left many wondering whether the bridges can be rebuilt.