Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, commonly known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have recently adopted their royal titles as the last names for their two children. Previously referred to as 'Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor' and 'Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor,' their 4-year-old son, Prince Archie, and 2-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet, were granted the titles of prince and princess when their grandfather, King Charles, ascended to the throne in September 2022.
In March 2023, Meghan, 42, and Prince Harry, 39, utilized their children's royal titles for the first time when announcing the christening of Princess Lilibet. As a result, their names have been officially updated to 'Prince Archie of Sussex' and 'Princess Lilibet of Sussex' on the royal family's official website. It's worth noting that 'Sussex' serves as their family surname, as it follows the tradition implemented by other members of the royal family.
This approach towards using titles as last names follows a similar pattern in the royal family. For instance, Prince William and Kate Middleton's three children are officially known as Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, and Prince Louis of Wales, mirroring their parents' titles as the Prince and Princess of Wales. However, in a more informal setting at school, they are commonly referred to as George Wales, Charlotte Wales, and Louis Wales by their friends and teachers.
Both Prince William and Prince Harry had also opted for this practice during their time in the armed forces. Instead of their royal titles, they preferred to use 'William Wales' and 'Harry Wales,' adopting their father's title, Prince of Wales, as their surname.
Technically, the royal family's last name is Mountbatten-Windsor. In 1917, the family transitioned from being known as the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the House of Windsor. This change was triggered by anti-German sentiments within the United Kingdom following World War I. Subsequently, they adopted the more English-sounding name, Windsor. A later addition to the family, Prince Philip, brought about another name alteration. After relinquishing his title as Prince of Greece and Denmark, he adopted the name Mountbatten. The official declaration of the surname Mountbatten-Windsor occurred in 1960, thirteen years after Prince Philip married Queen Elizabeth.
As clarified on the royal family's website, the purpose of this declaration was to provide a surname option for occasions when members of the Royal Family required one. While most individuals entitled to the style and dignity of HRH Prince or Princess typically do not need a surname, situations like marriage may necessitate its use. In these cases, the surname employed is Mountbatten-Windsor.
Recent discussions about Meghan and Prince Harry's royal titles came to the forefront with the introduction of their new website, Sussex.com, earlier this week. Following their decision to step back from their roles as working members of the royal family in 2020, Buckingham Palace announced that they would no longer utilize their His/Her Royal Highness titles. Nevertheless, Harry and Meghan would retain the formal titles of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, with Harry referred to as the Duke of Sussex, and Meghan as the Duchess of Sussex. Importantly, Prince Harry remains in line for the throne and currently holds the fifth spot, following the three children of Prince William and Princess Kate: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.
Presently, Prince Harry and Meghan are in Canada for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025's One Year to Go celebrations. Despite the freezing temperatures, the couple braved the weather and ventured onto the snowy mountains to interact with adaptive skiers and their guides. Prince Harry even had a chance to try out adaptive skiing himself, and Meghan, borrowing someone's phone, captured the moment by snapping a picture of her husband, expressing her intention to show it to their children.
The choices made by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry regarding their children's surnames reflect the traditions followed within the royal family. Through these decisions, they both honor their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and maintain a connection to their family heritage. As they continue to carve their own paths beyond their royal duties, their children's identities and names play an influential role in shaping their lives as part of the royal lineage.
