Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have chosen to bestow upon their children, 4-year-old Prince Archie and 2-year-old Princess Lilibet, the surname Sussex rather than Mountbatten-Windsor, a decision that would have upset the late Prince Philip as stated by a royal expert.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away in April 2021 at the age of 99, had designated the surname Mountbatten-Windsor for his male-line descendants since 1960.
Royal expert Ingrid Seward expressed in the Daily Mail how Prince Philip would have been greatly displeased and would have “turned in his grave” due to Harry’s choice to alter his children’s names.
In her article, Seward highlighted that this move by Harry would further alienate him and his children from the royal family, known as the Firm.
The House of Windsor itself changed its name from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha back in 1917 during World War I due to prevailing anti-German sentiments.
When Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne in 1952, Philip felt a sense of betrayal as his children were to bear the surname Windsor instead of Mountbatten, which he adopted upon relinquishing his claim to the Greek and Danish thrones in favor of his mother’s surname.
The announcement of Archie and Lilibet’s official name changes was made recently on Harry and Meghan’s new website, Sussex.com, sparking significant controversy.
The couple faced backlash for seemingly going back on their promise not to exploit their titles for financial gain after stepping down from royal duties in 2020.
The decision to rename their site after their titles was deemed provocative and could pose a challenge for Buckingham Palace, suggesting a breach of agreement with the royal family, both in letter and spirit.
Despite being the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, using these titles for personal gain might put Buckingham Palace in a difficult position regarding potential actions they could take.
In light of these developments, the rift between Harry, Meghan, and the royal family seems to deepen, raising questions about the couple’s intentions and their commitment to the agreements made when they decided to distance themselves from senior royal roles.
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