Prince Harry Considered Changing Children's Surname Amid Passport Delays

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly contemplated changing their children's surname to Spencer—Princess Diana's family name—during a period of significant delays in obtaining UK passports for Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

According to multiple reports, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex experienced lengthy delays in securing British passports for their children, which led to concerns that King Charles or palace officials might be deliberately obstructing the process due to disputes over royal titles and HRH status.

The Guardian reports that Prince Harry approached his maternal uncle, Earl Spencer, in late 2022 or early 2023 to discuss using the Spencer surname and sought his blessing for the potential change. However, this plan was ultimately abandoned once the passports were finally issued, reportedly after the Sussexes threatened legal action.

Buckingham Palace has denied any involvement in delaying the passport applications, with sources close to the palace refuting the suggestion that King Charles played any role in the matter.

The episode highlights ongoing tensions between the Sussexes and the royal establishment regarding their children's status following Harry and Meghan's withdrawal from senior royal duties. The family has apparently chosen to use "Sussex" as their family name going forward, a decision that has reportedly angered some members of the Royal Family.