Earl Charles Spencer’s warning prompted Meghan and Harry to adopt 'Sussex' surname

Sources claimed that Harry investigated ways to assume Princess Diana's surname and discussed the matter with Earl Charles Spencer during a visit to Britain.

The Earl is understood to have advised his nephew against the move due to insurmountable legal complications. "They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step," a friend of Harry's told the Mail.

Following this consultation, the couple decided to use Sussex as their family name instead. "Harry accepted his uncle's advice that using the Spencer name would be too complicated," the friend explained.

The legal obstacles preventing the name change to Spencer remain unspecified, though the Earl's advice was apparently decisive.

The Earl's intervention effectively redirected Harry and Meghan towards adopting their ducal title as a surname instead.

The adoption of the Sussex surname became public during an exchange on Meghan's Netflix show "With Love, Meghan", released in March. In episode two, when actress and comedienne Mindy Kaling referred to her as "Meghan Markle", the Duchess corrected her friend.

"It's so funny you keep saying 'Meghan Markle' - you know I'm Sussex now," Meghan told the visibly confused Kaling. She continued: "You have kids and you go, 'No, I share my name with my children'. I didn't know how meaningful it would be to me, but it just means so much to go, 'This is our family name. Our little family name'."

The couple's children are now known as Archie and Lili Sussex, despite both being given the surname Mountbatten-Windsor on their birth certificates.

Royal sources have interpreted the Sussex name adoption as a calculated warning against any attempt to strip the couple of their titles. "It's clearly a warning shot," one Palace insider stated when Meghan's Netflix exchange was broadcast.

The source suggested Meghan was making a public point about how much the title meant to her and Harry. "In other words, they suggested, it's the clearest threat yet that the Royal Family should not even contemplate stripping the couple of their titles."

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This sanction has been mooted repeatedly since the couple abandoned royal duties five years ago and moved to California. Sources indicate such action remains possible should they publish more tell-all books or agree to explosive interviews.

The Sussex name adoption effectively raises the stakes in their ongoing battle with the Royal Family.

This marks a significant shift from the couple's initial use of Mountbatten-Windsor, the surname designated for descendants of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

The surname combines the Royal Family's name of Windsor with Prince Philip's adopted surname.