Harry and Meghan are following precedent set by Kate and William with children's names change

Harry and Meghan are following precedent set by Kate and William with children's names change

Harry and Meghan are following Kate and William with name change

GB News
Gabrielle Wilde

By Gabrielle Wilde


Published: 15/02/2024

- 15:17

Harry and Meghan have changed their children's last name to Sussex

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been criticised once again for changing the surname of their two children to Sussex.

The Duke and Duchess reportedly made the switch to "unify" the family with their brand and website.


Rather than being known as Mountbatten-Windsors, Archie and Lilibet have been known as Archie Sussex and Lilibet Sussex since King Charles's Coronation in May 2023.

Kate Middleton and Prince William's children also go by their royal titles at school and are identified George, Charlotte and Louis Cambridge.

Meghan and HarryMeghan and Harry have faced backlash for changing the last name of their children Getty

GB News Royal reporter Cameron Walker believes that the move from Harry and Meghan is following the precedent set by William, The Prince of Wales.

Walker said: "I think it's a question of motives and legality, isn't it? The legal surname is Mountbatten Windsor, but Buckingham Palace on their website says that that's there's no precedent or legal reason as to why perhaps they can't change the name informally, which is why perhaps we see.

"George Cambridge, Charlotte's Cambridge, Louis Cambridge were written on Kate and William's childrens school bags when they started school in Battersea a few years ago.

"Of course, Harry and William, when they were younger, adopted the 'Wales' name informally when they were both at Sandhurst and at school as well.

Meghan and HarryMeghan and Harry have launched a new website in major rebrandGetty

"So this has happened before, but I think it's the timing that's significance here because of course, the it's been announced that they have adopted the Sussex name for their children at the same time that they've rebranded the website.

"The same time that they've used Megan's royal Crest on the websites.

"And the allegation is that they're using it to capitalise on their royal status.

"Because this is, at the end of the day, a royal title."

Prince George, Kate Middleton, Prince Louis, William, Princess Charlotte

Kate and William's children also go by their royal title

PA

This week the couple were defended after a storm erupted over the name of their new website.

Harry and Meghan are no longer working members of the Royal Family but have been allowed to retain their Sussex titles.

The use of Sussex in the name of their website has sparked a backlash from those close to the Royal Family.

However, a source close to Sussexes has hit out at criticism of the couple's choice of name for their website.

They told the Mail: "Prince Harry and Meghan are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. That is a fact. It is their surname and family name."

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