Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly updated the surnames their children use, changing them from “Mountbatten-Windsor” to “Sussex.”
Their son was originally named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, and their daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. The Times reports the children have been going by Archie Sussex and Lilibet Sussex since King Charles III’s coronation.
The change is being linked to a wider family rebrand. Recent updates to the couple’s website suggest they want one clear umbrella name for their projects and public identity. Supporters see it as a simple way to present a united family. Critics say it clashes with the couple’s decision to step back from royal duties while still using royal connections.
Here’s the key difference. Mountbatten-Windsor is the official surname for male-line descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, combining the Windsor and Mountbatten family lines. Sussex, on the other hand, connects the children directly to their parents’ ducal title, which Prince Harry kept after leaving his role as a working royal.
Meghan also spoke about the name on her Netflix show With Love, Meghan. She said she now uses “Sussex” and described it as meaningful to share a family name with her children. An insider told The Times the shift is meant to represent “unification.”