Just when you thought things couldn’t get any juicier, Prince Harry is here to prove us wrong! The royal was reportedly this close to pulling off a royal rebrand — and no, we’re not talking about another Netflix doc or tell-all memoir. Word on the street suggests that Harry seriously considered ditching his royal surname, Mountbatten-Windsor. Why is that? He wanted to do it in favor of a name that screams Diana pride: Spencer. So, what did he decide at last?
Prince Harry: Harry Was So Close to Changing His Name
This mini identity crisis apparently bubbled up last year when Prince Harry made a UK for the funeral of his uncle Robert Fellowes. He stayed at none other than Althorp Estate, his late mum Princess Diana’s childhood home. He stayed there with Uncle Charles Spencer, who you’ll remember for his speech during Diana’s funeral.
He called William and Harry her “blood family,” and well, that vibe clearly stuck.
According to Richard Eden, the Duke even asked for advice on legally becoming Harry Spencer. However, Uncle Charles held him back and allegedly talked him out of it. A friend of Meg’s husband shared that they had a very amicable conversation. Ultimately, Spencer advised him against taking such a step.
Next, Uncle Charles didn’t sugarcoat it either, reminding the Invictus Games founder that this wasn’t just a name change. He made him understand that it could be a bureaucratic nightmare. Moreover, renaming the kids would’ve cause huge drama. Little Archie and Princess Lilibet currently hold the Mountbatten-Windsor surname.
Where Does ‘Spencer’ Come From?
If Harry went full Spencer, we might’ve been calling her Princess Lilibet Diana Spencer. What would have been King Charles’ reaction? The Mountbatten name is royal legacy gold, thanks to Prince Philip’s mentor Louis Mountbatten. All of this comes as the Duke continues to makes royal revelations.
The Prince has given many headline-making interviews accusing the fam of everything from neglect to emotional sabotage. In a parallel PR twist, Meghan Markle’s latest passion project, As Ever, is dealing with its own identity crisis. After her jam and floral sprinkles sold out in a flash, she gave Fast Company a confusing interview.
Despite the hype, the Duchess “wants to take a step back” from the hustle of selling products. Instead, she will “gather data” and “focus on the hospitality angle.” She teased new products in 2026, adding, “I can understand what the customer’s needs are seasonally.” For more such Royal Family updates, keep following Soap Opera Daily!
