As many people had expected, the couple will no longer return to their royal roles.
This means that the Sussex household will continue to live outside the British Monarchy, and likely the United Kingdom. Also, the Duke of Sussex now needs to utilize his own surname for his official businesses outside the monarchy.
Cosmopolitan reported, however, that the royal-born Prince’s surname is quite “complicated.” This then caused many people to wonder what name he will use in the future.
Surnames that Prince Harry used
This is not the first time Prince Harry had to use a surname. When he served in the military many years ago, he utilized “Wales,” making him Captain Harry Wales.
But, things appear to become a lot more complex now that he is the Duke of Sussex. Not to mention, he and Meghan Markle just left their royal posts, and they lost all of their royal patronages, as well as his military titles.
While it is possible that the Sussex couple will use “Wales” as their surnames, this might not be the case, considering that Archie Harrison uses a different surname. As many would recall, the couple’s firstborn son’s official name is Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
The official surname of British Royals
Archie Harrison uses the “Mountbatten-Windsor” surname because this is the official family name of the British Royal Family. The royal’s website states that this only became applicable in 1960 when Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip decided to have their own surname.
They wanted their own direct descendants “to be distinguished from the rest of the Royal Family” without eliminating the name of the Royal House, which is “Windsor.” Accordingly, they added the surname of the Duke of Edinburgh’s maternal grandparents.
As declared in the Privy Council, the royal couple’s descendants will carry the name of “Mounbatten-Windsor.” This, however, does not apply to those with HRH styles, Prince or Princess titles, and female descendants who marry.
Which surname will Prince Harry use?
While the Duke of Sussex utilized “Wales” as his surname in the past, this will not likely be the case today as he already has his own peerages. It is possible that he will utilize the official Royal Family name, “Mountbatten-Windsor.”
Reports noted, though, that Prince William and Kate Middleton utilized “Cambridge” as their children’s surname in school. Hence, there is also a chance that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will use “Sussex” as their official family name.