By now, one can say with utmost certainty that Prince Harry’s present-day reputation sets him apart from his royal cohorts. Following a string of drama and controversies, the former royal is placed within the category of a prince who dramatically severed connections with his family to join the world of commoners.
However, this hasn’t shunned curiosity to reflect in detail on the former prince’s heritage starting from the basic detail that is, Harry’s full name. Since he was a boy, we knew and addressed him as Harry. Not to mention, every piece of news and controversy that he was embroiled in was covered using that name.
The truth is that Harry is rather a simplified version of Henry Charles Albert David, which is his standard official name. The full name is seldom heard by people given its restricted use and during his tenure as royal member, Harry was referenced as Henry in various official events. His engagement announcement with Meghan Markle being one of them, which reads “His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms. Meghan Markle Are Engaged to Be Married.”
The answer to the former royal’s full name might be easy but the same can’t be said about his last name which is much more complicated.
Turns out that Harry doesn’t have a last name and until his disassociation from the family, he was conferred with royal titles such as Prince of Wales, Earl of Dumbarton, and Duke of Sussex. But his children, Archie and Lillibet, bear Mountbatten-Windsor as their last name as a result of being the royal family’s untitled descendants.
The royal decree itself mentions that any member who gives up assigned titles and resultantly loses the status of HRH be known by this last name. The statement reads, “The Queen’s descendants, other than those with the style of Royal Highness and the title of Prince/Princess or female descendants who marry, would carry the name of Mountbatten-Windsor.” Even Harry is entitled to the name now, given his exit from the royal family.
Published: Jun 28, 2023 06:33 pm