Harry, the younger son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, has a different surname from his brother, William, and their father, Charles. This distinction can be attributed to the complexities of the British royal family's naming conventions and the circumstances surrounding Harry's birth and upbringing.
To understand why Harry has a different surname, it is necessary to delve into the history and traditions of the British monarchy. Traditionally, members of the royal family do not typically require the use of a surname, as they are identified by their titles and lineage. However, in certain situations, surnames may be used to differentiate members of the family or when needed for official purposes.
In the case of Prince William and Prince Harry, their father, Prince Charles, belongs to the House of Windsor, which is the royal house of the British monarchy. Consequently, both William and Harry are also part of this house and could technically use the surname "Windsor." However, the matter of surnames became more complicated with the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981.
Upon their marriage, Princess Diana, formerly Lady Diana Spencer, became known as Diana, Princess of Wales. Consequently, their two sons, William and Harry, were given the surname "Wales" to reflect their father's title, Prince of Wales. Therefore, during their early years, the young princes were referred to as William Wales and Harry Wales.
In 1996, following their parents' divorce, Princess Diana famously stated in a television interview that "We're not doing this half-in, half-out thing." As a result, she requested that her sons be able to use the royal surname, Windsor, alongside their father's name, Wales. Her desire was to ensure that William and Harry retained a connection to their royal lineage, even though their parents were no longer together.
This request led to discussions within the royal family, and ultimately, Queen Elizabeth II issued a decree in 1997 declaring that the descendants of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, other than those with the title of prince or princess, would carry the surname Mountbatten-Windsor. This name is a combination of Prince Philip's surname, Mountbatten, and the House of Windsor, which was the name adopted by the royal family in 1917.
The surname Mountbatten-Windsor aimed to acknowledge both Prince Philip's contribution to the family and the continuity of the Windsor name. However, it's worth noting that this surname is not commonly used by the members of the royal family, and they are generally known by their titles or first names alone.
In recent years, Prince Harry's surname has once again become a topic of interest. Following his marriage to Meghan Markle in 2018, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the decision to step back from their roles as senior members of the royal family. In early 2020, they announced their intention to seek financial independence and split their time between the United Kingdom and North America.
As part of this transition, Prince Harry and Meghan decided not to use their HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) titles and expressed their desire to be known simply as Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. This choice further distanced Prince Harry from the royal surname, as he is now primarily known by his title and first name, rather than as Prince Harry Mountbatten-Windsor.
The reason why Harry has a different surname from William and Charles can be attributed to a combination of factors: the historical naming conventions of the British royal family, Princess Diana's wish for her sons to retain a connection to their royal lineage, and Prince Harry's decision to distance himself from his royal titles. As a result, while William and Charles are commonly referred to by their titles and first names, Harry's identification primarily relies on his title and first name alone.
