Prince Harry‘s rift with the royal family has reportedly worsened amid reports that the Duke of Sussex considered adopting the Spencer surname.
The US-based royal is said to have discussed the idea with his late mother’s brother, Earl Spencer, who advised against it.
However, royal experts say the move by Prince Harry has deepened tensions within the monarchy, with King Charles and Prince William reportedly “hurt and dismayed.”
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Prince Harry’s Talk Of Taking The Spencer Name Raises Tensions Within Royal Family
Harry reportedly discussed with his uncle, Earl Charles Spencer, the possibility of adopting his late mother Princess Diana’s surname, which would symbolically sever his ties with the Mountbatten-Windsor name currently used by his children.
According to the Daily Mail, Harry brought up the idea during a recent visit to the U.K., where he had a “very amicable conversation” with his uncle, the 9th Earl Spencer. While the discussion was friendly, sources revealed that Earl Spencer advised against “taking such a step.”
The proposal has since sparked concern within royal circles. Royal commentator Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that Harry’s inquiry alone has stirred unease.
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“Once again, Prince Harry has managed to make yet another deeply divisive and emotionally charged move, further fracturing his already tenuous relationship with the royal family,” she said.
Fordwich continued: “The overwhelming advice from within his own family, particularly from his Uncle Earl Spencer, is to abandon the ludicrous idea due to its legal and emotional consequences.”
She added: “Even his inquiry highlights the enduring complexities of Harry’s relationship with his royal roots… It further thwarts any future reconciliation.”
The commentator further noted that the royal family is “hurt and dismayed” by the development, causing additional “damage to the already strained family relations.”
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Experts View Prince Harry’s Potential Name Change As A Bitter Rejection Of Royal Legacy And Family
British broadcaster Helena Chard echoed the sentiment, describing the potential name change as having “an air of revenge.”
Speaking to Fox News Digital, she called the move “hurtful and vindictive” toward King Charles, emphasizing that it reflects Harry’s ongoing bitterness.
“It highlights Prince Harry’s little to no regard for his family,” Chard said. “A huge amount of bitterness and frustration bubbling away in Harry could have led to him feeling the Spencer name would help grow his Royal court.”
Chard also suggested that aligning more closely with the Spencer legacy could be a strategic move for Harry.
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“No doubt Prince Harry feels reinventing himself keeps him relevant,” she remarked. “The world still has a love affair with the late Princess Diana. Harry and Meghan could take a cash grab of Princess Diana’s legacy. [However], tarnishing Princess Diana’s legacy would leave a bitter taste in the public’s mouths.”
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The Duke’s Name Change Consideration Slammed As A ‘Direct Insult’ To King Charles
Royal analyst Richard Fitzwilliams also commented, warning that Charles would likely view the idea as a painful rejection of his paternal legacy.
“For Harry to consider doing this, he must still feel very embittered,” Fitzwilliams noted. “King Charles will regard this with great sadness… What will Harry think up next?”
Fordwich also noted that the proposal is “viewed as a direct insult to his father, King Charles III, as well as his extended royal family.”
She explained: “Ironically, Harry was close to Prince Philip, who fought for the historical significance of the Mountbatten-Windsor name for his descendants. So it is a direct insult to him.”
Prince Harry’s Potential Adoption Of The Spencer Name Could Be Seen As A Tribute To Princess Diana
According to Fordwich, Harry may see adopting the Spencer name as a way to honor his late mother, Princess Diana, “while distancing himself from the rest of the royal institution he feels alienated from.”
Fordwich noted that “there is also some speculation that Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, wants their children to be more closely associated with Diana’s legacy, especially their daughter, Princess Lilibet, whose full name is Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.”
Even so, Fordwich warned that tensions within the royal family remain high, and this new revelation only makes things worse.
“King Charles III is hesitant to speak with Harry, and Prince William is disgusted that he keeps referencing their mother,” Fordwich claimed.
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She concluded that “trust and communication are currently at an all-time low. Any hope of rapprochement is now said to be ‘in tatters,’ particularly given Harry’s wish to change his surname, which is viewed as a final break from his royal roots.”
Prince Harry’s Alleged Interest In The Spencer Surname Seen As An Emotional And Strategic Move
Meanwhile, royal commentator Ian Pelham Turner told the outlet that he wasn’t surprised by Harry’s reported interest in adopting the Spencer surname, noting the prince’s enduring emotional connection to his mother’s side of the family.
“Prince Harry, at the time of this alleged conversation, was at a very low ebb,” Turner explained. “He found tremendous support from Earl Spencer and Diana’s two sisters, who rallied around [him]… The Spencer name is always a potential path for the beleaguered couple and their children. But at this stage, it’s not on the horizon.”
Turner added that the “royal family and Harry are still seemingly at war with each other.”
