Usually, kids tend to be given the same last name as their parents – most commonly their father’s family name. But as last names are less of a thing in the royal family, what name will Meghan and Harry’s kids take?
Firstly, Markle is definitely out of the question as Meghan gave it up the second she said ‘I do’. So the big question is really one for Harry.
Let’s talk history for a minute. According to the official royal website:
The Royal Family name of Windsor was confirmed by The Queen after her accession in 1952. However, in 1960, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh decided that they would like their own direct descendants to be distinguished from the rest of the Royal Family (without changing the name of the Royal House), as Windsor is the surname used by all the male and unmarried female descendants of George V. It was therefore declared in the Privy Council that 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.
But even though the royal family’s last name is technically Mountbatten-Windsor, this probably still won’t be the name that will be used.
Growing up, Prince William and Harry used the last name ‘Wale’, as their father, Prince Charles, is the Prince of Wales. I.e. they used their territorial title instead of their surname. Prince William and Katherine did the same when they registered Prince George at school under George Cambridge – Charlotte and Louis will follow suit.
When they were married, Harry and Meghan were given the royal title of Duke and Duchess of Sussex by the Queen, so if this is anything to go by, then it seems that Harry and Meghan’s offspring will likely go by the name Sussex.
Glad we cleared that one up!
