Why Prince Harry, Meghan Markle’s Son Carries Mountbatten-Windsor Name But Prince William's Don’t

They’ve finally welcomed their son, introduced him to the world and revealed his name, but the history behind Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor's name is a story full of heartbreaking battles.

Though his parents, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle go by the titles of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and do not carry a surname, Archie does, and it’s one that some royal fans may not be entirely familiar with. In fact, the name is the actual full surname of the royal family, combining Prince Philip’s chosen surname of Mountbatten with the Queen’s own maiden name of Windsor. However, the hyphenated name was one that came about after a long battle between the Duke of Edinburgh and his wife’s family.

According to Express UK, at the time of Prince Charles and Princess Anne’s births, Prince Philip’s desire to give his children the Mountbatten surname was overruled by then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Queen Mary and the Queen Mother, and his wife continued the tradition by declaring upon her coronation that the house and family would be known as Windsor. This led to a decade-long feud where he felt deeply hurt, leading to the Queen’s decision to change things when she became pregnant with Prince Andrew in 1960.

Prior to his birth, it became official that any descendants of the queen who do not enjoy a His or Her Royal Highness title would adopt the last name of Mountbatten-Windsor.

However, as it currently stands, Prince Harry’s son is the only member of the family who does use the last name. As her children, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward all have HRH titles as well as Duchy titles. Princess Anne is also styled as HRH. Charles and Andrew’s children also received Prince and Princess titles. Edward’s children, James, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor, do have the Mountbatten-Windsor surname, though they are referred to officially by their royal titles.

As for why the newest member of the royal family carries the surname but Prince William's children do not, it stems from the fact that his children do carry HRH titles. Their full titles are Prince George of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Prince Louis of Cambridge—exempting them from using the surname.

At least for now, Archie has not received a royal title, and unless his parents opt for him to be given one at a later date, will use the family surname throughout his life. While he would still use the surname if he had a title, he would be officially referred to by whichever one was given to him.