Prince Harry was blasted by a royal expert over his latest reported move to change his family name to Spencer. The Duke of Sussex reportedly “discussed the issue” with his uncle and the late Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, and “actively explored ways” on how to make the change during a visit to Britain – the date of which was unspecified.
The Mail on Sunday reported that Harry was told that “the legal hurdles were insurmountable” but sources from the Sussex camp have now dismissed the latest claim and said it is “completely untrue”. Now, a royal expert criticised the Duke and said the surname change would have been devastating for his father, the King.
Royal commentator Helena Chard told Fox News: “Trying to change his surname has an air of revenge.
“Such a hurtful and vindictive move to King Charles. It highlights Prince Harry’s little to no regard for his family. 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.”
New reports emerged today claiming that Harry tried to change his family name after “repeated delays by British officials” in issuing passports for his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The Guardian reported that Harry’s move was a result of “sheer exasperation” after Archie and Lilibet’s UK passports took six months to be issued after the initial applications, with lawyers for the Sussexes allegedly sending a letter and “threatening to pursue a data subject access request”.
A source suggested the delays could be due to UK officials “dragging their feet” over the use of the HRH style (His/Her Royal Highness) for both children.
The outlet reported that the applications for Archie and Lilibet included the surname Sussex, which the couple has been using publicly. However, it added that until 2023, Archie had both US and UK passports under the name Mountbatten-Windsor.
A source said: “There was clear reluctance to issue passports for the kids.”
The standard wait time for a passport is three weeks, but Harry and Meghan reportedly reapplied for their children’s passports after not receiving them for three months due to “technical issues”.
But their application using the 24-hour passport service was reportedly cancelled at the last minute owing to a “systems failure”.
The source added: “The King hadn’t wanted Archie and Lili to carry the titles, most of all the HRH, and the British passports, once created, would be the first and perhaps the only legal proof of their names.”
Buckingham Palace strongly denied that the King or palace aides had anything to do with the delays in issuing their passports, according to The Telegraph.
Asked if the palace had made any suggestion or objection to the documents being issued with the HRH titles, a spokesman said: “No.”
The Home Office and Buckingham Palace declined to comment on The Guardian’s report.
A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex said: “We do not comment on private issues pertaining to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s children.”