Prince Harry and Meghan Markle changed their children’s last names to Sussex

By Devika Chandrakar

In May 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed their first child, Archie, into the world. At the time, they announced his full name as Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. When Archewell launched, it was a tribute to their son, Archie. However, with the addition of their daughter Lilibet to the family, the couple wanted a website that reflected their entire family and their various projects. The couple decided to officially use the last name Sussex for both Archie and their daughter, Lilibet.

The story behind the last name Sussex:

This decision coincided with the launch of their revamped website, Sussex.com, which received immediate criticism from some corners of the British press. Two main concerns were raised: the use of a coat of arms, despite the couple no longer being working members of the royal family, and the inclusion of Sussex in the domain name. Back in 2020, when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped away from the monarchy, Queen Elizabeth asked them to no longer use the brand name Sussex Royal (which was then their Instagram handle and the name of their website). Subsequently, they used Archewell for their website and production company.
The switch from Mountbatten-Windsor to Sussex as a surname traces back to the coronation of King Charles. As their grandfather ascended the throne, Archie and Lilibet moved up in the line of succession, receiving the new titles of Prince and Princess of Sussex. Formerly known as Master Archie and Miss Lilibet, the adoption of Sussex aligns with the tradition where British princes and princesses often use their titles or their parents’ titles as last names. For instance, Prince Harry and Prince William used the last name Wales at school to reflect their parents’ titles of Prince and Princess of Wales.
Ultimately, the decision to have Archie and Lilibet use Sussex as their last name not only follows royal tradition but also brings a sense of unity to the family. Now, both parents, styled as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, share the same last name as their children. It’s a change that not only respects tradition but also sounds quite pleasant—Archie Sussex and Lilibet Sussex.