According to reports, Meghan Markle may change her surname once she has officially completed royal duties.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their decision to step down from the royal family in January and this decision comes into effect at the end of the month.
Currently, Meghan and Harry use their HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) titles which negates the need for surnames but of course, they are due to stop using the official titles soon.
In fact, Harry requested that he be referred to as ‘Harry’ at a recent engagement which shows that he’s preparing to drop the prince mention.
It’s possible that the couple will use Sussex as a surname as they are currently the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and will remain so after the split, but there are other options too.
Their son Archie is named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor with Mountbatten-Windsor – the official surname of the royal family.
It is possible that the couple would adopt this surname so as to have the same as their son but equally, they may continue with Sussex which they have been using up to now.
Whether Meghan Markle will continue using her maiden name as they undertake new personal projects also remains to be seen.
The couple’s decision to exit the royal family came as a surprise to many including the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duke of Cambridge whom were not informed in advance, according to numerous sources.
Meghan and Harry instead released a statement via their official Instagram account which read:
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.
“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.
“It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.
“This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.
“We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.”
