Prince Harry and Meghan have adopted the Sussex title as a surname for their children as they ‘unify’ their family, it was reported last night. Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two, have been known as Archie Sussex and Lilibet Sussex, rather than Mountbatten-Windsor, since King Charles’ coronation last May, a source told The Times.
The revelation comes amid an ongoing row over the Duke and Duchess’ rebranded ‘royal’ website Sussex.com – complete with Meghan’s coat of arms – which critics claim is a breach of their promise to the late Queen when they acrimoniously quit front-line royal duties.
Sources said the relaunch is a bid to unite projects by Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, and both their children under the same overall website. The use of Sussex is thought be in keeping with the way Harry was known as Captain Wales while in the army.
Archewell, the umbrella site for their philanthropic and commercial work, combines the Greek word ‘Arche’ and ‘well’ and is named after the couple’s eldest son.
Prince Harry has repeatedly complained about his childhood and being treated as a ‘spare to the heir’, his brother, Prince William, including in his controversial memoir, Spare.
The Sussexes are said to be determined not to replicate Harry’s apparent experiences in their upbringing of Lilibet.
A source told The Times: ‘The reality behind the new site is very simple — it’s a hub for the work the Sussexes do and it reflects the fact the family have, since the King’s coronation, the same surname for the first time. That’s a big deal for any family. It represents their unification and it’s a proud moment.’
A representative for the Duke and Duchess was contacted for comment. But a source close to the couple previously defended the use of their royal titles in their new websites, saying: ‘Prince Harry and Meghan are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. That is a fact. It is their surname and family name.’
On Monday, the Archewell website – the umbrella site for their philanthropic and commercial work – was replaced with ‘sussex.com’ and a new homepage entitled ‘The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’.