Royal fans might be surprised to learn that Prince William and Prince Harry’s children do not share the same surname, unlike the majority of male siblings in the UK.
Taking after their father’s new title as the Prince of Wales, William and Kate’s young children Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4, all have the last name Wales.
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At their new school, Lambrook, the royal siblings are referred to as George Wales, Charlotte Wales, and Louis Wales.
The Queen declared in Privy Council in 1960 that male line descendants of the monarch, without royal styles and titles, shall bear the name Mountbatten-Windsor. This is according to the official website of the royal family.
Archie, the son of Harry and Meghan, was given the name Master Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor instead of a title when he was born in May 2019 as a tribute to his late great-grandparents, the late Queen Elizabeth II and the late Duke of Edinburgh.
Thus, Archie, son of Harry, bears the Mountbatten-Windsor surname. Lilibet Diana, his younger sister, also goes by that name.
William and Harry used the surname “Wales” throughout their childhood, including in school, at university, and while serving in the military. Harry held the title of Captain Wales, while William was known as Lieutenant Wales.
This is due to the fact that their father, Prince Charles, held the title of Prince of Wales, but after their marriages, William and Harry received new titles from their grandmother, the Queen, and it is expected that their offspring will inherit these.
In a similar vein, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice also adopt the surname “York” in honor of their father, the Duke of York, in their professional endeavors.
