Prince Harry is under fire after reportedly considering a legal name change—an idea that critics say only deepens the rift between him and the royal family.

According to sources, the Duke of Sussex approached his uncle, Earl Spencer—Princess Diana’s brother—for advice about dropping the surname Mountbatten-Windsor in favor of Spencer, his mother’s maiden name.

While the conversation was described as warm, Spencer advised against it due to the legal complexities involved. A friend close to Harry said, “They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step.”

Mountbatten-Windsor is the surname of both Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, combining the royal lineage of Windsor and the Mountbatten name adopted by Prince Philip. Changing it would not only mark a symbolic shift but could also be seen as distancing Harry and his family from the monarchy.

Royal biographer Tom Bower previously claimed, “Meghan decided her real object in life was to be Diana.” If Harry had gone through with the change, his daughter’s full name would become Lilibet Diana Spencer, making the tribute to his late mother even more prominent.

The idea of dropping Mountbatten-Windsor might not sit well with King Charles III, who values the name deeply. It was chosen by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1960 to reflect both sides of their heritage. The sensitivity around names and titles is longstanding for the Sussexes, ever since they were granted their titles at their 2018 wedding.

Online reaction to the potential name change has been swift and largely negative. One user wrote, “Just when you think he can’t get any lower…” while another declared, “The Final Insult .. He’s Blown Any Chance Of Returning To The Firm Now…[sic].” Some viewed the move as divisive, with one person commenting, “Dropping the name would be a direct slap in the face of Charles and the late Queen.”