Harry & Meghan ‘change Archie and Lilibet’s names to Sussex’ in bid to ‘unify’ family as new Sussex.com website launched
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle have changed Archie and Lilibet’s names as they move to “unify” the family, a source has claimed.
The children had been known as Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.
But since the King’s coronation, the children are now as Archie and Lilibet Sussex.
News of the change coincides with the couple launching their new website Sussex.com, which sources say was a bid to “unify” the family.
But Harry and Meghan have been fiercely criticised for the site, with one royal expert slamming them for “cashing in” on their royal ties.
The children will both go by the last name Sussex in a “proud moment” for the family which represents their “unification”.
An insider 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.”
Archie and Lilibet’s names have been a point of hot contention for the Sussexes.
In their shock interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan said there were “several conversations” with Harry about Archie’s skin tone and “what that would mean or look like”.
She then added: “All the grandeur around this stuff is not really important to me.
“But in those months when I was pregnant, all around same time: we have in tandem he won’t be given security, a title and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born.”
Oprah had asked Meghan: “How do they explain to you that your son, the great grandson of the Queen, wasn’t going to be a prince?
“You certainly must have had conversations with Harry about it and had your own suspicions as to why they didn’t want to make Archie a prince.”
But sources claimed the couple “didn’t want any titles for their children” and had told the Royal Family so – but went to moan to Oprah about their son’s lack of one anyway.
Another source told the Telegraph Meghan and Harry “never raised an issue” and that the Duke of Sussex had been “adamant” that Archie “should be raised without titles like his cousins Peter and Zara Phillips”.
It reflects the fact the family have, since the King’s coronation, the same surname for the first time
Then, fresh claims alleged Meghan and Harry rejected an Earl title for Archie because it contained the word “dumb”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided against the title Earl of Dumbarton for their son because they allegedly feared it would attract unfortunate nicknames.
Last year it was revealed Meghan and Harry intended to use prince and princess for both kids in formal settings as Charles was now King, calling it the kids’ “birthright”.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes said: “The children’s titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch.
“This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace.”
Inside the controversy over Archie and Lilibet's names
But the couple were said to be keen to allow Archie and Lilibet the chance to decide for themselves whether to drop or keep using the titles when they get older.
The youngsters became prince and princess when the King acceded to the throne, but remained a plain “master” and “miss” on the Buckingham Palace website for six months.
However, the change was updated on the Royal Family website in May – naming the youngsters as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
As the children of a sovereign’s son, Archie and Lili are automatically a prince and princess and now have an HRH style if they choose.
When Archie was born in May 2019, he was seventh in line to the throne so was too far down the line of succession.
Although he was a great-grandchild of the monarch, he was not a first-born son of a future king, so was not automatically a prince.
The couple came under fire this week just hours after launching Sussex.com, which they had dubbed a “one-stop-shop” for fans to get “personal updates”.
The late Queen banned the couple from using ‘SussexRoyal’ after they stepped away from royal duty four years ago.
The Queen ordered the pair to mothball it in the January 2020 exit settlement, when Meghan and Harry stopped being senior members of the royal family.
Couple to come 'under fire' over royal crest
By Matt Wilkinson
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry are set to come under fire for using their royal coat of arms in their US-based rebrand.
The Duchess of Sussex worked closely with the College of Arms in London to create the design, Kensington Palace said at the time it was first revealed after their royal wedding in May 2018.
The crest – which harks back to their royal life despite walking away to live in the USA – has a blue shield representing the Pacific Ocean and rays symbolising sunshine of California
The lion relates to the Duke of Sussex and a songbird supporting represents Meghan.
Beneath the shield is California’s state flower the golden poppy and Wintersweet and was also depicted on the duchess’ wedding veil.
The three quills illustrate the power of words and communication.
The royal crest has barely been used by the couple before.
And a royal expert tonight slammed the Sussexes for “cashing in” on the crest.
Angela Levin told The Sun: “They are cashing in on their royal connections that they say they hate so much.
“Queen Elizabeth II would be furious because they promised they wouldn’t do that.
“They should be stopped from using a title that they spent years insulting
“They left the Royal Family because they didn’t want anything to do with it but now realise they can use Sussex rather than Archewell.
“Four years after they left they are trying to be royal and also setting up the ‘Office’ of Prince Harry and Meghan, it is so hypocritical.
“It is pathetic, they couldn’t use SussexRoyal so they have found a way round it.
But the new site still links back to the Sussex Royal website.
Visitors to that site see a notice that reads: “This site was established in 2020 and sets out the work streams of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex prior to their move to the United States.”
A link then takes the pair back to Sussex.com.
Meghan yesterday broke her silence on the new Sussex.com, ignoring critics while she boasted about its design.
She and Harry were then snapped with smiles ear-to-ear as they met veterans on the ice to launch next year’s Invictus Games.
The prince took a hands-on approach, giving sit-skiing a go while Meghan watched on with a smile.
They hugged and shook hands with dozens of people in their first appearance since the rebrand.
The couple had been labelled “pathetic” for using their royal crest on the new site, despite no longer being part of The Firm.