Just because she’s marrying a royal doesn’t mean Meghan Markle won’t take on a new last name! The actress is set to wed Prince Harry tomorrow, so now many royal fans are wondering what she’ll be called after. Scroll down for the details on the couple’s monikers!
What is Prince Harry’s last name?
Prince Harry doesn’t typically use a surname, but anyone in Queen Elizabeth’s family “other than those with the style of Royal Highness and the title of Prince/Princess, or female descendants who marry” has the last name Mountbatten-Windsor. Harry also sometimes goes by Harry Wales, which refers to their father Prince Charles‘ title as the Prince of Wales.
What is Meghan Markle’s full name?
Right now her full name is Rachel Meghan Markle (yes, Meghan is actually her middle name!), but once she and Harry tie the knot, her name could become Rachel Meghan Mountbatten-Windsor, if she wants, that is. “Junior members of the royal family have the option of using the surname,” royal historian and author Carolyn Harris told Town & Country.
Windsor is the name Queen Elizabeth confirmed when she took the throne in 1952, and Mountbatten is Prince Philip’s surname. However, Meghan could very well not use a surname at all. “Members of the Royal Family can be known both by the name of the Royal house, and by a surname, which are not always the same. And often they do not use a surname at all,” the royal family’s website states. “The Royal Family name of Windsor was confirmed by The Queen after her accession in 1952. However, in 1960, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh decided that they would like their own direct descendants to be distinguished from the rest of the Royal Family (without changing the name of the Royal House), as Windsor is the surname used by all the male and unmarried female descendants of George V.”
Royal expert Marlene Koenig told Town & Country, “Once married, Meghan will sign as Meghan, no last name. Just as Harry signs as Harry. Royals use only a first name. However she thinks Harry will probably use Mountbatten-Windsor when he signs their marriage registrar. This was used by Anne, Andrew, and Edward when they married. Charles had no surname on his registrar. We do not know what William used because unlike every other royal, he chose not to make it public.” We’ll have to wait and see what name Meghan goes with!
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