Names and titles continue to be a highly sensitive subject for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It has now been revealed Prince Harry reportedly explored ways with Earl Spencer to change his family name

It is understood Prince Harry (right) discussed changing his family name with Earl Spencer (left)

Prince Harry reportedly sought advice from Princess Diana ‘s brother about changing his family name.

It’s been almost thirty years since Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris at the age of 36. Her younger brother Earl Spencer was just 32 years old at the time, while their sister Sarah and Jane were 42 and 40 years old.

Earl Charles Spencer recently made a heartbreaking admission about her death during a special episode of Loose Men. The Earl made his debut as a panellist on Loose Men today, as the panel were talking about their close bonds with their siblings.

Explaining how it felt to lose a sibling, Earl Spencer said it’s like an “amputation.” He later revealed that for years after his sister’s tragic death, he thought he had to “ring her to tell her something” – before realising he couldn’t anymore.

Earl Spencer on Loose Men(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

The Duchess of Sussex gave up her royal title along with husband Prince Harry when they stepped down as senior royals in March 2020. They still retain the HRH titles, which Harry has had since birth, but are not supposed to use them for commercial purposes.

Names and titles continue to be a highly sensitive subject for the pair. The Sussex title was given to the pair on the morning of their wedding in May 2018 by Prince Harry’s late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

But, the Mail on Sunday has revealed Prince Harry explored ways to take his mother’s surname and ditch Mountbatten-Windsor, used by his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet and a name cherished by King Charles.

It is understood Prince Harry discussed the issue with Earl Spencer during a rare visit to Britain, but was told that the legalities surrounding the change were to great to overcome. A friend of Prince Harry told MailOnline: “They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step”.

Princess Diana, Princess of Wales with her sons Prince William and Prince Harry (Image: Getty Images)

The surname Mountbatten-Windsor is only available to descendants of the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. It combines the Royal Family ‘s name of Windsor and the Duke of Edinburgh ‘s adopted surname.

Royal author Tom Bower has claimed that ‘Meghan decided her real object in life was to be Diana’. If the name change had succeeded, Meghan’s daughter would have become Lilibet Diana Spencer.

According to the Government, you do not have to follow a legal process to start using a new name, but it suggests on its official website using a ‘deed poll’ to apply for or to change official documents such as a passport or driving licence.