All wagering aside, there is little chance of anyone
figuring out what first
name Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will choose for their unborn child. Top
contenders include Elizabeth, Alice, Diana,
and Victoria for a girl and Philip, Arthur, Albert, or James for a boy.
It’s fun to guess what Baby Sussex will have as a first name. But one thing that’s not up for discussion? The royal baby’s surname. While we’re completely clueless which way the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning on for their little one’s first name, we can at least be assured that he or she will inherit the royal family last name like everyone else in the immediate family.
What is the royal family last name?
Technically, British royal family members don’t need a last name and don’t use it very often. But when they do decide to trot out the full name, all royals in Baby Sussex’s immediate bloodline use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor. That’s why Baby Sussex will almost certainly have the same last name on official documents.
According to the Royal Family website: “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.”
“It
was therefore declared in the Privy Council that The Queen’s descendants, other
than those with the style of Royal Highness and the title of Prince/Princess,
or female descendants who marry, would carry the name of Mountbatten-Windsor.”
Will
Baby Sussex have a title?
Royal
titles are confusing – especially since most family members have more than one.
For example, Prince Harry is called a prince, Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton
and Baron Kilkeel.
Technically,
Prince Harry’s child will not automatically receive
the title Prince or Princess when he or she is born even though their cousins
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis do have those titles.
There is a rule that only those in
If not,
then the baby will be called Lord or Lady.
Will
Baby Sussex ever become king or queen?
Having the
royal last name of Mountbatten-Windsor comes with plenty of wealth and privilege,
but the young royal most likely won’t ever sit on the throne. When he or she is
born, Baby Sussex will be seventh in line to the throne, just one place behind
Prince Harry.
Right
now, the line of succession goes like this: Prince Charles, Prince William,
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Harry.
