In February 2024, reports said Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had chosen Sussex as the family last name for both children, Archie and Lilibet. The announcement came alongside the launch of Sussex.com and a wider move to present the family publicly under their Sussex titles. Their public styling is now “Prince Archie of Sussex” and “Princess Lilibet of Sussex,” although available reporting does not establish that every legal record was changed.
When did Archie and Lilibet start being called Sussex?
The change was reported in February 2024. Sussex.com launched on February 12, replacing or redirecting from the couple’s Archewell web presence and putting their work under their Sussex titles. On February 16, British Vogue reported that Meghan and Harry had decided to use Sussex as the children’s last name.
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This timing connects the surname decision with a broader family-branding effort, but the website launch itself is not evidence that a legal name-change procedure occurred.
What names were used before?
Archie’s announced 2019 name
When Archie was introduced in May 2019, his announced name was Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Mountbatten-Windsor is the family surname historically used in contexts where a surname is required rather than a royal territorial style.
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The current public styles
The Royal Family’s official website lists the children as Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex. “Of Sussex” functions as their public royal style and should not automatically be read as proof of what appears on every civil or private document.
Why did Meghan say Sussex mattered?
In an interview reported by People, Meghan described Sussex as the family’s shared name:
“It’s our shared name as a family, and I guess I hadn’t recognized how meaningful that would be to me until we had children.”
She added that she loved having something shared by Archie, Lili, Harry (“H”) and herself. Meghan also said the children would eventually ask how their parents met, and that, for now, a major part of their love story was sharing the name Sussex.
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Are Archie and Lilibet legally Sussex or Mountbatten-Windsor?
The public evidence supports a change in family usage and official styling, not a definitive answer for every legal record. The available reports do not provide amended birth certificates, passports, deed-poll documentation or another complete set of records showing that Sussex replaced Mountbatten-Windsor everywhere.
| Question | What is established |
|---|---|
| Public royal style | The official Royal Family website uses “Prince Archie of Sussex” and “Princess Lilibet of Sussex.” |
| Family-preferred usage | Meghan said Sussex is the shared family name and reported coverage said the couple chose it for both children. |
| Earlier announced name | Archie was announced in 2019 as Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. |
| Every legal document | Not established by the available sources; no comprehensive documentary record has been published. |
Therefore, it is accurate to say that Sussex is the family’s public and preferred surname usage, while the exact surname on each legal document remains unconfirmed.
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Why the distinction matters
Royal titles, public names and legal surnames are related but separate categories. “Prince” and “Princess” describe the children’s current public status, while “of Sussex” is the territorial designation attached to that status. A civil form, travel document or school record may follow different naming rules. Without seeing those records, claims that every document was changed go beyond what has been reported.
Quick Recap
The short timeline
- May 2019: Archie’s announced name was Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
- February 12, 2024: Sussex.com launched as the couple’s Sussex-branded online office.
- February 16, 2024: Reporting said Meghan and Harry had selected Sussex as the children’s last name.
- Current official presentation: The Royal Family website styles them Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
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