The Complicated History of the Royal Family's Last Name, Mountbatten-Windsor

Prince Harry's son Archie's surname is Mountbatten-Windsor. But what does that mean—and who else gets to use it?

The Duchess of Sussex gave birth to her first child early Monday morning, and over the course of this week, Meghan and Harry have shared a few details about their son with the world.

Most notably, they revealed the youngster's name—Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor—on Wednesday, after posing for a photocall in Windsor Castle.

The meanings behind little Archie's first and middle names are fairly simple. A royal source reportedly shared with CNN that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex chose their son's name because they "just liked the name Archie."


And then, Harrison quite literally means son of Harry or Henry. But the baby's surname, Mountbatten-Windsor, requires a bit more explanation.

Who gets to use the last name Mountbatten-Windsor?

The Duke & Duchess Of Sussex Pose With Their Newborn Son
Little Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor makes his public debut.
WPA PoolGetty Images

According to the royal family's website, when male or unmarried female descendants of Queen Elizabeth need to use a surname (which is what Americans would more often refer to as a last name), Mountbatten-Windsor is available to them.

"For the most part, members of the Royal Family who are entitled to the style and dignity of HRH Prince or Princess do not need a surname," reads the site. "But if at any time any of them do need a surname (such as upon marriage), that surname is Mountbatten-Windsor."

Given that Archie does not currently have a royal title, the use of Mountbatten-Windsor as a surname makes sense. Archie's first cousins once removed, Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn, who are the children of Prince Edward, also use Mountbatten-Windsor as their surnames.

Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday Parade: Trooping The Colour
Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn both use the last name Mountbatten-Windsor. Here they are on the Buckingham Palace balcony with their parents, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
Max Mumby/IndigoGetty Images

As naming traditions in the United Kingdom are patriarchal, Princess Anne's children, Zara and Peter, used the surname of their father, Mark Phillips, growing up. Following her marriage to Mike Tindall, Zara eventually started to use Tindall as her surname. Peter and his wife and children use the last name Phillips, and Zara's children use the last name Tindall.

Similarly, if Princess Eugenie has children with her husband Jack Brooksbank, their surname will almost certainly be Brooksbank, not Mountbatten-Windsor.

All that said, some royals choose to use the name of their Dukedom as a surname. For example, Prince George uses the last name Cambridge at school, as his father is the Duke of Cambridge. Little Archie could have used the surname Sussex, but for whatever reason Meghan and Harry opted against that. Growing up Prince William and Prince Harry used the surname Wales, since their father was the Prince of Wales.

Why do some people use the surname Windsor, without the Mountbatten?

Sienna Jones Launch Debut Collection 'The Marina Range'
Lord Frederick Windsor (seen here with his mother Princess Michael of Kent) is able to use the surname Windsor because he is a descendant of George V.
David M. BenettGetty Images

The last name Windsor is available to be used by all male and unmarried female descendants of George V. That explains why Prince Michael of Kent's children Ella and Freddie use the last name Windsor. (Prince Michael is the Queen's first cousin, and a grandson of George V.)


The Privy Council then decided that the Queen's direct descendants would use the last name Mountbatten-Windsor, so that's when the split occurred.

Where does the name Mountbatten-Windsor come from?

London, Buckingham Palace, Princess Elizabeth, Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten And Princess Margaret In 1947
Then-Princess Elizabeth poses with her future husband Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten and her sister Princess Margaret in Buckingham Palace in 1947.
Keystone-FranceGetty Images

The original name of Windsor dynasty was the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, but following World War I, Queen Elizabeth's grandfather King George V was concerned about anti-German sentiment in the United Kingdom. He changed the name to the House of Windsor, after Windsor Castle. In doing so, members of the royal family adopted Windsor as a surname as well.

The "Mountbatten" portion of Mountbatten Windsor comes from Prince Philip. Philip was a Prince of Greece and Denmark, but he gave up those titles when he became a naturalized British citizen in 1947, and took the surname Mountbatten, his mother's family name. Phillip was quite close to the Mountbattens growing up, and even lived with them for a period of time.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
More From Royal Family News