20 February 2024 , 14:37
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have broken away from royal traditions, in a move one expert believes shows signs of an "internal conflict".
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex launched a brand new website last week as they replaced their Archewell platform with Sussex.com. There were some notable changes on the new site, including the couple's coat of arms now taking pride of place as their logo. It replaced an image of the crown.
Another notable change on the website is the couple's use of Sussex as the surname for their children. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet had previously been known as Mountbatten-Windsor as per royal tradition. Royal expert Jennie Bond believes Meghan and Harry are trying to assert their independence, but have gone about it in the wrong way.
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are showing signs of conflict (WireImage)She told new magazine: "It's a further declaration of their independence, and there's nothing wrong with that. But it still seems to me that there is an internal conflict going on. They want separation from the Royal Family and yet they want titles for themselves and their children."
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Prince Philip was said to be "wounded" when he found out that his children would not bear his surname, Mountbatten, when his wife Princess Elizabeth became Queen in 1952. Instead, they were to be Windsors, after the Queen's family.
Winston Churchill and the Queen's private secretary Tommy Lascelles came up with a solution - name the male descendants Mountbatten-Windsor. Archie and Lilibet had been known as Mountbatten-Windsor, a name which was decreed by the Privy Counsel in 1960 and given to male-line descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Philip.
Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have a new surname (Getty Images)Now the youngsters have been given a new surname, Jennie thinks it will be a "fresh start" for Meghan and her children. The expert said it sends out a message that they're a "strong, close-knit family."
However, she said the Sussexes need to be careful shunning the Mountbatten-Windsor name, with Harry hoping for a Royal Family reconciliation. She also suggested snubbing the name wouldn't help with the Duke's plans to help his children understand the British heritage.
Harry recently revealed he plans to reunite with the Royal Family and said he has trips planned to the UK. Appearing on Good Morning America, he was asked if King Charles' cancer diagnosis could help the family come back together.
He replied: "Yeah, I'm sure. Throughout all these families I see it on a day-to-day basis the strength of the family unit coming together. I think any illness, any sickness brings families together."