The baby name Princess Diana REFUSED to let King Charles give Prince Harry


Prince Harry was nearly named after another royal but his mother Princess Diana decided against it


Prince Charles, Prince Harry And Princess Diana Holding Hands As They Arrive For A Photocall At Sandringham.  She Is Wearing Cashmere And Wool Coat With Synthetic Beaver Fur By Fashon Designer Arabella Pollen And A Fake Fur Hat By Milliner Gilly Forge.  Prince Harry's Coat Designed By Fashion Designer Catherine Walker© Tim Graham Photo Library via Get
Sophie Hamilton
Sophie HamiltonDeputy Features Editor
Updated: 1 hour ago

In Prince Harry's tell-all memoir Spare, he revealed that King Charles wanted to call him a different name entirely. 

However, Harry's mother, the late Princess Diana was against it and his full name ended up being Henry Charles Albert David, with Harry being a known nickname for Henry.

What was the first choice? 

harry baby© Photo: Getty Images
Prince Harry was born on September 15 1984

In Andrew Morton's famous 1992 biography Diana: Her True Story, it was revealed that King Charles wanted to call him a different name entirely.

Harry later wrote that his grandmother, the late Queen, adored Queen Victoria and his father wanted to give him the name of her husband, Prince Albert, to begin with but it was vetoed by Diana.

Interestingly, Albert is also the middle name of Charles' brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Not many people know that Prince Harry is really called Henry.

prince albert© Photo: Getty Images
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's names are special to the family

At the WellChild Awards in 2022, the Duke made the personal confession during a chat with the winners of the awards. Talking to a child named Henry, Prince Harry said via video call: 'My name is Henry as well. But everyone calls me Harry. I have no idea why.'

What are Meghan's nicknames for Harry?

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, sit together at a sports event, smiling.© Getty Images
Meghan Markle has some cute nicknames for her husband

In October 2019, Harry's wife Meghan revealed the endearing nickname she has given her husband.

Speaking to Tom Bradby on their ITV documentary Harry and Meghan: An African Journey, Meghan let slip what she affectionately calls her husband.

She said: "In all honesty, I have said for a long time to H - that is what I call him - it's not enough to just survive something, that's not the point of life." She continued: "You have got to thrive. You have got to feel happy, and I think I really tried to adopt this British sensibility of a stiff upper lip."

Later, the former actress revealed another pet name she has for her husband.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the David Foster Foundation 40th Anniversary Celebration on August 07, 2026 in Victoria, British Columbia© The David Foster Foundation via
Meghan revealed another moniker in 2026...

While posing with the cast of the musical Hamilton after a special gala performance, Meghan, worried that she was standing in Harry's way for the group shot, said: "Can you see, my love?"

After some of the cast fawned over their cute exchange, Meghan said: "Oh!" and then laughed bashfully while Prince Harry blushed.

Another adorable nickname for Harry, revealed in March 2026, is "Papa Sussex". In an Instagram post celebrating International Women's Day, Meghan shared a photo of herself and daughter Princess Lilibet, giving Harry photographer credit under the sweet moniker.

The King's Clear Message To Harry & Meghan

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