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Prince Harry in a black shirt with his hand over his heart© Karwai Tang

The story behind Prince Harry's real name and the one King Charles wanted instead

The Duke of Sussex's parents, King Charles and Princess Diana, wanted different names for their second-born son

Matthew Moore
Online News Writer & Diversity and Inclusion Lead
September 18, 2024
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The Duke of Sussex celebrated his birthday recently and while most of the cards will no doubt have been addressed to 'Harry'', this isn't actually his real name.

When Harry returns to the UK later this month, he'll carry his passport bearing the name 'Henry'. Born in 1984, the prince was christened Henry Charles Albert David, but Harry's parents, then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana, shared that their younger child would be known by the diminutive form of his first name, Harry.

It is traditional that royal names are ones that have been in the family for generations. Henry was a very popular name back in the Tudor times, with one of the most notable examples being King Henry VIII.

In Harry's case, however, 'Henry' was mostly just used by Charles and Diana – and then only when the young royal would get himself into trouble.

Princess Diana holding a young Prince Harry who is sticking out his tongue© Tim Graham
Henry was only used by Harry's parents when he was naughty

It's also used on formal occasions, including when the late Queen gave her consent for the Duke to marry his wife, Meghan Markle.

Princess Diana looking over Prince William and Prince Harry© Antony Jones/Julian Parker
Diana and Charles disagreed over what to name their sons

Harry's middle names also carry significance, with Charles referencing his father, and two other British monarchs, while Albert was the name of Queen Victoria's husband. David, meanwhile, was a moniker King Edward VIII was given by his family.

Albert was apparently Charles's first choice of name for his younger child. In his memoir, Spare, Harry writes that his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, adored Queen Victoria and his father wanted to call him Albert (which was also the given name of the late Queen's father, King George VI,) –  but it was vetoed by Diana.

Black and white photo of King George VI in a field© Lisa Sheridan
Charles wanted to name Harry after his grandfather

Harry's parents also disagreed over the naming of their elder son, Prince William, with Charles favouring the name Arthur. However, Diana reportedly wanted the more "robust" name of William for her son. In the same way that Albert is one of Harry's middle names, Arthur is one of William's.

As Harry revealed in his memoir, he has another nickname courtesy of his big brother, who dubbed him 'Harold'.

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