A seasoned royal analyst argues that the late Princess Diana would disapprove of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's rumored decision to swap their last name from Windsor to Spencer. Angela Levin, a well-known journalist covering royal matters and a biographer of Prince Harry, described this move as an "unwarranted choice."
In an interview with GB News' Nana Akua, Levin asserted, "It would make more sense for [Markle] to adopt Diana's maiden name of Roche from her mother's side, who did her utmost to take care of her." Levin controversially alleged that Earl Spencer, Diana's father, was abusive, suggesting that adopting the Spencer surname wouldn't be an ideal choice.
Business Times could not independently confirm these allegations.
This discussion follows royal biographer Tom Bower's claim that the Sussexes were contemplating shedding their Sussex titles and adopting the Spencer name to resonate more with Diana, particularly after losing their Spotify contract. Bower alleged that the idea was initiated by Markle, and Prince Harry seemed to support it.
However, Levin questioned the approval of Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's brother and the current Earl Spencer, about Harry and Markle using the Spencer name. Levin, the author of "Harry: A Biography of a Prince," speculated, "The current Earl Spencer might be hesitant about another person becoming a Spencer. Would it include titles or not? A detailed conversation would be required. I doubt he would agree, especially if Meghan carries the name and Harry doesn't, that would create an imbalance."
Levin asserted that if Diana were alive, she would be against the name change. "[Diana] was an ardent supporter of the royal family and she raised her children to cherish the royal family as a precious opportunity. She wouldn't endorse this move," Levin claimed, indicating that Diana had a troubled relationship with her father, which she wrote about 15 years ago in her first royal book.
Meghan, often likened to Harry's late mother since her entrance into the royal family, has recently been criticized by her estranged brother, Thomas Markle Jr., stating his sister is "far from being Diana."
He claimed, "Meghan aspires to be like Diana, who was globally adored and cherished for the right reasons. Meghan yearns for the same, but I fear it's unlikely. She lacks Diana's authenticity."
Contrastingly, Emma Corrin, the actress who portrayed Princess Diana in "The Crown" Season 4, believed Meghan and Diana shared a similar treatment by the media and the royal family. Last year, following the Sussexes' decision to step back from their royal duties, Corrin said, "You just want to shake these tabloids and say, can't you see history repeating itself?"
