Prince Harry was criticised by a royal author after reports claimed that he was allegedly eyeing changing his family name to Spencer ­– his mother, the late Princess Diana's name. The Mail on Sunday reported that the Duke of Sussex had discussed the issue" with his uncle, Earl Spencer, and "actively explored ways" how to make the change during a visit to Britain – the date of which was unspecified.

But he was allegedly told that "the legal hurdles were insurmountable".

The outlet stressed that Harry's move with the Earl would only further deepen the rift between him and the Royal Family, as it would be "particularly hurtful" to King Charles, who "cherishes" his family name. The Duke of Sussex was contacted for comment.

Now a royal author, Robert Jobson, slammed the Duke over the claims and said the move would deeply hurt his father, King Charles, with a damning three-word verdict.

Mr Jobson said that had the Duke assumed his late mother's family name, it would look "petty", "performative" and "unnecessary".

He told Newsweek: "So now Prince Harry wanted to be a Spencer. That's the latest twist in the ongoing royal soap opera—and if true, it's a move that would've hit King Charles right in the gut.

"Let's be clear: changing his surname from Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer would've been no small thing.

"It would've been a public rejection of his father's family, a slap in the face to the late Prince Philip, who fought tooth and nail to get that name recognised in the first place. For Harry to ditch it now? That would sting."

The royal author added: "Let's not pretend this would've been a noble gesture.

"It would've looked petty, performative, and, frankly, unnecessary. Another line drawn in a family feud already far too public."

Had Harry changed his surname to Spencer, his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, would also have to ditch their existing surname of Mountbatten-Windsor.

The monarch does not usually use a family name. However, when one is needed, it is Mountbatten-Windsor.

The surname is available to all descendants of the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. It combines the Royal Family's name of Windsor and the late Duke's adopted surname of Mountbatten.

Harry's children use the family name on their birth certificates – Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.

Even though their children's family name is Mountbatten-Windsor, Meghan recently insisted on her surname being Sussex after being given the title by Queen Elizabeth when she married Prince Harry in 2018.