Meghan Markle's name change on Archie's birth certificate is a 'snub' to Kate Middleton

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have quietly removed the Duchess of Sussex’s first name from their son Archie’s birth certificate in an extraordinary change.

Archie arrived into the world on May 6, 2019, and his birth was officially registered 11 days later, with a review taking place on June 5.

The young man’s official documents no longer mention “Rachel Meghan” for his mother and have been replaced by “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex”, reports the Mirror.

The move comes amid growing speculation about tensions between Harry, his brother William and their spouses.

Meghan’s first name was removed from Archie’s birth certificate shortly after his birth and replaced with his royal title. (Photo: DOMINIC LIPINSKI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Sun previously reported that the move could be a snub to the Prince and Princess of Wales, noting that Kate’s names appear on all of her children’s birth certificates.

It could also appear to be a move by Harry to align Meghan with his late mother, Princess Diana, who was always known as “Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales.”

Shortly after the document was amended, Harry and Meghan stepped down from the joint charity effort with the Fab Four and left the royal family a few months later.

The acrimonious royal split was dubbed “Megxit” by the media and the Sussexes have since relocated to the US where they welcomed their second child, Princess Lilibet, in 2021.

Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox by joining our WhatsApp community today.

You will receive daily updates on the latest news as well as the main headlines from Scotland.

No one will be able to see who is registered and no one will be able to send messages except the Daily Record team.

All you have to do is Click here if you are on mobileselect “Join the Community” and you’re there!

If you’re using a desktop computer, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click “Join Community.”

We also offer our community members special offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can review it at any time.

To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose “leave group”.

If you are curious, you can read our privacy notice.

Lady Colin Campbell, who unearthed the amendment, commented: “It’s extraordinary and raises all sorts of questions about what the Sussexes were thinking.”

Dickie Arbiter, the Queen’s former press secretary, suggested the changes could be “part one of their plans”.

Meghan’s decision is seen as a snub to Kate Middleton, whose birth name appears on all of her children’s birth certificates.(Image: PA)

Royal expert Ingrid Seward added: “It is unprecedented for a member of the Royal Family to alter a birth certificate, but it is remarkable that they removed the first names. It is perhaps another sign that they were desperate to do something different for the Cambridges.”

The couple’s ties with the royal family appear to remain strained following the publication of Harry’s memoir, Spare, last year, which gave his views on his relationships with senior members of the firm, including his father, King Charles, and brother, Prince William.

The couple’s two children are now known as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

Get the latest celebrity gossip and TV news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for our daily Showbiz newsletter here.