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Why Prince Harry Is Not Called Henry?


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Credit: 5 News/YouTube Screenshot

Many may not know that Prince Harry's real name isn't Harry but Henry. This may confuse some as to why the Duke of Sussex is called Harry, but Meghan Markle's husband doesn't even know why himself.

His full name is a string of first names, Henry Charles Albert David. None of those is Harry, so learn why he's called Prince Harry.

The Case of Prince Harry's Name

According to The Healthy Journal, Harry is the spoken form of Henry in medieval England. Most English kings who are named Henny are called Harry.

The name was so famous in England that the phrase "Tom, Dick, and Harry" started to be used to call men in general.

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In addition, there's said to be a royal precedent for Harry to be used as a royal name instead of Henry.

As it turns out, Harry is the diminutive form of Henry. The monarchs named Henry, including Henry VIII, was called Harry by their friends.

Prince Harry Made a Joke About His Name

Meanwhile, during his appearance at WellChild Awards, Prince Harry made a joke about his real name as he talked to a child named Henry.

"My name is Henry as well," he said via Entertainment Tonight. "But everyone calls me Harry. I have no idea why."

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But though he has been called Harry almost all his life, Cosmopolitan noted that the royals usually call him Henry on formal occasions.

In fact, when the palace announced his engagement to Meghan, he was addressed as His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales in the official announcement.

"His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms. Meghan Markle Are Engaged to Be Married," the statement read.

Prince Harry's Last Name and Other Names

Prince Harry has a series of first names but doesn't have a last name. His official name on his son Archie's birth certificate is "His Royal Highness Henry Charles Albert David Duke of Sussex."

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He also has several other names, like Captain Harry Wales when he served in the military. He can also use Mountbatten-Windsor as his surname after the late Queen Elizabeth declared this should be the royal family's go-to last name when they need one.

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