Prince Harry's 'real name' - and the reason he never uses it

Over the years, it has been quite common for monarchs to take a different regnal name when they came to the throne. However, the trend hasn't stopped with just Kings and Queens, as several notable members of the Royal Family use a different name from the one they were given at birth.

This includes The Duke of Sussex. Prince Harry was born as Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales on September 15, 1984, but has always publicly been known as Harry.

But he isn't the only member of his family to use a different birth name as Meghan Markle does too.

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The Duchess of Sussex is famous around the world for being an original member of the cast of the legal drama Suits. She played the character Rachel Zane, but what is interesting is that Rachel is in fact Meghan’s real first name.

She was named Rachel Meghan when she was born, but her parents always called her by her second name.

The custom of using a different name also stretches back across the generations as the late Queen's father, King George VI, used a different regnal name when he took the throne.

He was born as Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George in 1895 and was named after his great grandfather, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. His name was seen as a continuation from his father King George V’s reign and to restore confidence in the monarchy after his brother, King Edward VIII abdicated.

Queen Victoria, too, opted to use a different name to the one she grew up with. While Victoria was known for having nine children and mourning the death of her husband for 40 years, it may be a surprise to learn that Victoria wasn’t her name at all.

She was born Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent on May 24, 1819, at Kensington Palace and was a granddaughter of King George III.

Upon her succession at the age of 18, it is thought she chose to become known as Victoria as she did not like the name Alexandrina.