Prince Harry sought advice from Princess Diana's brother about changing his family name to Spence.

Axar.az informs, citing Daily Mail, sources said the Duke of Sussex actively explored ways to assume his mother's surname – a move that would have involved ditching Mountbatten-Windsor, used by his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

It is understood he discussed the issue with Earl Spencer – whose family seat is Althorp in Northamptonshire – during a rare visit to Britain, but was told that the legal hurdles were insurmountable.

'They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step,' said a friend of Harry.

Nevertheless, the fact that he consulted the Earl over the issue – a proposal that would dismay his brother and father – is a vivid expression of the toxic rift with his family.

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