The Name Debate of the Mountbatten Dynasty
For most families, the first name of a newborn often sparks intense discussions. However, in the aristocratic Mountbatten family, the debate has centered around the surname of their latest addition—a baby boy named Theodore. This is not a typical naming issue, as the Mountbatten lineage includes historical figures like the late Duke of Edinburgh and holds significant social standing.
Theodore was born over a year ago and is the first son of Harry Mountbatten, the Earl of Medina, who is the eldest son of the King's cousin, George, the Marquess of Milford Haven. His mother, Bella Buchanan, 35, is the granddaughter of the late presenter Nicholas Parsons, known for hosting Radio 4's Just A Minute.
As the only male Mountbatten of his generation, Theodore could have inherited his father’s titles. However, due to being born out of wedlock, those titles are not applicable. Bella, who was in a relationship with Harry before the birth, was against her son taking the Mountbatten name after their relationship ended during her pregnancy.
Official documents reveal that Theodore has had two different surnames in his short life. Initially, his birth certificate listed his mother’s surname, Buchanan, resulting in his first passport under the name Theodore Buchanan. This decision came after Harry and Bella separated before the child’s birth.
However, the Marquess of Milford Haven, Harry’s father, intervened to ensure his grandson was recognized as a Mountbatten. According to a source, the Marquess insisted that the first-born son of his own first-born son must carry the family name. Harry agreed, but Bella initially refused.
The source explained: "Bella was perfectly happy with Buchanan. She didn’t want a title from the family when she had been left single and broken-hearted. Harry wasn’t there for the birth, so she felt he didn’t have the right to call the shots. But the Marquess is a persuasive man and he is extremely kind and a doting grandfather to Theo, so eventually Bella relented for his sake."
An updated birth certificate issued in October confirmed Theodore’s new name as Theodore Mountbatten. This change required a rush to the printers to update the order of service for his christening in October. The Marquess, who sold his website uSwitch for £210 million in 2006, is a regular visitor to the baby, who bears a strong resemblance to his father and grandfather with the same blue eyes and blond hair.
Despite the name change, society bible Tatler excluded Theodore from a recent article about the family's grandchildren. A source noted, "Theo has been recognized by the Mountbatten family, though he has been kept out of the public eye. Even when Prince Harry's former girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, attended Theodore's christening, Tatler's society pages remained silent."
Harry resides in a multi-million-pound house in Knightsbridge, while Bella and Theodore live nearby in a rented home. The Mountbatten family has a history of name changes. The title was adopted in 1917 during the First World War when Prince Louis of Battenberg, the current Marquess’s great-grandfather, anglicized the German-sounding family name due to anti-German sentiment in Britain.
Bella works part-time with Four Mamas, a company supporting women through pregnancy and motherhood. She declined to comment on the matter. When asked about Theodore, Harry said, "Like all of his cousins, he is surrounded by our warm family that love him more than anything. I can't wait for all our adventures in the future."