PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle changed Archie and Lilibet's name after the King's Coronation, a source has claimed.
The insider said the move was an attempt to "unify" their family - and that their major rebrand was part of that, too.
Harry and Meghan have been fiercely criticised since launching their website in recent days, with one royal expert slamming them for "cashing in" on their royal ties.
Meghan yesterday broke her silence on the new Sussex.com, ignoring critics while she boasted about its design.
She and Harry were then snapped with smiles ear-to-ear as they met veterans on the ice to launch next year's Invictus Games.
The prince took a hands-on approach, giving sit-skiing a go while Meghan watched on with a smile.
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They hugged and shook hands with dozens of people in their first appearance since the rebrand.
The couple had been labelled "pathetic" for using their royal crest on the new site, despite no longer being part of The Firm.
But a source has claimed Sussex.com was an attempt to bring the family together.
They said Archie and Lillibet had been known as Mountbatten-Windsors - until the King's Coronation.
Since then the youngsters' names had charged to Archie Sussex and Lilibet Sussex.
An insider told The Times: “The reality behind the new site is very simple — it’s a hub for the work the Sussexes do and it reflects the fact the family have, since the King’s coronation, the same surname for the first time.
"That’s a big deal for any family. It represents their unification and it’s a proud moment.”
Last year it was revealed the pair intended to use prince and princess for both kids in formal settings as Charles was now King.
Harry and Meghan were said to be keen to allow Archie and Lilibet the chance to decide for themselves whether to drop or keep using the titles when they get older.
The youngsters became prince and princess when the King acceded to the throne, but remained a plain "master" and "miss" on the Buckingham Palace website for six months.
Couple to come 'under fire' over royal crest
By Matt Wilkinson
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry are set to come under fire for using their royal coat of arms in their US-based rebrand.
The Duchess of Sussex worked closely with the College of Arms in London to create the design, Kensington Palace said at the time it was first revealed after their royal wedding in May 2018.
The crest - which harks back to their royal life despite walking away to live in the USA - has a blue shield representing the Pacific Ocean and rays symbolising sunshine of California
The lion relates to the Duke of Sussex and a songbird supporting represents Meghan.
Beneath the shield is California's state flower the golden poppy and Wintersweet and was also depicted on the duchess' wedding veil.
The three quills illustrate the power of words and communication.
The royal crest has barely been used by the couple before.
And a royal expert tonight slammed the Sussexes for "cashing in" on the crest.
Angela Levin told The Sun: "They are cashing in on their royal connections that they say they hate so much.
"Queen Elizabeth II would be furious because they promised they wouldn't do that.
"They should be stopped from using a title that they spent years insulting
"They left the Royal Family because they didn't want anything to do with it but now realise they can use Sussex rather than Archewell.
"Four years after they left they are trying to be royal and also setting up the 'Office' of Prince Harry and Meghan, it is so hypocritical.
"It is pathetic, they couldn't use SussexRoyal so they have found a way round it.
However, the change was updated on the Royal Family website in May - naming the youngsters as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The couple came under fire this week just hours after launching Sussex.com, which they had dubbed a "one-stop-shop" for fans to get "personal updates".
It came after the late Queen banned the couple from using 'SussexRoyal' after they stepped away from royal duty four years ago.
The Queen ordered the pair to mothball it in the January 2020 exit settlement, when Meghan and Harry stopped being senior members of the royal family.
But the new site still links back to the Sussex Royal website.
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Visitors to that site see a notice that reads: "This site was established in 2020 and sets out the work streams of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex prior to their move to the United States."
A link then takes the pair back to Sussex.com.
