Two high-profile British men have been criticised by a leading etiquette expert for the way they publicly adopted their wives' surnames, with the timing amid bitter family disputes undermining what could have been a 'thoughtful gesture'.
The Public Gesture Backfires
Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty, 31, recently changed his social media moniker to Adam Ramsay Peaty following his marriage to influencer Holly Ramsay at Bath Abbey on Saturday. He followed the path of Brooklyn Beckham, who added his wife Nicola Peltz's surname after their 2022 wedding, becoming Brooklyn Peltz Beckham online.
However, Laura Windsor, known as the Queen of Etiquette, told the Daily Mail that the 'public nature' and 'timing' of these changes, set against ongoing family tensions, risks making the act seem performative rather than a genuine celebration of unity and equality.
Timing Amid Family Drama
Laura Windsor, who has advised Netflix on Regency-era manners for 'Bridgerton', suggested that announcing such personal changes while embroiled in public family feuds 'may raise questions about their integrity and emotional intelligence'.
Peaty's wedding was overshadowed by a rift with his parents, whom he uninvited. Reports state the bride's father, Gordon Ramsay, 59, made a pointed comment in his speech, saying his wife Tana 'will be a good mum to them both', which was seen as a dig at Adam's absent mother, Caroline. Caroline Peaty was reportedly 'outraged and hurt' by the remark.
Similarly, Brooklyn Beckham has reportedly cut ties with his parents, David and Victoria Beckham, a feud cited as the reason he missed Peaty's wedding despite being a childhood friend of the bride.
A Question of Tradition and Presentation
The expert also highlighted a potential faux pas in the execution. She explained that in British tradition, a hyphen in a double-barrelled surname denotes both names as 'equally important'. The lack of a hyphen in their social media handles could suggest the wives' names might be treated as less significant middle names.
'Etiquette is not just about what you do but also how you do things,' Laura said. 'Posting it on Instagram has just amplified the problem, shifting our attention from authenticity to public spectacle.'
She concluded that while adopting a spouse's name can be a wonderful gesture, keeping family matters private and working to resolve problems discreetly represents good decorum. Public displays, especially during conflict, risk becoming 'theatrical'.
