Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s name might undergo another alteration, possibly adding a hyphen, as per a request attributed to the late Queen. Reports suggest that in line with long-standing royal tradition, the ex-prince’s family name should officially be recorded as Mountbatten-Windsor, tied directly to the late Queen’s legacy and her 1960 Privy Council announcement that set the family surname for non-royal descendants.
Following the removal of his titles recently, the former Duke was reintroduced as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, notably without the hyphen. It is anticipated that Buckingham Palace will review how to properly present Andrew’s name in compliance with the declaration signed by Queen Elizabeth II two weeks before Andrew’s birth. The declaration stipulated that non-royal descendants of the Queen should bear the name Mountbatten-Windsor.
The name was established to merge Philip Mountbatten’s surname with the Windsor lineage, symbolizing the union between the Queen’s family and her husband’s. Notably, other family members, including Prince Harry’s children Archie and Lilibet, currently use Mountbatten-Windsor with the hyphen as outlined in the declaration. Princess Anne’s marriage certificate from 1973 lists her as Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, a Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Royal historian and author Ian Lloyd expressed surprise that Buckingham Palace had previously published Andrew’s name without the hyphen, given the historical precedent and the legal wording of the Queen’s directive. Andrew was the first royal baby officially registered with the Mountbatten-Windsor surname, being born shortly after the document’s signing. However, this naming convention has not been consistently observed following the removal of his titles and honors amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which Andrew vehemently denies.
Recent revelations include Andrew’s 2011 email to Epstein, indicating continued contact despite claims to the contrary. MPs may discuss Andrew’s behavior this week, with the Liberal Democrats planning to raise concerns about his Royal Lodge rental arrangements and potential payouts upon leaving the property once the Commons reconvenes from recess on Tuesday.
