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The⁤ Missing‌ Hyphen: Why Prince Andrew’s Surname ‍Was Different

Ever since the former prince Andrew was demoted to plain Mr Andrew Mountbatten Windsor,royal observers and historians have scratched their⁢ heads⁤ over his missing hyphen.

Buckingham Palace’s official statement announcing his new commoner status‌ was clear, in black and⁢ white, that aside from losing his HRH and princely title⁢ and dukedom, he was also to be deprived of a punctuation mark⁣ that⁣ had been‍ officially‌ decreed by⁣ his late ‍mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Princess Anne signed her 1973 ⁤marriage register as Anne⁤ Mountbatten-Windsor, the Duke and duchess of Edinburgh’s children use mountbatten-Windsor, as⁣ do the Duke⁣ and Duchess of Sussex’s children – all with hyphens.

Even in a family with ⁣numerous⁢ and ever-changing surnames – Windsor, Wales, ‌York, Edinburgh -​ Mountbatten-Windsor⁣ has ⁢stood fast as Queen Elizabeth’s decision ‌65 years‍ ago ‌that‌ her descendants should be so named – in tribute to her ⁣husband, Prince Philip.

So why not Andrew? his surname ⁢was⁢ missing the hyphen when his ​new name was announced on 30 October in ‍the fallout over ⁢his​ friendship with ⁢the​ convicted sex ⁣offender Jeffrey ⁣Epstein.

When ⁣asked about the absence ⁣of a hyphen at the‌ time, a palace spokesperson said: ⁤”Andrew Mountbatten⁤ Windsor was the name⁣ agreed.”

Royal ‍sources have now confirmed⁤ that Mountbatten-Windsor will indeed​ use the punctuation ​mark between⁣ his two‌ last names. It is understood the palace has examined the​ 1960 privy council declaration,‌ which includes a hyphen, ‍and ​will⁤ use one from now on.

In 1960, Queen Elizabeth declared‍ that her direct descendants – other ‍than those ​with the‍ style of royal highness and the title of prince or princess – would use⁢ Mountbatten-Windsor ⁢when ⁢they needed a surname.

It was an critically important gesture to her husband,after she‌ had decided on her 1952 accession that the ​royal family’s ⁤surname ⁤would remain Windsor,and not Mountbatten,the Duke ⁣of Edinburgh’s surname.‌ Philip is said to have exclaimed: “I’m just a ​bloody amoeba,” and complained​ he was the only ⁣man in ‍the country whose children would not bear their father’s name.

Eight⁢ years later ⁣she gave ‍him a

The History of Mountbatten-Windsor

The story of the Mountbatten-Windsor surname is deeply intertwined with⁤ the marriage⁤ of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.Before their wedding,the question of what surname their children would bear was a‍ critically important one.Traditionally, children took their⁤ father’s surname. ‍However, the House of Windsor had been established ⁣by queen Victoria in 1917, and it was ⁢expected⁣ that the lineage would continue through the Windsor name.

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