A further revision is expected to the official name of the former Prince Andrew, adding another layer of complication to his departure from royal duties. The adjustment centers on the restoration of a hyphen in his surname, a detail with significant historical weight.
Earlier this year, following the loss of his royal titles and military affiliations, it was announced the Duke of York would be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. However, reports now indicate that this name will be amended to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, reinstating the punctuation that was originally established.
The hyphen traces its origins to a 1960 declaration by the late Queen. In an official proclamation, she stated that her direct descendants who do not hold the title of Prince or Princess would carry the combined surname Mountbatten-Windsor. This decision was seen as a conciliatory gesture toward her husband, who had reportedly expressed frustration that his own lineage was not reflected in the family name.
The initial omission of the hyphen is said to have been at the former prince’s own request. Yet, according to insiders, the historic precedent set by the Queen is now prompting the correction. Commentators have noted that despite the circumstances, the preservation of the Mountbatten name honors the wishes of the late Duke of Edinburgh.
The name change is the latest development for the former royal, whose status was fundamentally altered due to his association with a convicted sex offender. This seemingly minor grammatical correction underscores the ongoing formal and public disentanglement of his identity from the institution of the monarchy.
