King Charles III’s decision to remove the honours and titles of
his brother means that the eighth in line to the throne is now
known, simply, as Mr Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
It is a fall from royal grace of an unprecedented degree and the
name that Andrew now carries is a long way removed from the titles
he has held through the years, among them some of the most famous
and historic of all royal styles.
He was born HRH The Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. At the time,
he was second in line to the throne.
In 1986, he was made Duke of York by Queen Elizabeth II. The
title came to him on his wedding day.
The Dukedom of York is one of the oldest associated with the
Royal Family and it has traditionally been given to the second son
of the reigning Monarch since the 15th century.
It was first created in 1385 for Edmund, the fifth son of King
Edward III, and his son, Edward, inherited the title in 1402. He
died at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and as he had no son, the
dukedom went to his nephew. He became Richard, Duke of York and
would attempt to claim the throne of England, leading to the War of
the Roses. He died at the Battle of Wakefield in 1460 and was
succeeded by his son Edward, who claimed the crown the following
year. In 1474, he made his second son, Richard, Duke of York and
since then it has been the title given to the Monarch’s second
son.
The title was very important to Queen Elizabeth II and her
decision to create it again for Andrew was seen as a sign of her
deep affection for her second son as well as a moment of continuity
of royal history. Elizabeth II’s own father, George VI, had been
the second son of George V and had been Duke of York until his
unexpected accession as king in December 1936.
Now, the title in its current creation will be struck from the
Roll as King Charles sends Royal Warrants to the Lord Chancellor
requesting its removal. Andrew’s other titles, Earl of Inverness
and Baron Killyleagh, will also be struck off.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will also be removed from the Order
of the Garter and the Royal Victorian Order. His HRH and Prince
will also be removed.
Instead, he is left with the surname created in 1960 for the non
royal descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. It is an
unprecedented moment in modern royal history.
