Andrew Mountbatten Windsor set to get new title as Palace considers key change

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is set to get a new title as Buckingham Palace is said to be considering a key change. After stripping the 65-year-old of all of his royal titles, including his princely title, Andrew was reintroduced as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

His name, however, was notably missing the hyphen that was traditionally used in the Royal Family double-barrelled surname. Officials have since confirmed that this was how it had been agreed with Andrew; however, the palace is now considering adding the hyphen in accordance with the wishes of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

It was pointed out that, according to decades of royal precedent, the family name should be written as Mountbatten-Windsor.

Just days before Andrew's birth in February 1960, the late Queen signed a formal notice that was published in The London Gazette.

It stated: "Now therefore I declare My Will and Pleasure that, while I and My children shall continue to be styled and known as the House and Family of Windsor, My descendants other than descendants enjoying the style, title or attribute of Royal Highness and the titular dignity of Prince or Princess and female descendants who marry and their descendants shall bear the name of Mountbatten-Windsor."

The change was made to incorporate Prince Philip's surname into the Windsor line, which was a symbolic decision to combine her family with Philip's family.

With the declaration made the same year of Andrew's birth, he was the first royal baby to be officially registered as Mountbatten-Windsor.

It was previously suggested that Andrew was "reluctant" to lose his royal title and become a "commoner", as said by one royal author.

Speaking of Andrew, Nigel Cawthorne said: "It is only when new revelations cast a search beam on Prince Andrew's previous statements that the prince appears to make another act of contrition.

"It makes the act look both reluctant and too little too late."