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2007-11-03 04:13:21 · 10 answers · asked by ladyliberty 5 in Society & Culture Royalty

10 answers

Royals generally do not use surnames. The current family is the Royal House of Windsor. They are also known by their Riyal Houses:York(Andrew's family);Wales.(Charles' family),Wessex(Edward's family);and Kent(Prince Michael and The Duke)Those members who use last names can use Mountbatten-Windsor. Both names,Mountbatten(Philip's) and Windsor(The Queen's) have both been changed from more Germanic-sounding names:
Schlesweig-Holstein-
Sonderburgh-Glucksburgh,
and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
Both names were changed during World War I because of anti-German sentiments,particularly after the bombing of London by twenty-four Gotha war planes. From http://www.royal.gov/uk
"Members of the Royal Family can be known both by the name of their Royal house, and by a surname, which are not always the same. And often they do not use a surname at all.
People often ask whether members of the Royal Family have a surname, and, if so, what it is.

The situation of members of the Royal Family is more complex than for most people, as they can be known both by the name of the Royal house, and by a surname, which are not always the same.

Before 1917, members of the British Royal Family had no surname, but only the name of the house or dynasty to which they belonged.

Kings and princes were historically known by the names of the countries over which they and their families ruled. Kings and queens therefore signed themselves by their first names only, a tradition in the United Kingdom which has continued to the present day.

The names of dynasties tended to change when the line of succession was taken by a rival faction within the family (for example, Henry IV and the Lancastrians, Edward IV and the Yorkists, Henry VII and the Tudors), or when succession passed to a different family branch through females (for example, Henry II and the Angevins, James I and the Stuarts, George I and the Hanoverians).

Just as children can take their surnames from their father, so sovereigns normally take the name of their 'House' from their father. For this reason, Queen Victoria's eldest son Edward VII belonged to the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (the family name of his father Prince Albert). Edward VII's son George V became the second king of that dynasty when he succeeded to the throne in 1910.

In 1917, there was a radical change, when George V specifically adopted Windsor, not only as the name of the 'House' or dynasty, but also as the surname of his family. The family name was changed as a result of anti-German feeling during the First World War, and the name Windsor was adopted after the Castle of the same name.

At a meeting of the Privy Council on 17 July 1917, George V declared that 'all descendants in the male line of Queen Victoria, who are subjects of these realms, other than female descendants who marry or who have married, shall bear the name of Windsor'.

The Royal Family name of Windsor was confirmed by The Queen after her accession in 1952. However, in 1960, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh decided that they would like their own direct descendants to be distinguished from the rest of the Royal Family (without changing the name of the Royal House), as Windsor is the surname used by all the male and unmarried female descendants of George V.

It was therefore declared in the Privy Council that The Queen's descendants, other than those with the style of Royal Highness and the title of Prince/Princess, or female descendants who marry, would carry the name of Mountbatten-Windsor.

This reflected Prince Philip's surname. In 1947, when Prince Philip of Greece became naturalised, he assumed the name of Philip Mountbatten as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy.

The effect of the declaration was that all The Queen's children, on occasions when they needed a surname, would have the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.

For the most part, members of the Royal Family who are entitled to the style and dignity of HRH Prince or Princess do not need a surname, but if at any time any of them do need a surname (such as upon marriage), that surname is Mountbatten-Windsor.

The surname Mountbatten-Windsor first appeared on an official document on 14 November 1973, in the marriage register at Westminster Abbey for the marriage of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips.

A proclamation on the Royal Family name by the reigning monarch is not statutory; unlike an Act of Parliament, it does not pass into the law of the land. Such a proclamation is not binding on succeeding reigning sovereigns, nor does it set a precedent which must be followed by reigning sovereigns who come after.

Unless The Prince of Wales chooses to alter the present decisions when he becomes king, he will continue to be of the House of Windsor and his grandchildren will use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor."

2007-11-03 06:14:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3 2

The surname of the royal family is Windsor. This has been the royal family's surname only since 1917. The name was changed because England was at war with Germany and there was a fear that the actual surname of the royal family - Saxe-Coburg-Gotha - would have created more anti-royalist sentiment and unrest at the time. King George V renounced all of his German titles and took the name of Windsor after his residence, Windsor Castle.

2007-11-03 11:22:28 · answer #2 · answered by chris m 5 · 3 1

It's the royal House of Windsor. The family name for Elizabeth's descendants is Mountbatten-Windsor, while other branches are just Windsor.

2007-11-03 17:28:35 · answer #3 · answered by JerH1 7 · 0 0

Windsor

2007-11-03 18:32:49 · answer #4 · answered by Hollister Babe 3 · 0 0

Windsor

2007-11-03 11:20:55 · answer #5 · answered by Patricia 5 · 0 1

Windsor

2007-11-03 11:17:11 · answer #6 · answered by Seed Plower 5 · 1 1

Windsor, by Royal decree.

2007-11-03 14:21:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Queen Elizabeth II's maiden name was Windsor. High anti-German feeling among the people during WWI prompted the Royal Family to abandon all titles held under the German crown and to change German-sounding titles and house names for English-sounding versions from Wettin to Windsor. The current official surname used for the House of Windsor is Mountbatten-Windsor.The Queen's children and grandchildren are from the House of Mountbatten (the royal house to which Prince Philip belonged). Prince Charles will officially change to House of Mountbatten-Windsor when he becomes King.
Although the official surname that royal children and grandchildren of the Queen is "Mountbatten-Windsor", the younger royal generation prefers to use their "territorial title" as oppose to their official surname. Prince William of Wales was registered as "William Wales" in college, and both Princess Beatrice and Eugenie of York were registered as "Beatrice and Eugenie York" in college.

2007-11-03 11:47:33 · answer #8 · answered by Rachelle_of_Shangri_La 7 · 1 2

The last name is Windsor.

2007-11-03 11:18:44 · answer #9 · answered by Yo C 4 · 1 1

Winsor.

2007-11-03 19:31:57 · answer #10 · answered by ~Chrissy~ 3 · 0 0

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