Discover the history of the British royal family surname

The British royal family is famous for its strict rules and traditions, but the use of surnames also follows precise rules. Even though royals rarely use it in everyday life, their surname has an interesting history.

The official surname of members of the royal family is Mountbatten-Windsor, but not everyone adopts it. The origin of this name is linked to the family’s path over the years.

Until the 20th century, families were known by the royal house or dynasty to which they belonged. Queen Victoria, for example, was known as Queen Victoria of the House of Hanover.

Queen Elizabeth II, granddaughter of George V, made a major change in 1952. To honor her husband, Prince Philip, she decided to adopt “Mountbatten-Windsor” as the family’s new surname, despite advice to the contrary. In fact, the royals only recognized the change after eight years.

It’s worth noting that royals with royal titles, such as King Charles III and Prince William, do not need to use their surname, which is why they are rarely referred to by that surname.

Source: Terra