Prince William Surname: Royal Baby’s Last Name?

Save
Prince William Surname: Royal Baby’s Last Name?
Britain's Prince William, right, and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, hold the Prince of Cambridge, Tuesday July 23, 2013, as they pose for photographers outside St. Mary's Hospital exclusive Lindo Wing in London where the Duchess gave birth on Monday July 22. The Royal couple are expected to head to London’s Kensington Palace from the hospital with their newly born son, the third in line to the British throne. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Zachary Stieber
7/24/2013
Updated:
7/18/2015

The royal baby’s surname is unclear at this point, but it could be Mountbatten-Windsor.

Prince William and Duchess Catherine typically don’t use the surname, because of the titles before their first names.

George V in 1917 declared that Windsor be the surname for all descendants in the male line of Queen Victoria, other than female descendants that who marry, shall bear the name of Windsor, according to the United Kingdom government.

But in 1960 the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh decided that they wanted their own direct descendants to be distinguished from the rest of the royal family, so another declaration was made: all descendants of the Queen, other than those with the title of Prince or Princess, or females who married, would carry the name Mountbatten-Windsor.

Article continues after the discussion. Please feel free to vote and comment.

[tok id=590ea5dd4c5fc1e8924a86c0641cc39f partner=1966]

Members of the Royal Family often don’t need a surname, noted the government, but when they do, such as in marriage, it is available for use.

The royal baby, George Alexander Louis, has other potential last names as well--Wales and Cambridge, according to BBC. 

Whatever last name he receives, it won’t be used much.  “The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge,” according to the Clarence House.