View source for Mountbatten-Windsor

{{short description|Family name}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox family
|name                 = Mountbatten-Windsor
|native_name          = 
|native_name_lang     =
|other_names          = 
|type                 = <!-- Default: [[Family]]; rarely [[Royal house]], [[Noble family]], etc. See "Types" below. -->
|coat_of_arms         = [[File:Arms of Battenberg-Mountbatten.svg|120px]] [[File:Badge of the House of Windsor.svg|120px]]
|coat_of_arms_size    = 
|alt                  = 
|coat_of_arms_caption = Arms of the [[House of Mountbatten]] and the Badge of the [[House of Windsor]]
|image                = 
|image_size           = 
|alt2                 = 
|image_caption        = 
|parent_family        = {{ubl|[[Mountbatten family|Mountbatten]] ([[Patrilineality|agnatic]])|[[House of Windsor|Windsor]] ([[Matrilineality|enatic]])}}
|country              = {{flag|United Kingdom}} {{Collapsible list
|{{flag|Antigua and Barbuda}} {{small|(1981–present)}}<br>
|{{flag|Australia}} {{small|(1960–present)}}<br>
|{{flag|Bahamas}} {{small|(1973–present)}}<br>
|{{flag|Barbados}} {{small|(1966–2021)}}<br>
|{{flag|Belize}} {{small|(1981–present)}}<br>
|{{flag|Canada}} {{small|(1960–present)}}<br>
|{{flag|Dominion of Ceylon|name=Ceylon}} {{small|(1960–1972)}}<br>
|{{flag|Dominion of Fiji|name=Fiji}} {{small|(1970–1987)}}<br>
|{{flag|The Gambia (1965–1970)|name=The Gambia}} {{small|(1965–1970)}}<br>
|{{flag|Dominion of Ghana|name=Ghana}} {{small|(1960)}}<br>
|{{flag|Grenada}} {{small|(1974–present)}}<br>
|{{flag|Guyana (1966–1970)|name=Guyana}} {{small|(1966–1970)}}<br>
|{{flag|Jamaica|}} {{small|(1962–present)}}<br>
|{{flag|Kenya (1963–1964)|name=Kenya}} {{small|(1963–1964)}}<br>
|{{flag|Malawi}} {{small|(1964–1966)}}<br>
|{{flag|State of Malta|name=Malta}} {{small|(1964–1974)}}<br>
|{{flag|Mauritius (1968–1992)|name=Mauritius}} {{small|(1968–1992)}}<br>
|{{flag|New Zealand}} {{small|(1960–present)}}<br>
|{{flag|Federation of Nigeria|name=Nigeria}} {{small|(1960–1963)}}<br>
|{{flag|Papua New Guinea}} {{small|(1975–present)}}<br>
|{{flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}} {{small|(1983–present)}}<br>
|{{flag|Saint Lucia}} {{small|(1979–present)}}<br>
|{{flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}} {{small|(1979–present)}}<br>
|{{flag|Sierra Leone (1961–1971)|name=Sierra Leone}} {{small|(1961–1971)}}<br>
|{{flag|Solomon Islands}} {{small|(1978–present)}}<br>
|{{flag|Union of South Africa|name=South Africa}} {{small|(1960–1961)}}<br>
|{{flag|Tanganyika (1961–1964)|name=Tanganyika}} {{small|(1961–1962)}}<br>
|{{flag|Trinidad and Tobago}} {{small|(1962–1976)}}<br>
|{{flag|Tuvalu}} {{small|(1978–present)}}<br>
|{{flag|Uganda (1962–1963)|name=Uganda}} {{small|(1962–1963)}}<br>
}}
|region               = <!-- Main current location - please note, countries that are merely associated with titles should be indicated in "titles" -->
|early_forms          = 
|etymology            = <!-- Etymology; name origin and/or meaning -->
|origin               = <!-- Country, region, town, location etc. of origin -->
|founded              = 1960
|founder              = [[Elizabeth II]]<br>[[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]]
|current_head         = [[Charles III]]
|final_ruler          = <!-- I.e. last sovereign; applicable primarily to sovereign aristocratic dynasties -->
|final_head           = <!-- I.e. last person with family name or else subject to end of continuous consistency -->
|seat                = <!-- the current [[Family seat]], if one exists, if not use the historic seat (see below) -->
|historic_seat       = <!-- the Family historic seat, i.e. the place commonly associated with the family ([[Manor house]], [[Château]], etc.), and where the head(s)/chieftain(s) of the family used to resided -->
|styles               = <!-- Styles (manners of address) -->
|members              = 15
|connected_members    = <!-- Notable members in selection, only if relevant in infobox and readability-wise applicable -->
|other_families       = [[British royal family]]<br>[[Danish royal family]]<br>[[Greek royal family]]
|distinctions         = <!-- Primarily associated distinctions such as orders, prizes, awards, etc. -->
|traditions           = <!-- Philosophy, movement, adherence, allegiance, etc. -->
|motto                = <!-- For non-English motto, use: ''Motto in italics'' -->
|motto_lang           = 
|motto_trans          = 
|heirlooms            = <!-- Inheritances; antiques, mementos, jewelry, etc. -->
|estate               = <!-- Residence, seat, etc. -->
|properties           = 
|dissolution          = <!-- {{End date|YYYY}}, removal of public status applicable primarily to royal and aristocratic houses -->
|deposition           = <!-- {{End date|YYYY}}, removal of authority applicable primarily to royal houses -->
|cadet_branches       = <!-- Branches families - if multiple ones, please consider using {{tlx|Template:Collapsible list}} -->
|website              = <!-- {{URL|example.com}}, website of the family association/foundation/memorial, etc. -->
|footnotes            = 
}}
[[File:Elizabeth II & Philip after Coronation.JPG|thumb|upright|alt=Elizabeth in crown and robes next to her husband in military uniform|Coronation portrait of Elizabeth II and Philip, {{nowrap|June 1953}}]]
[[File:Arms of Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.svg|thumb|upright|Coat of arms of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]]
'''Mountbatten-Windsor''' is the family [[surname]] available to and used by descendants of [[Queen Elizabeth II]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]], when a surname is required. Generally, those who are entitled to, and use, the royal style ''[[HRH]] Prince'' or ''Princess'' have no need of a surname. A surname may become needed, for example to register a marriage, and for non-royal children. ''Mountbatten-Windsor'' combines the [[British royal family]]'s [[Dynasty|house name]] of [[House of Windsor|Windsor]] and Prince Philip's adopted surname of [[Mountbatten family|Mountbatten]]. Its use was authorised in a declaration by the [[Privy Council (United Kingdom)|Privy Council]] in 1960.

==Origin==
''Mountbatten-Windsor'' was created by combining the royal family's [[Dynasty|House]] name of [[House of Windsor|Windsor]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]]'s adopted surname of [[Mountbatten family|Mountbatten]]—an [[Anglicised]] version of [[Battenberg family|Battenberg]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/prince-harry-meghan-announce-sons-archie-harrison-mountbatten/story?id=62804184|title= Prince Harry and Meghan announce their son's name: Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor|last=Kindelan|first=Katie |date=8 May 2019 |website=ABC News |accessdate=2 April 2025}}</ref> In 1960 the Queen declared:<ref>{{cite news |title=The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41948/supplement/1003 |access-date=26 December 2024 |work=The London Gazette |issue=41948 |date=5 February 1960}}</ref>
<blockquote>Whereas on the 9th day of April 1952, I did declare in Council My Will and Pleasure that I and My children shall be styled and known as the House and Family of Windsor, and that My descendants, other than female descendants who marry and their descendants, shall bear the name of Windsor:
And whereas I have given further consideration to the position of those of My descendants who will enjoy neither the style, title or attribute of Royal Highness, nor the titular dignity of Prince and for whom therefore a surname will be necessary:
And whereas I have concluded that the Declaration made by Me on the 9th day of April 1952, should be varied in its application to such persons:
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.</blockquote>
The Privy Council declaration made it so that Elizabeth's descendants who bear princely titles keep the name Windsor, pursuant to a declaration she made in a previous Privy Council meeting at the beginning of her reign, while those who do not use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor. This is the case for [[James, Earl of Wessex|James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex]]. Any female descendants who marry, and their descendants, do not hold the surname Mountbatten-Windsor; this is the case for [[Zara Tindall]], who was born with the surname Phillips as a daughter of [[Anne, Princess Royal]] and [[Mark Phillips]].

==Current use==
The British monarchy asserted that the name ''Mountbatten-Windsor'' should be used by members of the royal family who do not have a surname, when a surname is required.<ref name="royal">{{cite web |title=The Royal Family name |date=3 April 2016 |url=https://www.royal.uk/royal-family-name |publisher=The British Monarchy |access-date=10 June 2018}}</ref> For example, Anne, Princess Royal and her brother (then HRH Prince) Andrew, children of Queen Elizabeth II, used the surname ''Mountbatten-Windsor'' in official marriage registry entries in 1973 and 1986 respectively.<ref>Philip Ziegler, ''Mountbatten: The Official Biography'', 1985, p.682</ref> Likewise, [[William, Prince of Wales]], used the name when filing a French lawsuit related to the topless pictures of [[Catherine, Princess of Wales|his wife]] published by the French magazine ''[[Closer (magazine)|Closer]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/william-and-kate-win-legal-battle--but-lose-war-to-keep-topless-photos-under-wraps-8153383.html|title=William and Kate win legal battle – but lose war to keep topless photos under wraps|last=Lichfield|first=John|date=19 September 2012|work=The Independent|access-date=28 February 2017}}</ref>
At the time of the 1960 declaration, palace officials claimed in private communications that it created a 'hidden' surname that would emerge several generations later when some of Queen Elizabeth II's descendants became further removed from the throne.<ref>http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/TNA/HO_290_72.htm (see, in particular, the article by Edward F. Iwi).</ref> On the [[wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones]] in 1999, the Queen decided, with their agreement, that any of their future children should not be styled His or Her [[Royal Highness]].<ref>Even though such children would theoretically be a Prince or Princess under the 1917 letters patent which changed the name of the Royal House to Windsor.</ref> Consequently, the birth of their daughter in 2003 marked the first emergence of the Mountbatten-Windsor surname (hyphenated). Their daughter was named Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor, and she goes by the title of [[Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1447876/Lady-Louise-heralds-return-for-Mountbattens.html|title=Lady Louise heralds return for Mountbattens|date=27 November 2003|work=The Telegraph}}</ref>

Mountbatten-Windsor as a surname differs from the official name of the [[British royal family]], which remains the [[House of Windsor]].<ref name="royal"/> In accordance with law and custom in the English-speaking world, the surname ''Mountbatten-Windsor'' belongs to all male-line descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and can be used by them if and when a surname is needed. In contrast, male-line descendants of [[King George V]], the first monarch of the House of Windsor, use ''Windsor'' as their surname in cases where a surname is needed if they are not direct descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, as for example [[Lady Davina Windsor]] and [[Lady Marina Windsor]], respectively descended from George V's sons [[Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester]] and [[Prince George, Duke of Kent]]. (George V's other sons have no male-line descendants: [[George VI|King George VI]] had only daughters while [[King Edward VIII]] had no issue and [[Prince John of the United Kingdom|Prince John]] died young and was unmarried.) After the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was renamed Windsor, other descendants of [[Queen Victoria]] and [[Albert, Prince Consort|Prince Albert]] could also use the name Windsor, as for example, [[Alastair Arthur Windsor, 2nd Duke of Connaught and Strathearn]], grandson of their son [[Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn]]. None do so today, however, because the only male line (apart from the descendants of King George V) is through [[Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]], whose descendants use the surname Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (English) or von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha (German).

The former Prince Andrew became [[Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor]] after Charles III's October 2025 decision to initiate the processes of stripping him of all royal styles and titles and agreement that he would move out of Royal Lodge.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/prince-andrew-to-lose-prince-title-and-move-out-of-royal-lodge-13456409|title=Prince Andrew to lose prince title and move out of Royal Lodge|date=30 October 2025|work=Sky News}}</ref> While the initial announcements spelt the surname "Mountbatten Windsor", on 12 November it was reported it would be hyphenated as "Mountbatten-Windsor" in conformity with the 1960 declaration.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Caroline |title=Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s name to be hyphenated, as decreed by late queen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/12/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-hyphenated-decreed-queen-elizabeth |access-date=12 November 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=12 November 2025}}</ref>

==Male-line descendants of Elizabeth II and Philip==
The family tree is based on the current [[Succession to the British throne|line of succession to the British throne]] (addition of last heir)
{{Tree list}}
* [[File:Crown of Saint Edward (Heraldry).svg|15px]] ''[[Queen Elizabeth II]] (1926–2022)'' ⚭ [[File:Coronet of a Child of the Sovereign.svg|15px]] ''[[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]] (1921–2021)'' – m. 1947
** [[File:2022 pattern Tudor Crown (2D) Sodacan style.svg|15px]] '''[[King Charles III]] (b. 1948)'''
***'''(1)''' [[File:Coronet of the British Heir Apparent.svg|15px]] [[William, Prince of Wales]] (b. 1982)
****'''(2)''' [[File:Coronet of a Child of the Heir Apparent.svg|15px]] [[Prince George of Wales]] (b. 2013)
****'''(3)''' [[File:Coronet of a Child of the Heir Apparent.svg|15px]] [[Princess Charlotte of Wales (born 2015)|Princess Charlotte of Wales]] (b. 2015)
****'''(4)''' [[File:Coronet of a Child of the Heir Apparent.svg|15px]] [[Prince Louis of Wales]] (b. 2018)
***'''(5)''' [[File:Coronet of a Child of the Sovereign.svg|15px]] [[Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex]] (b. 1984)
****'''(6)''' [[File:Coronet of a Grandchild of the Sovereign.svg|15px]] [[Prince Archie of Sussex]] (b. 2019)
****'''(7)''' [[File:Coronet of a Grandchild of the Sovereign.svg|15px]] [[Princess Lilibet of Sussex]] (b. 2021)
**'''(8)''' [[File:Coronet of a Child of the Sovereign.svg|15px]] [[Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor]] (b. 1960) 
***'''(9)''' [[File:Coronet of a Grandchild of the Sovereign.svg|15px]] [[Princess Beatrice]], Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (b. 1988)
***'''(10)''' [[File:Coronet of a Grandchild of the Sovereign.svg|15px]] [[Princess Eugenie]], Mrs Jack Brooksbank (b. 1990)
**'''(11)''' [[File:Coronet of a Child of the Sovereign.svg|15px]] [[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh]] (b. 1964)
***'''(12)''' [[File:Coronet of a Grandchild of the Sovereign.svg|15px]] [[James, Earl of Wessex|James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex]] (b. 2007)
***'''(13)''' [[File:Coronet of a Grandchild of the Sovereign.svg|15px]] [[Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor]] (b. 2003)
**'''(14)''' [[File:Coronet of a Child of the Sovereign.svg|15px]] [[Anne, Princess Royal]] (b. 1950)
{{Tree list/end}}

==Marriages==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Date !! Wedding !! Combined coat of arms
|-
| [[Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten|20 November 1947]]
| [[Elizabeth II|Princess Elizabeth]] and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Philip Mountbatten]] (formerly Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark)
| align=center|[[File:Combined Coat of Arms of Elizabeth and Philip, the Duchess and Duke of Edinburgh.svg|100px]]
|-
| [[Wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips|14 November 1973]]
| [[Anne, Princess Royal|Princess Anne]] and [[Mark Phillips]]
| align=center|[[File:Combined Coat of Arms of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips.svg|100px]]
|-
| [[Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer|29 July 1981]]
| [[Charles III|Charles, Prince of Wales]] and [[Diana, Princess of Wales|Lady Diana Spencer]]
| align=center|[[File:Combined Coat of Arms of Charles and Diana, the Prince and Princess of Wales.svg|100px]]
|-
| [[Wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson|23 July 1986]]
| [[Prince Andrew, Duke of York]] and [[Sarah Ferguson]]
| align=center|[[File:Combined Coat of Arms of Andrew and Sarah, the Duke and Duchess of York.svg|100px]]
|-
| 12 December 1992
| [[Anne, Princess Royal]] and [[Timothy Laurence]]
| align=center|
|-
| [[Wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones|19 June 1999]]
| [[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex]] and [[Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh|Sophie Rhys-Jones]]
| align=center|[[File:Combined Coat of Arms of Edward and Sophie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex.svg|100px]]
|-
| [[Wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles|9 April 2005]]
| [[Charles III|Charles, Prince of Wales]] and [[Queen Camilla|Camilla Parker Bowles]]
| align=center|[[File:Combined Coat of Arms of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.svg|100px]]
|-
| [[Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton|29 April 2011]]
| [[William, Prince of Wales|Prince William, Duke of Cambridge]] and [[Catherine, Princess of Wales|Catherine Middleton]]
| align=center|[[File:Combined Coat of Arms of William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.svg|100px]]
|-
| [[Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle|19 May 2018]]
| [[Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex]] and [[Meghan, Duchess of Sussex|Meghan Markle]]
| align=center|[[File:Combined Coat of Arms of Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.svg|100px]]
|-
| [[Wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank|12 October 2018]]
| [[Princess Eugenie|Princess Eugenie of York]] and [[Jack Brooksbank]]
| align=center|[[File:Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank, Joint Coat of Arms.png|100x100px]]
|-
| [[Wedding of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi|17 July 2020]]
| [[Princess Beatrice|Princess Beatrice of York]] and [[Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi]]
| align=center|[[File:Count Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi & Princess Beatrice, Countess Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Joint Coat of Arms.png|100x100px]]
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[House of Windsor]] – Queen Elizabeth II's paternal family house
* [[Bowes-Lyon family]] – Queen Elizabeth II's maternal family.
* [[House of Glücksburg]] – Prince Philip's paternal family.
* [[Mountbatten family]] – Prince Philip's maternal family.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Mountbatten-Windsor (surname)}}
* [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41948/data.pdf 1960 Declaration]

{{Mountbatten-Windsor}}
{{Elizabeth II}}
{{Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh}}
{{Charles III}}

[[Category:Mountbatten-Windsor family| ]]
[[Category:Surnames of European origin]]