Etiquette and Royal Baby Surnames

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children. – Photo courtesy of Herald Mail

Prince Louis Arthur Charles Will Not Have a Last Name, ... but here are a few options in case he decides to use one: Mountbatten is Prince Phillip's surname, and Queen Elizabeth II's grandfather, King George V, took on Windsor—after Windsor Castle—as the British royal family's official surname in 1917, as Saxe-Coburg-Gotha sounded “too German” during World War I.

Most families pass down a last name from one generation to the next, but the British royal family follows their own rules and traditions. They have formal titles (some are made up of up to 15 words), but tend to only use Prince or Princess in front of their given name. However, following the birth of Prince William and Kate Middleton's third child, Prince Louis Arthur Charles, many are curious as to whether he will adopt the surname the descendants of Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth often use on certain occasions: Mountbatten-Windsor.

Royal historian, author and blogger of  “Royal Musings,” Marlene Eilers Koenig, said the baby will not. “The royal baby will not have a last name,” Koenig tells TownandCountrymag.com. “The name on the birth certificate will say HRH Prince or Princess, and all three names of Cambridge.” HRH is an abbreviation for His or Her Royal Highness. The three names of Cambridge refers to the three first names given to each royal child. For instance, Prince George’s three first names are George Alexander Louis, and Princess Charlotte's three first names are Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

“The House name is Windsor and the family name for those who do use a surname is Mountbatten-Windsor,” Koenig adds. Mountbatten is Prince Phillip's surname, and Queen Elizabeth II's grandfather, King George V, took on the name “Windsor” —after Windsor Castle—as the British royal family's official surname in 1917. 

Prince George, the royal baby's oldest sibling, is listed at school with the surname Cambridge, which is part of his father and mother's official titles as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Prince William and Prince Harry similarly adopted part of their father's title as their last name when they enlisted in the military under William Wales and Harry Wales, The Independent reports. Prince Charles is, of course, the Prince of Wales.– Town and Country Magazine, 2018

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia