Mountbatten-Windsor: Long Story behind Baby Archie's Last Name

The new royal baby, courtesy of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, bears the last name, Mountbatten-Windsor.

The Royal Family’s official website explains the history of the last name.

“Members of the Royal Family can be known both by the name of the Royal house, and by a surname, which are not always the same. And often they do not use a surname at all,” the website states.

The family name “Windsor” came about in 1917 after George V adopted it not only as the name of the ‘House’ or dynasty, but also as the surname of his family. The change came as a result of the anti-German sentiments during the First World War. The former family name was Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

On July 17, 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 surname Mountbatten-Windsor first appeared on an official document on 14 November 1973..."

Queen Elizabeth II confirmed the Royal Family name of Windsor upon her accession in 1952.

In 1960, The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh declared that her descendants would carry the name of Mountbatten-Windsor. This is so that their descendants could be distinguished from the rest of the Royal Family, without changing the name of the Royal House.

On occasions when they needed a surname, The Queen’s children would have the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.

The Royal Family’s website states: “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.”

While nobody raises an eyebrow over royal baby Archie Harrison’s last name, some shared their disappointment over his first name.

Some people said that the name is a popular moniker for people’s pets.

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor won’t have a Royal title but will, instead, be known as Master Archie unless his great-grandmother, the Queen, bestows one upon him.