KING Charles has been the British monarch since September 2022, after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.
Here’s what we know about his Royal titles and why his family don’t use their surnames.
1
What is the King’s surname?
King Charles is from the house of Windsor.
His surname is Mountbatten-Windsor, as that is the adopted surname of his father Prince Philip, linked with the name of the dynasty he is from.
The Royal Family website explains: “They decided that the Queen’s descendants ‘other than those with the style of Royal Highness and the title of Prince/Princess, or female descendants who marry’ could have the name Mountbatten-Windsor.
“The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh decided that they would like their own direct descendants to be distinguished from the rest of the Royal Family (without changing the name of the Royal House), as Windsor is the surname used by all the male and unmarried female descendants of George V.”
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Why do the Royal Family not use their last names?
Often members of the Royal Family do not need surnames.
The Royal Family’s website says: “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.”
Before 1917 royals did not have a last name and simply used the name of their father’s “House”, eg Tudor.
The Queen’s grandfather, King George V, made history when he changed the house from the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor, but he also stated this would be his family’s surname, a royal first.
It was changed in part due to the resentment towards Germany after the First World War.
After becoming Queen in 1952, Her Majesty declared: “That I and my children shall be styled and known as the house and family of Windsor, and that my descendants who marry and their descendants, shall bear the name of Windsor.”
But in 1960, the royal couple decided to distinguish their descendants from the rest of the royals.
It does not change the name of the royal house, which is still Windsor.
The Privy Council declared that the Queen’s descendants, when they needed one, would have the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.
Often anyone who is styled HRH Prince or Princess does not usually require a surname, apart from occasions such as official marriage registry entries.
The first time the name was used was when Princess Anne married Captain Mark Phillips in 1973, and was later used by Prince Andrew when he wed.
What surname does Prince Harry and Prince William have?
When Prince Harry entered the Army he used the surname Wales.
However he appeared to drop that and Mountbatten-Windsor when he moved to the US.
After Prince William and Kate Middleton became the Prince and Princess of Wales, their kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, use “Wales” as their surname in school.
When are the King’s birthdays in 2023?
King Charles III was born on November 14, 1978.
There is a tradition that was continued during his mother’s reign that meant that the monarch celebrates two birthdays a year.
The reason for this is so that it lines up with the Trooping the Colour parade.
The Queen’s official birthday was on April 21, 1926, which generally had colder weather and so she chose to celebrate her second birthday in June.
It has not yet been decided when Charles’ second birthday will be, but if he goes down the same path of the Queen, he may choose a summer month.
What is the King’s official title?
Following the Queen’s death in September 2022, Charles became King immediately, however there was some speculation over what his official title would be.
It was ultimately decided that his title would be King Charles III.
He could have chosen any of his four names to run with as King, these being Charles, Philip, Arthur or George.
His grandfather, George VI, was the last monarch to not use his first name.
His full name was Albert Fredrick Arthur George.
