Final humiliation as Andrew's name is updated on the royal family's line of succession

It is the final nail in the coffin. The royal family's official website has updated its line of succession information to reflect the former Prince Andrew's loss of titles.

Until a few weeks ago, the eighth spot on the line of succession, which is described as the sequence of members of the royal family in the order in which they stand in line to the throne, listed the Duke of York.

But it has now been updated to reflect his new status as a commoner, albeit one with royal blood.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – the hyphen has been added since the original announcement he had been stripped of his 'prince' title in keeping with his late mother's wishes – is the decidedly ordinary-sounding way he is now referred to on the royal family's official website.

He remains behind the Prince of Wales, his children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and the Duke of Sussex and his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lillibet.

The change of name is the latest humiliation for Andrew, whose final public downfall began in October with the announcement he was relinquishing his titles, including Duke of York.

Then just two weeks later, on October 31, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles had initiated a formal process to remove the "style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew", who would be known from now on as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

READ MORE: From a monarch's favourite son to a 'nobody'

READ MORE: King Charles gives Beatrice and Eugenie more roles

READ MORE: William's rare compliment to wife Catherine

While never officially announced, it was reported two weeks later that his name would be hyphenated to reflect the wishes of his late mother.

The Times reported the addition of a hyphen would bring his name in line with a declaration initiated by Queen Elizabeth II following Andrew's birth in 1960.

A notice made by the Queen in The London Gazette at the time read: "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".

Whatever the case, the update to the line of succession not only makes it official, but is one of the final humiliations for a former prince who once thrived on his royal status.

His downfall began in 2011 when photos were published of Andrew on a walk in New York City with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, soon after he was released from jail.

Despite his proven links with Epstein, Andrew's life went on much the same until 2015, when he was named in a US lawsuit against Epstein by Virginia Giuffre, who alleged she was trafficked to and abused by Prince Andrew when she was 17.

Buckingham Palace denied the allegations but they continued to follow Andrew for the next decade.

In November 2019, the BBC aired its now infamous Newsnight interview with Andrew, during which he was grilled about Giuffre's allegations and his relationship with Epstein.

Within days, it was announced he would step back from public duties and no longer use the styling His Royal Highness (HRH) officially.

In 2022, he gave up his military affiliations and royal patronages after he agreed to a large civil settlement payout to Giuffre, who had accused him of "sexual assault and battery".

Andrew has always denied the allegations.

This year, a spate of new allegations came to light which resulted in Andrew relinquishing his titles, including Duke of York, before Buckingham Palace made the sensational announcement that he would be stripped of his remaining "style, titles and honours", including that of prince.

A formal notice was also served to surrender the lease on his home of 20 years, Royal Lodge, with Andrew to move to "private accommodation" on the King's own Sandringham estate.

The following day, Andrew's name and bio were removed from the royal family's official website.

Now, it seems there was one final humiliation awaiting Andrew, who is set to live out his remaining years in exile, and with a very common name.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.