Page "British Royal Family" Paragraph 231

The Dukedom of York is generally created for the second son of the Sovereign.

The first creation was in 1384 ; the dukedom merged in the Crown in 1461.

Every Duke thereafter has either died without heirs or succeeded to the Crown, and so has not been able to leave the Royal Family.

The pattern of awarding the dukedom to the second-eldest son of the Sovereign was upset by George I, who gave the Dukedom of York and Albany to his younger brother.

The Dukedom of York and Albany was next granted by George II to the second son of his son, who had predeceased him.

York and Albany featured one last time as a dukedom in 1784, when George III granted it to his second son.

Thereafter, the dukedom has always borne the designation York, rather than York and Albany.

The current duke is The Prince Andrew, second son of Queen Elizabeth II.