Buckingham Palace addresses new Prime Minister as Andrew Burnham
Official palace logs recorded Prime Minister Andrew Burnham using his full name despite his informal preference
Buckingham Palace has opted to refer to the new Prime Minister as "Andrew Burnham" in official records despite his well-known preference for "Andy". The entry was published following his formal appointment at the royal residence.
The decision was recorded on Tuesday in the Court Circular, which documented: "His Majesty received in audience the Rt Hon Andrew Burnham MP and requested him to form a new Administration." The Court Circular serves as the definitive official log of all engagements carried out by working members of the Royal Family, making the naming choice a matter of permanent historical record. No explanation has been given for the different treatment.
The formal designation is inconsistent with the precedent set by Tony Blair, whom the Palace referred to as "Tony" rather than "Anthony" throughout his premiership. Formal naming conventions have caused friction between the royals and Labour before. On Tony and Cherie Blair's first stay at Balmoral with Queen Elizabeth, Princess Anne addressed Cherie as "Mrs Blair."
The choice of address comes after Mr Burnham dropped both his party label and his surname from campaign posters during the Makerfield by-election that he used to unseat Sir Keir Starmer. The materials simply read "Vote Andy."
It is not known whether Mr Burnham, who was raised in a suburb of Liverpool before growing up in Culcheth, Cheshire, will embrace being called "Andrew". His team have been keen to emphasise just how relaxed his premiership will be, noting that he intends to don a jacket and tie only when appearing in the House of Commons. The Cambridge graduate's default outfit is a black T-shirt and jeans.
