Andrew just became punchline of 2025's most popular Christmas cracker joke

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has found himself back in the headlines, this time as the unlikely star of the UK’s funniest Christmas cracker joke of 2025.

The festive punchline comes after a turbulent year for the royal, formerly known as Prince Andrew.

Earlier this year, Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles had formally stripped his younger brother of his remaining royal titles, meaning he is now officially known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The move followed years of controversy surrounding Andrew’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as allegations made by Virginia Giuffre, which Andrew has consistently denied. Despite an out-of-court settlement reached in 2022, Andrew was forced to step back from royal duties and surrender a number of honours, with his Duke of York title also removed last year.

Against that backdrop, it seems the British public has now turned the situation into festive satire.

Andrew was stripped of his titles by his brother King Charles earlier this year (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

A joke referencing Andrew’s loss of titles has been voted the funniest modern Christmas cracker joke of the year, beating off competition from gags about Oasis, Sabrina Carpenter, and Nigel Farage.

The winning joke reads: “Why is Prince Andrew not writing any Christmas books? He hasn’t got any titles.”

The gag was revealed as part of Comedy channel U&GOLD’s annual Christmas cracker competition, now in its thirteenth year. Members of the public were invited to submit topical jokes inspired by the biggest moments of 2025, before a shortlist was put to a public vote of 2,000 British adults.

Another Andrew-themed joke also cracked the rankings, asking: “What do Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and a snowman have in common? They’re both out in the cold.”

Andrew wasn’t the only high-profile name to feature. The top 10 also included jokes about Lily Allen and David Harbour’s messy split, Angela Rayner, and Claudia Winkleman, reflecting a year packed with headline-making moments.

Andrew pictured here at Mar-a-Lago in 2000 with Jeffrey Epstein, Melania Trump and Gwendolyn Beck (Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)

The author of the winning joke, Ben Smith from Chelmsford, was awarded £1,500 towards a holiday, a festive hamper and a box of bespoke U&GOLD Christmas crackers, with the top six jokes set to appear inside limited-edition crackers this Christmas.

The full list of jokes includes:

1. Why is (former) Prince Andrew not writing any Christmas books? He hasn't got any titles.

2. Why don't Noel and Liam (Gallagher) want to open their presents early on Christmas morning? They need a little time to wake up.

3. Which pop star carves her own wooden nativity scene? Sabrina Carpenter.

4. What do Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and a snowman have in common? They're both out in the cold.

5. What is a French burglar's favourite Christmas film? Louvre, actually.

Andrew's controversies will follow him into the festive season (Getty Stock)

6. Could Lily Allen and David Harbour get back together for Christmas? Stranger Things have happened.

7. Why won't Angela Rayner get any Christmas presents this year? Santa can't decide which address to deliver to.

8. What is Claudia Winkleman's favourite part of Christmas dinner? The taters.

9. Does Celia Imrie beat her family at Christmas party games? Yes, she trumps them all.

10. Where has Santa been more than Nigel Farage? His house in Clacton.