As long as Prince Andrew has no legitimate male heirs, the title Duke of York will again revert to the Crown upon his death.

In 1664, Charles II of England granted American territory between the Delaware and Connecticut rivers to his younger brother James.

Following its capture by the English the former Dutch territory of New Netherland and its principal port, New Amsterdam, were named the Province and City of New York in James's honour.

Fort Orange, 150 miles (240 km) north on the Hudson River, was renamed Albany after James's Scottish title.

During the 18th century the double dukedom of York and Albany was created a number of times in the Peerage of Great Britain.

The title was first held by Duke Ernest Augustus of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Bishop of Osnabrück, the youngest brother of King George I.

The second creation of the double dukedom was for Prince Edward, younger brother of King George III, who also died without heirs, having never married.

He served as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army for many years, and was the original "Grand old Duke of York" in the popular rhyme.

Albert came unexpectedly to the throne when his brother abdicated, and took the name George VI, the Dukedom then merging into the Crown.

Aside from the first creation, every time the Dukedom of York has been created it has had only one occupant, that person either inheriting the throne or dying without male heirs.

Gordon Ashman in 1991 maintains that the melody was composed in 1805, soon after the Duke of York became Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and notes it is still in use today as a regimental slow-march.

James Merryweather however, researched the melody and found it was composed by John Gamidge in 1789, to be played by the York Waits.