The former prince is featured in two of the top five jokes of the contest

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has become the punchline of the year in a Christmas cracker joke competition.

The annual contest was commissioned by the comedy channel U&Gold (formerly Comedy Gold) and decided by Britons.

Ben Smith from Chelmsford, Essex, is this year’s winner with his joke against the former prince.

He wrote: “Why is Prince Andrew not writing any Christmas books? He hasn’t got any titles!”

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has become the punchline of the year | GETTY

Mr Smith won the top prize, which included £1,500 towards a holiday.

A second joke about the former prince also featured in this year’s top five, coming in fourth.

“What do Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and a snowman have in common? They’re both out in the cold,” the joke read.

The former Duke of York was stripped of his titles last month and is being forced out of his grand 30-room mansion, Royal Lodge.

The joke said: ‘Why is Prince Andrew not writing any Christmas books? He hasn’t got any titles!’

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Andrew is expected to take up residence after departing Royal Lodge on the Sandringham estate, where a drone prohibition zone has been expanded.

The extension of aerial restrictions was disclosed yesterday, ahead of the former prince’s anticipated relocation to Norfolk.

Modern drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging technology pose significant privacy concerns, as they enable remote surveillance and recording of locations from considerable distances.

The restricted airspace is not a fresh security measure for the royal estate.

Another joke read: ‘What do Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and a snowman have in common? They’re both out in the cold’

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King Charles’s 60-acre Norfolk property already benefits from year-round flight restrictions covering Sandringham House, the traditional Christmas gathering place for the Royal Family, as well as Anmer Hall to the east, the ten-bedroom country retreat belonging to the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The village offers limited amenities, comprising only a church and a social club, with neither a public house nor a local shop serving residents.

The law creating the expanded restricted zone was officially enacted on September 16, with enforcement starting on September 22 this year.

According to the official order: “The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to amend the restricted area in the Air Navigation.”

Ben Smith, who came up with the joke about Andrew, won £1,500

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The statement further confirms: “It has been agreed by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport that flying should be restricted in the vicinity of the specified areas for reasons of public safety and security.”

Buckingham Palace has not yet provided confirmation regarding when Andrew will complete his move to the Norfolk property.

The former prince has formally submitted notice to vacate Royal Lodge, though the minimum required period of 12 months means he remains responsible for the Windsor property throughout the coming year.

Sources at Buckingham Palace maintain they anticipate Andrew will leave during the first three months of next year.