Question:
What is the difference between royal titles?
?
2011-05-31 14:04:26 UTC
Okay so Let's say we have a king and a queen, they have children who are called prince and princesses. What are there children called? Are they called prince and princesses too? Or are they called duke and duchess? Or are they called Earl and countess?

What is the difference between prince, duke, and Earl?
What is the difference between princess, duchess, and countess?
Three answers:
AdamKadmon
2011-05-31 16:28:56 UTC
The Queen has quite a few titles "held" by the Crown not being used. She gives these out, usually when they marry.

King/Queen

Ruler of the Kingdom and head of the Nobles.

Prince/Princess

Usually the son or daughter of the King or Queen. Can be (usually) the first cousins of the king or queen. Most Dukes are considered Princes or can be.

Dukes/Duchess

Rules the Duchy or Ducal Kingdom, usually for a King or Queen. However in Medieval times they were often the equivalent of a King or Queen. Since they only had the one area to rule, they weren't considered Kings or Queens. Usually this title is reserved for members of the Royal family (or the Royal family from a generation before).

Marquess/Marchioness

Just below a Duke in importance and above a Count (Europe)/Earl (England). Usually, he was considered more important because he could be counted on to protect the kingdom from outside invaders, thus his lands were usually on the outside part of the Kingdom. Their lands are called Marches.

Count/Earl/Countess

They rule counties. This is where the term came from to describe the areas that make up most US States (except Louisiana and Alaska where they are called a Parish). Usually a few counties were involved in a Ducal area. Basically he ruled an area in place of the king (like a viceroy). He was basically a Govenor.

Viscount/Viscountess

Basically, the children of many Counts/Earls, etc., are often viscounts. Princess Diana's brother was a viscount until the death of his father, Earl Spencer. It can be an honorary title, earned.

Baron/Baroness

They are the Kings "men." That is they are created by the King and work to his good. They are also called "lord or lady." Their lands are Baronies.

Lord/Lady

They are the children of Nobles, such as those above or are hereditary titled, meaning its passed from one generation to another.

Knight/Dame

Called 'sir.' They are a member of the Warrior class in the Middle ages. Today they are chosen by different criteria such as earned by a lifetime of achievement. The can only be knighted by Queen Elizabeth if they are British, otherwise they are honored another way. Then they recieve an OBE, MBE etc., but not the title Sir/Dame.
2011-05-31 20:13:23 UTC
Royal titles: King, queen, prince, princess.



Oh, and emperor, empress, and grand dukes and duchesses are royalty, too.



Earls are peers. Countesses are wives of peers. Dukes are peers....see the pattern, here?



Okay...



Going by BRITAIN ONLY:

The children of the PRINCE(s) are princes and princesses.



The children of The monarch's GRANDCHILDREN have lesser titles, if any.

The children of the princesses have only whatever titles their fathers gave them: Princess Margaret married an Earl. Her son is a viscount. Her daughter is a lady. Princess Anne married a commoner (and they chose NOT to accept a title). Their children have no titles.



OTHER TITLES MAY BE GIVEN TO THEM. But those don't trump the prince/princess titles. BUT, they may use the lesser titles to style themselves, if that's their wish.



In Spain, it works much the same.

The princesses (infantas), daughters of the king, their children have no titles, because their fathers had no titles.



In Monaco, the same:

Princess Stéphanie: Her children have no titles.

Princess Caroline has been married three times (children from each marriage). The children of the commoners have no titles. The daughter of Prince Ernst August is a princess.
2016-09-15 15:30:27 UTC
I don't consider that is true


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