Royal and noble styles
This page will detail the various
styles used by royalty and nobility in Europe, in the final form arrived at in the nineteenth century. In earlier years, many different styles were used, with little standardization. Styles represent the fashion by which monarchs and noblemen are or were properly addressed.
Imperial, Royal, and Princely Styles
Emperors and Empresses had the style of Imperial Majesty (HIM=His or Her Imperial Majesty)
Members of imperial families, generally had the style of Imperial Highness (HIH).
- In Austria, the members of the Imperial family, due to their status as also members of the royal family of Hungary, held the style of Imperial and Royal Highness (HIRH).
- In Russia, while the more senior Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses held the style of imperial highness, more junior Princes and Princesses of Russia held the style of His or Her Highness (HH)
Kings and Queens have the style of
Majesty (
HM)
Members of royal families (Princes and Princesses) generally have the style of
Royal Highness (
HRH), although in some royal families (for instance,
Denmark), more junior princes and princesses only bear the style of His or Her
Highness (
HH)
Reigning
Grand Dukes and
Grand Duchesses hold the style of
Royal Highness (
HRH).
The styles of members of Grand Ducal families has been inconsistent. In
Luxembourg, more senior members of the family have also been Royal Highnesses, but only due to their status as princes of
Bourbon of
Parma. In
Baden and
Hesse and the Rhine, junior members held the style of
Grand Ducal Highness (
HGDH). Members of other grand ducal families generally held the style of
Highness (
HH).
Reigning
Dukes and
Duchesses bore the style of
Highness (
HH), as did other members of ducal families.
The
Elector of
Hesse-Kassel also bore the style of
Highness, as did other members of the Hesse-Kassel family.
Mediatized Dukes and reigning and mediatized
Fürsten and
Fürstinnen bear the style of
Serene Higness (
HSH, German
Durchlaucht), as do other members of princely families.
Mediatized Counts and Countesses bear the style of
Illustrious Highness (German
Erlaucht).
Noble Styles in Britain
- Dukes and Duchesses in the peerages of England, Scotland, Great Britain, Ireland, and the United Kingdom bear the style of Grace, eg. "His Grace", "Your Grace". They are also known as Most Noble, although this style is largely archaic, except in the most formal situations.
- Marquesses and Marchionesses bear the styles of The Most Honourable and Lordship (e.g. "His Lordship," "Her Ladyship," "Your Lordship," and "Your Ladyship.")
- Earls, Countesses, Viscounts, Viscountesses, Barons, and Baronesses bear the styles of The Right Honourable and Lordship.
For more details, see Forms of Address in the United Kingdom
Noble Styles in Germany
Non-mediatized noble Dukes in Germany bear the style of Serene Highness (HSH) or High Born (Hochgeboren)
Non-mediatized noble Fürsten in Germany bear the styles of Serene Highness, Princely Grace (fürstliche Gnaden), or High Born
Other non-mediatized German nobles of the rank of Count or higher bear the style of High Born
German nobles of below the rank of count bear the style of High Well Born (Hochwohlgeboren)
incomplete
Related articles
\n* Styles and titles of peers in the
United Kingdom\n*
Royal and noble ranks\n*
Nobility,
Peerage,
Clergy