Anne, Princess Royal, daughter of Elizabeth II and princess of the blood

The use of the title of Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is entirely at the will of the sovereign as expressed in letters patent. Individuals holding the title of princess are styled "Her Royal Highness" (HRH). On 18 April 1917, Frederica of Hanover, the newest granddaughter of Wilhelm II, German Emperor was styled a British princess from birth, even though Germany and Britain were fighting in World War I. Before the First World War, British princesses also held additional German titles, such as princesses of Hanover by virtue of being male-line descendants of George III; or princesses of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, duchess of Saxony, by virtue of being male-line descendants of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. George V issued letters patent on 30 November 1917,[1] to restrict the automatic assignment of the title "princess" and the use of the style "Royal Highness" to the following persons:

  • the legitimate daughters of a British sovereign,
  • the legitimate male line granddaughters of a British sovereign,
  • the lawful wife of a British prince.[2][3]

On 31 December 2012, Queen Elizabeth II issued letters patent enabling daughters of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales to enjoy the princely title (princess) and style of Royal Highness, as opposed to only the eldest son (the 1917 patent having extended "prince" to his eldest living son).

Princesses of the royal blood and princesses by marriage

Under the current practice, princesses of the royal blood are the legitimate daughters and the legitimate male line granddaughters of a British sovereign. They are dynasts, that is potential successors to the throne. For these individuals, the title "Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" and the style "Her Royal Highness" is an entitlement for life. The title Princess and the style Royal Highness is prefixed to the Christian name, before another title of honour. From 1714 until 1917, the male-line great-granddaughters of the Sovereign were titled "Princess of Great Britain and Ireland" with the style "Highness". Since 1917,[1] the male-line great-granddaughters of the Sovereign have held "the style and title enjoyed by the children of dukes". For example, the daughters of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, a male line grandson of George V, are styled Lady Davina Windsor and Lady Rose Gilman.

Princesses by marriage are the recognised wives of the sovereign's sons and male-line grandsons.[1] Generally, these women are entitled to the style "Royal Highness" by virtue of marriage, and retain the style if widowed. However, Elizabeth II issued letters patent dated 21 August 1996 stating that any woman divorced from a prince of the United Kingdom would no longer be entitled to the style "Royal Highness". This has so far applied to Diana, Princess of Wales, and Sarah, Duchess of York.

Since the passage of the Royal Marriages Act 1772, there have been several instances in which princes of the blood contracted marriages in contravention of that act, to women deemed unsuitable to be a royal wife. This meant they were not legally married, and would allow the Sovereign to withhold the style "Her Royal Highness" from the bride, as well as any title in the peerage held by the groom. For example, Prince George, Duke of Cambridge, a male-line grandson of King George III, 'married' Sarah Louisa Fairbrother: the marriage was in contravention of the Royal Marriages Act, and therefore legally invalid. Accordingly, the duke's wife was never titled the Duchess of Cambridge or accorded the style "Her Royal Highness". Instead, she was known as "Mrs FitzGeorge". An exception to the rule was created for King Edward VIII following his 1936 abdication. King George VI issued letters patent dated 27 May 1937 that entitled The Duke of Windsor, as Edward was now entitled, "to hold and enjoy for himself only the title style or attribute of Royal Highness so however that his wife and descendants if any shall not hold the said title style or attribute".

The wife of a prince of the blood takes her husband's Christian name[4][5] in her title as do all married royal women. For example, upon her marriage to Prince Michael of Kent in 1978, Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz assumed the title and style of "Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent". Similarly, upon her marriage to then Prince Richard of Gloucester, the former Birgitte van Deurs assumed the title and style of "Her Royal Highness Princess Richard of Gloucester". Upon marriage, the wife of the prince of Wales becomes "Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales". Upon marriage, the wife of a royal duke (or earl) becomes "Her Royal Highness The Duchess (or Countess) of X". When Prince Richard of Gloucester succeeded to his father's dukedom in 1974, his wife became "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester". Since 1714, only four princesses took their husband's name, since all the others were duchesses. The four are Princess George of Cumberland, Princess Arthur of Connaught, Princess Richard of Gloucester and Princess Michael of Kent.

There is also the case when a princess of blood royal marries a British prince. She also becomes a princess by marriage and will be addressed in the same way. An example of this situation was the late Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife, when she married her cousin Prince Arthur of Connaught and became "Princess Arthur of Connaught, Duchess of Fife".

Typically a princess by marriage should not be called princess followed by her first name. Diana, Princess of Wales, was consistently referred to as "Princess Diana" by fans and the media, but the use of this title is completely erroneous, as she was not the child of a monarch nor the child of a son of a monarch.[6] However, this tradition was broken once in the past century with Elizabeth II's aunt, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, being referred to—with permission from the sovereign—in official sources as such following the death of her husband.[7]

History

The use of the titles prince and princess and the styles of Highness and Royal Highness for members of the Royal Family is of fairly recent usage in the British Isles. Before 1714,[1] there was no settled practice regarding the use of the titles prince and princess other than the heir apparent and his wife. From 1301 onward, the eldest sons of the Kings of England (and later Great Britain and the United Kingdom) have generally[8] been created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester. Their wives were titled Princess of Wales.

The title Princess Royal came into being in 1642[9] when Queen Henrietta Maria, the French-born wife of King Charles I, wished to imitate the way the eldest daughter of the French King was styled (Madame Royale). However, there was no settled practice on the use of the title princess for the Sovereign's younger daughters or male-line granddaughters. For example, as late as the time of King Charles II, the daughters of his brother James, Duke of York, both of whom became Queens regnant, were called simply "The Lady Mary" and "The Lady Anne". The future Queen Anne was styled princess in her marriage treaty to Prince George of Denmark and then styled "Princess Anne of Denmark" once married. However, in exile at Saint-Germain-en-Laye the deposed James II & VII gave the title of Princess Royal to his last daughter, Louisa Maria (1692–1712).

After the accession of George Louis of Hanover as King George I, the princely titles were changed to follow the German practice. The children, grandchildren, and male line great-grandchildren of the British Sovereign were automatically titled "Prince or Princess of Great Britain and Ireland" and styled "Royal Highness" (in the case of children and grandchildren) or "Highness" (in the case of male line great-grandchildren). Queen Victoria confirmed this practice in letters patent dated 30 January 1864 (the first Act of the Prerogative dealing with the princely title in general terms).[10]

On 31 December 2012, Elizabeth II issued letters patent enabling all children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales to enjoy the princely title and style of Royal Highness, as opposed to only the eldest son.[11][12]

Styling of princesses

Princesses of the royal blood

When a princess marries, she still takes on her husband's title. If the title is higher than (or equal to) the one she possesses, she will normally be styled using the female equivalent.[14] If her husband has a lower title or style, her style as a princess remains in use, although it may then be combined with her style by marriage, e.g. HRH The Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll or HRH Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone – if that princess had a territorial designation, she may cease its use. It has become customary, however, for a princess who has been granted the title of HRH The Princess Royal to not combine it with her style by marriage: Princess Anne remains HRH The Princess Royal rather than HRH The Princess Royal, Lady Laurence.[15][16]

Princesses by marriage

A princess by marriage is addressed as "Princess Husband's name"; this is akin to a woman being referred to as "Mrs. John Smith".[1] The only recent time this has broken tradition is with the sovereign's express consent. Namely, with Queen Elizabeth II's aunts Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, and Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent. The former was not a princess by birth, while the latter was born a princess of Greece and Denmark. Both women asked the Queen to use their given names after their husbands' deaths.[7]

  • Wife of a prince who has a peerage: HRH The Duchess/Countess of X, or, prior to 1917, possibly HH (e.g. HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh and HRH The Duchess of Sussex)
  • Wife of a son of a Sovereign, who has no peerage: HRH The Princess Husband.
  • Wife of another prince who has no peerage: HRH Princess Husband of X. (X usually taken from father's Dukedom; e.g. HRH Princess Michael of Kent)
  • Prior to 1917, the wife of a prince in the third generation, who has no peerage: HH Princess Husband of X.

Exceptions

  • There were only two historical princesses who would have been exceptions to the 1917 rule, but they died long before that. The sisters Sophia Matilda and Caroline Augusta Maria born in 1773 and 1774 were male line great-granddaughters of George II. All of the other exceptions were still alive in 1917 and were no longer permitted to use the style of HRH and Princess.

There have been several exceptions in recent history to these rules, but all have come by order of the Sovereign, mostly through letters patent.

  • In November 1905, King Edward VII allowed the two daughters of Louise, Princess Royal to use a princely title and the style of Highness.[17] They were not entitled to the style of Royal Highness. The 1917 letters patent which stripped great-grandchildren of a British sovereign of the style of Highness with a princely title was complicated as it did not technically overrule Edward VII's letters patent, as the former practice was mostly an unspoken courtesy as opposed to a written rule. The elder sister, Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife, was already married by that time, to Prince Arthur of Connaught: he was a male-line grandson of Victoria, and so entitled to use the style of Royal Highness. Alexandra was therefore styled Her Royal Highness Princess Arthur of Connaught from her 1913 marriage for the rest of her life, and the 1917 letters patent did not change this. Her younger sister, Princess Maud, on the other hand, was unmarried in 1917. Until her 1923 marriage, she continued to use the title of "Princess" granted to her in 1905.[18] Upon her marriage to Charles, Lord Carnegie, however, she chose to be known as Lady Maud Carnegie (or, from 1941, The Countess of Southesk), dropping her princely title.
  • Charles III had the style and title His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Edinburgh from birth in 1948, even though he was a female-line grandchild of the Sovereign, being born to the future Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, during the reign of Elizabeth's father, King George VI, who had no sons. George VI issued letters patent on 22 October 1948, granting the style to Elizabeth's children. Under the same exception, Anne, Princess Royal was styled Her Royal Highness Princess Anne of Edinburgh from her birth in 1950 until her mother's accession in 1952.
  • In 1961, when her son married, the Duchess of Kent asked Elizabeth II to extend the use of a princely title to precede her first name, in order to avoid confusion with her daughter-in-law, Katharine Worsley, the new Duchess of Kent. As she was born a princess of Greece and Denmark, this was not incredibly notable, although traditionally she would have been styled as Her Royal Highness The Dowager Duchess of Kent. After this she was styled as Her Royal Highness Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent.
  • In 1974, the Duchess of Gloucester asked Elizabeth II for the same title as her sister-in-law, then Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, with a princely title preceding her first name. Unlike Princess Marina, Alice had never been a princess in her own right, thus this allowance was far more unusual. Instead of being referred to as Her Royal Highness The Dowager Duchess of Gloucester, as is customary, she became Her Royal Highness Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester.
  • In 2003, upon the request of Elizabeth II's youngest son, Edward, his children would be styled as the children of an earl, though still retaining their royal titles.[19] The children would be able to decide if they would want to use the title once they turned eighteen.[20] As male-line grandchildren of a British monarch, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and the James, Earl of Wessex, would traditionally enjoy a princely title and style.
  • In December 2012, Elizabeth II issued letters patent that stated that all children born to the eldest child of the Prince of Wales (then her son Charles), would enjoy a princely title and style, and not just the eldest son. Although in effect since 2012, it was not used in practice until the birth of Princess Charlotte in 2015.

List of princesses of the blood royal since 1714

Full Name Lifespan Royal lineage Right Notes
Sophia Dorothea 1687–1757 Only daughter of King George I Created Princess by the sovereign
  • Gained title in 1714 upon accession of her father as King George I.
  • Queen-consort of Prussia 1713–1740.
Anne 1709–1759 1st daughter of King George II Created Princess by the sovereign Gained title in 1714 upon accession of her grandfather as King George I. Princess of Orange.
Amelia Sophia Eleanor 1711–1786 2nd daughter of King George II Created Princess by the sovereign
  • Gained title in 1714 upon accession of her grandfather as King George I.
Caroline Elizabeth 1713–1757 3rd daughter of King George II Created Princess by the sovereign
  • Gained title in 1714 upon accession of her grandfather as King George I.
Mary 1723–1772 4th daughter of King George II Princess from birth
  • Landgravine of Hesse-Kassel
Louise 1724–1751 5th daughter of King George II Princess from birth
  • Queen consort of Denmark 1746–1751.
Augusta Frederica 1737–1813
  • 1st daughter of Frederick
  • Granddaughter of King George II
 Princess from birth
Elizabeth Caroline 1741–1759
  • 2nd daughter of Frederick
  • Granddaughter of King George II
 Princess from birth
  •  
Louisa Anne 1749–1768
  • 3rd daughter of Frederick
  • Granddaughter of King George II
 Princess from birth
  •  
Caroline Matilda 1751–1775
  • 4th daughter of Frederick
  • Granddaughter of King George II
 Princess from birth
Charlotte Augusta Matilda 1766–1828 1st daughter of King George III Princess from birth Held the title 'The Princess Charlotte' from birth and formally styled Princess Royal in 1789.

Queen consort of Württemberg 1806–1816.

Augusta Sophia 1768–1840 2nd daughter of King George III Princess from birth
  •  
Elizabeth 1770–1840 3rd daughter of King George III Princess from birth
  • Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg
Mary 1776–1857 4th daughter of King George III Princess from birth
  • Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh
Sophia Matilda 1777–1848 5th daughter of King George III Princess from birth
  •  
Amelia 1783–1810 6th daughter of King George III Princess from birth
  •  
Sophia Matilda 1773–1844
Princess from birth
Caroline Augusta Maria 1774–1775
Princess from birth
  •  
Charlotte Augusta 1796–1817 Only daughter of King George IV Princess from birth
  • Death in childbirth left Kingdom without direct line heir.
  • Princess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.
Charlotte Augusta Louisa 1819–1819 1st daughter of King William IV Princess from birth
  •  
Elizabeth Georgiana Adelaide 1820–1821 2nd daughter of King William IV Princess from birth
  •  
Alexandrina Victoria
later, Queen Victoria		 1819–1901
Princess from birth
Augusta Caroline Charlotte Elizabeth Mary Sophia Louise 1822–1916 Granddaughter of King George III Princess from birth
Mary Adelaide Wilhemina Elizabeth 1833–1897
Princess from birth
Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa 1840–1901 1st daughter of Queen Victoria Princess from birth
Alice Maud Mary 1843–1878 2nd daughter of Queen Victoria Princess from birth
Helena Augusta Victoria 1846–1923 3rd daughter of Queen Victoria Princess from birth  
Frederica Sophie Marie Henrietta Amelia Theresa 1848–1926 Great-granddaughter of King George III Princess from birth
Louise Caroline Alberta 1848–1939 4th daughter of Queen Victoria Princess from birth Duchess of Argyll

1900 – 1939

Marie Ernestine Josephine Adolphine Henrietta Theresa Elisabeth Alexandrina 1849–1904 Great-granddaughter of King George III Princess from birth
  • Daughter of George V of Hanover.
Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore 1857–1944 5th daughter of Queen Victoria Princess from birth
  • Princess Henry of Battenberg
Louise Victoria Alexandra Dagmar 1867–1931 1st daughter of King Edward VII Princess from birth
  • Held the title 'Princess Louise of Wales' from birth,
  • 'The Princess Louise' from her father's accession in 1901
  • Styled 'The Princess Royal' in 1905.
Victoria Alexandra Olga Mary 1868–1935 2nd daughter of King Edward VII Princess from birth
  • Held the title 'Princess Victoria of Wales' from birth,
  • 'The Princess Victoria' from her father's accession in 1901.
  • Held title until death.
Maud Charlotte Mary Victoria 1869–1938 3rd daughter of King Edward VII Princess from birth
  • Queen consort of Norway 1905–1938.
Marie Alexandra Victoria 1875–1938 Granddaughter of Queen Victoria Princess from birth
Victoria Melita 1876–1936 Granddaughter of Queen Victoria Princess from birth
  • Daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh
  • Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine 1894–1901.
Alexandra Louise Olga Victoria 1878–1942 Granddaughter of Queen Victoria Princess from birth
  • Daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh.
Marie Louise Victoria Caroline Amelia Alexandra Augusta Frederica 1879–1948 Great-great-granddaughter of King George III Princess from birth
Margaret Victoria Charlotte Augusta Norah 1882–1920 Granddaughter of Queen Victoria Princess from birth
Alexandra Marie Louise Olga Elizabeth Theresa Vera 1882–1963
  • Great-great-granddaughter of King George III
  • Daughter of Crown Prince Ernst Augustus of Hanover.
 Princess from birth
  • Title from birth until 1917
Alice Mary Victoria Augusta Pauline 1883–1981 Granddaughter of Queen Victoria Princess from birth
Beatrice Leopoldine Victoria 1884–1966 Granddaughter of Queen Victoria Princess from birth
  • Daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh.
Olga Adelaide Louise Marie Alexandrina Agnes 1884–1958
  • Great-great-granddaughter of King George III
  • Daughter of Crown Prince Ernst Augustus of Hanover.
 Princess from birth
  • Title from birth until 30 November 1917
Victoria Patricia Helena Elizabeth 1886–1974 Granddaughter of Queen Victoria Princess from birth
  • Title held from her birth until 1919 when she relinquished her title and style upon marriage,[22] Daughter of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn.
Alexandra Victoria Alberta Edwina Louise 1891–1959 Granddaughter in female line of King Edward VII Created Princess by the sovereign
Maud Alexandra Victoria Georgina Bertha 1893–1945 Granddaughter in female line of King Edward VII Created Princess by the sovereign
  • Title granted by Letters Patent of 1905,[23] ceased use of title after her marriage in 1923 although it was never formally relinquished, Daughter of Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife.
Victoria Alexandra Alice Mary 1897–1965 Daughter of King George V Princess from birth
  • Held the title 'Princess Mary of York' from birth,
  • 'The Princess Mary' on her father's accession in 1910
  • Styled 'The Princess Royal' in 1932.
Sibylla Calma Maria Alice Bathildis Feodora 1907–1972 Great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria Princess from birth
Caroline Matilda Helen Louise Augusta Beatrice 1912–1983 Great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria Princess from birth
  • Title from birth until 30 November 1917
  • Daughter of Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Albany.
Frederica Louisa Thyra Victoria Margareta Olga Cécilie Isabella Christa 1917–1981 Great-great-great-granddaughter of King George III Princess from birth
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary
later, Queen Elizabeth II		 1926–2022 1st daughter of King George VI Princess from birth
  • Held the title 'Princess Elizabeth of York' from birth
  • 'The Princess Elizabeth' from her father's accession in 1936, until her succession in 1952 as Queen Elizabeth II.
Margaret Rose 1930–2002 2nd daughter of King George VI Princess from birth
  • Held the title 'Princess Margaret of York' from birth
  • 'The Princess Margaret' from her father's accession in 1936
  • 'The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon' after her marriage in 1960
  • Held title until death.
Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel 1936–present Granddaughter of King George V Princess from birth
Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise 1950–present Only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II Princess from birth
  • Held the title 'Princess Anne of Edinburgh' from birth,
  • 'The Princess Anne' from her mother's accession
  • Styled 'The Princess Royal' in 1987.
Beatrice Elizabeth Mary 1988–present Granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II Princess from birth
  • Daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York.
  • Held the title 'Princess Beatrice of York' from birth, until her marriage in 2020.
  • After her marriage, named Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
Eugenie Victoria Helena 1990–present Granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II Princess from birth
  • Daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York.
  • Held the title 'Princess Eugenie of York' from birth, until her marriage in 2018.
  • After marriage named Mrs Jack Brooksbank.
Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary 2003–present Granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II Princess from birth
Charlotte Elizabeth Diana 2015–present Great-granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II Princess from birth
  • Daughter of William, Prince of Wales
  • Held the title 'Princess Charlotte of Cambridge' from birth until her grandfather's accession on 8 September 2022.
  • Held the title 'Princess Charlotte of Cornwall and Cambridge' from 8 September to 9 September 2022.
  • Holds the title 'Princess Charlotte of Wales'.
Lilibet Diana 2021–present Granddaughter of King Charles III Princess since the accession of her grandfather
  • Daughter of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
  • Holds the title 'Princess Lilibet of Sussex'.
  • Under Letters Patent issued by King George V in November 1917, she legally became a British princess upon the accession of her grandfather, King Charles III on 8 September 2022.

List of princesses by marriage since 1714

Unless specified title held from marriage to death or present day
Title of Princess where spouse's title was eliminated by Letters Patent issued 30 November 1917 or Order in Council in 1919
Princess Birth Death Marriage Husband Comments
Princess Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach 1683 1737 1705 George of Hanover Gained title by accession of her father-in-law as King George I in 1714 and held it until her husband's accession as King George II in 1727.
Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha 1719 1772 1736 Frederick, Prince of Wales Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha by birth.On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales.
Maria Walpole 1736 1807 1766 Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh Gained title by her second marriage.
Anne Luttrell 1742 1808 1771 Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn Gained title by her second marriage.
Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia 1767 1820 1791 Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia by birth.On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of York and Albany.
Duchess Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 1768 1821 1795 George, Prince of Wales Held title until her husband's accession as King George IV in 1820.
Duchess Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 1778 1841 1815 Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale Gained title by her third marriage. Became Queen of Hanover on her husband's accession as King Ernest Augustus in 1837.
Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel 1797 1889 1818 Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge Her Serene Highness Princess Augusta Wilhelmina Louise of Hesse by birth.On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.
Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld 1786 1861 1818 Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn Gained title by her second marriage.
Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen 1792 1849 1818 Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews Held title until her husband's accession as King William IV in 1830.
Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg 1818 1907 1843 George, Crown Prince of Hanover Became Queen of Hanover on her husband's accession as King George V in 1851.
Princess Alexandra of Denmark 1844 1925 1863 Albert Edward, Prince of Wales Held title until her husband's accession as King Edward VII in 1901.
Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia 1853 1920 1874 Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh Held title until her husband's accession as Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1893.
Princess Thyra of Denmark 1853 1933 1878 Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover Husband lost British title of Prince in 1917.
Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia 1860 1917 1879 Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn Her Royal Highness Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia by birth.

On prior to her marriage, she became: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn.

Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont 1861 1922 1882 Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany Princess Helen of Waldeck and Pyrmont by birth. On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Albany.
Princess Mary of Teck 1867 1953 1893 Prince George, Duke of York Held title until her husband's accession as King George V in 1910.
Princess Victoria Adelaide of Schleswig-Holstein 1885 1970 1905 Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Albany Husband lost British title of prince in 1919.
Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia 1892 1980 1913 Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick Husband lost British title of Prince in 1917. Princess Viktoria Luise was born Princess of Prussia being the only daughter of the German Emperor Wilhelm II.
Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon 1900 2002 1923 Prince Albert, Duke of York Held title until her husband's accession as King George VI in 1936.
Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark 1906 1968 1934 Prince George, Duke of Kent Princess of Greece and Denmark by birth. However, when she was widowed she reverted her title to Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, styling herself as a princess suo jure in the UK.
Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott 1901 2004 1935 Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester When she was widowed in 1974 she was granted special permission to style herself as a princess suo jure.
Katharine Worsley 1933 1961 Prince Edward, Duke of Kent On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent.
Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen 1946 1972 Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness Princess Richard of Gloucester from 8 July 1972 until 10 June 1974. Upon the death of her father-in-law on 10 June 1974, her style changed to Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester.
Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz 1945 1978 Prince Michael of Kent Gained title by her second marriage.
Lady Diana Spencer 1961 1997 1981 Charles, Prince of Wales On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales. She lost style of Her Royal Highness upon divorce, and was restyled as "Diana, Princess of Wales".[24]
Sarah Ferguson 1959 1986 Prince Andrew, Duke of York On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of York. She lost style of Her Royal Highness upon divorce, and was restyled as "Sarah, Duchess of York".[25]
Sophie Rhys-Jones 1965 1999 Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex and Viscountess Severn.[26] On 10 March 2019, the Queen granted the Earldom of Forfar to the Earl of Wessex for use in Scotland. On 10 March 2023, her husband become Duke of Edinburgh, Sophie is thus Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh.
Camilla Shand 1947 2005 Charles, Prince of Wales By her second marriage she became: Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Rothesay, Countess of Chester etc.[27] She also held the title of Princess of Wales but did not use it because the title became strongly associated with its previous holder, Diana.[28] On 9 April 2021, she became Duchess of Edinburgh.[29] She held the titles until her husband's accession as Charles III on 8 September 2022, when she became Her Majesty The Queen.[30]
Catherine Middleton 1982 2011 William, Prince of Wales On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn, and Baroness Carrickfergus. On 8 September 2022, she became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge. On 9 September 2022, she became Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales.[31][32][33]
Meghan Markle 1981 2018 Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton, and Baroness Kilkeel.[34] The Duke and Duchess of Sussex no longer publicly use the style of Royal Highness after stepping back as senior members of the Royal Family but they are still referred to as "His/Her Royal Highness" in legal settings.

Notes

Each of the following women married a royal prince but as their marriages were invalid under the Royal Marriages Act 1772, they did not become princesses:

Although Wallis Simpson married the Duke of Windsor in 1937, and he was a British prince with the style His Royal Highness, having been confirmed as such by letters patent 27 May 1937 from his brother, George VI, Wallis and her descendants from the marriage were expressly denied the style of "Royal Highness" by the same letters patent before she married him.[35] As a duke's wife, she was always styled Her Grace The Duchess of Windsor. Her husband, the Duke of Windsor, insisted that staff and friends should refer to her as Her Royal Highness.

There have been two instances where a British princess married a British prince: first The Princess Mary, daughter of George III, who married her first cousin Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh; secondly Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife, granddaughter of Edward VII, who married her first cousin once removed Prince Arthur of Connaught. In the first instance Princess Mary was of higher rank and the Duke of Gloucester and his sister were elevated from the style His/Her Highness to His/Her Royal Highness. In the second instance Princess Alexandra had been granted the style Her Highness by her grandfather the King; as the wife of a Prince she received the style Her Royal Highness.

There is also the curious case of Princess Victoria Eugénie of Battenberg, later Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain (the daughter of Princess Beatrice and Prince Henry of Battenberg). Prior to her marriage to Alfonso XIII of Spain in May 1906, she was styled Her Highness Princess Victoria Eugénie of Battenberg. On 3 April 1906 Edward VII, in order to elevate her standing prior to her wedding, raised her status to Royal Highness per royal declaration which read: "Whitehall April 3, 1906. The KING has been graciously pleased to declare and ordain that His Majesty's niece, Her Highness Princess Victoria Eugenie Julia Ena, daughter of Her Royal Highness the Princess Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore (Princess Henry of Battenberg), shall henceforth be styled and called "Her Royal Highness"; And to command that the said Royal concession and declaration be registered in His Majesty's College of Arms."[36] Edward VII concurrently issued a Royal Warrant on the elevation which read: "Our Will and Pleasure is and we do hereby declare and ordain that from and after the date of this Warrant our most Dear Niece Princess Victoria Eugénie Julia Ena, only daughter of Our most Dear Sister Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore (Princess Henry of Battenberg) shall be styled entitled and called "Her Royal Highness" before her name and such Titles and Appellations which to her belong in all Deeds Records Instruments or Documents whatsoever wherein she may at any time hereafter be named or described. And We do hereby authorize and empower Our said most Dear Niece henceforth at all times to assume and use and to be called and named by the Style, Title and Appellation of "Her Royal Highness" accordingly. Given at Our Court of Saint James's, the Third day of April 1906: in the Sixth Year of Our Reign. By His Majesty's Command. M Gladstone"[37] Whether this made her a British Royal Princess is the subject of debate.

The former Lady Diana Spencer lost the prefix of Her Royal Highness upon her divorce in August 1996, and was restyled as "Diana, Princess of Wales". Buckingham Palace issued a press release on the day the decree absolute of divorce was issued, announcing Diana's change of title, but made it clear that Diana continued to be a member of the British Royal Family. This was confirmed by the deputy coroner of the Queen's Household, Baroness Butler-Sloss, after a pre-hearing on 8 January 2007: "I am satisfied that at her death, Diana, Princess of Wales continued to be a member of the Royal Household."[38] This appears to have been confirmed in the High Court judicial review matter of Al Fayed & Ors v Butler-Sloss.[39] In that case, three High Court judges accepted submissions that the "very name 'Coroner to the Queen's Household' gave the appearance of partiality in the context of inquests into the deaths of two people, one of whom was a member of the Family and the other was not."[39]

Common names

Of the above named princesses, there are a great number of shared names:

See also

Sources

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Velde, François (9 April 2012). "Royal Styles and Titles – 1917 Letters Patent". Heraldica. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  2. ↑ "Styles of the members of the British royal family".
  3. ↑ "British titles, etc: the rules ARE Hard and Fast". 7 August 2013.
  4. ↑ Countess of Wessex official page Archived 27 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Photo.
  6. ↑ "Why we will never see 'Princess Catherine' – Royal Central". 28 July 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester – Marriage and family". The British Monarchy. Archived from the original on 16 February 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ↑ Edward II's eldest son Edward III, wasn't given the title, prince of Wales.
  9. ↑ "Royal Titles: Style and Title of the Princess Royal". www.royal.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 27 July 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  10. ↑ Royal Styles and Titles – 1864 Letters Patent.
  11. ↑ "No. 60384". The London Gazette. 8 January 2013. p. 213.
  12. ↑ "Royal baby girl 'would be princess'". BBC News. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  13. ↑ The Royal Family. "Style and Title of the Princess Royal". Archived from the original on 27 July 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  14. ↑ "Page 7044 | Supplement 34453, 10 November 1937 | London Gazette | The Gazette". Archived from the original on 3 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "Ceremonials observed at the funeral and lying in state of his late majesty King George the Fifth of blessed memory" (PDF). The London Gazette. 29 April 1936.
  16. ↑ "Supplement 24801" (PDF). The London Gazette. 28 July 1910. p. 5485.
  17. ↑ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser Band III. "Fife". C.A. Starke Verlag, 1955, pp. 336–337. (German).
  18. ↑ "THE NEXT ROYAL MARRIAGE: PRINCESS MAUD AND LORD CARNEGIE". Register. 6 November 1923. p. 7 – via Trove.
  19. ↑ "United Kingdom Government News: TITLE OF HRH THE PRINCE EDWARD". web.archive.org. 1 February 2014. Archived from the original on 18 January 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  20. ↑ "Queen Elizabeth's Grandchildren Will 'Work for a Living' and Won't Use HRH, Says Mom Sophie Wessex". Peoplemag. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  21. ↑ Royal Styles and Titles – 1816 Letters Patent.
  22. ↑ Royal Styles and Titles – 1919 Letters Patent.
  23. 1 2 Royal Styles and Titles – 1905 Letters Patent.
  24. ↑ British Monarchy (2009). "Diana, Princess of Wales — Marriage and family". Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  25. ↑ "The Royal Family" (PDF). royal.gov.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  26. ↑ British Monarchy (2009). "The Countess of Wessex – Styles and titles". Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  27. ↑ Jack, Ian (11 March 2005). "Lay of the last duchess". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  28. ↑ "The Royal Title that Camilla and Princess Diana Shared". Harper's Bazaar. 13 November 2018. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019. When she married Prince Charles, "Camilla was not popular or well liked, [though] this has changed a lot since the marriage as Camilla has taken on a lot of patronages and Charles is a lot happier," [Marlene] Koenig says. "Still, [there was] a lot of tension and anger among a certain element of the population—so it was decided that Camilla would be styled as the Duchess of Cornwall, even though, of course, she is the Princess of Wales."
  29. ↑ "HRH The Duke of Edinburgh". College of Arms. 9 April 2021. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  30. ↑ House of Commons Hansard (4 April 2005). "Royal Marriage". Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  31. ↑ "Styles and titles – The Duchess of Cambridge". The Royal Household. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013. Miss Catherine Middleton became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn and Lady Carrickfergus.
  32. ↑ Rayner, Gordon (2 August 2013). "Royal baby: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge register birth of Prince George". The Telegraph. The Duchess is entitled to use the title Princess William of Wales, but has never described herself as such because the couple decided to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after the titles were conferred on them by the Queen on their wedding day.
  33. ↑ Rayner, Gordon (2 August 2013). "Duchess Kate: Princess of the United Kingdom (but you can call me mummy)". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Although she has never used the name, the Duchess is entitled to refer to herself as Princess William of Wales, as well as being Countess of Strathearn and Lady Carrickfergus.
  34. ↑ British Monarchy (2023). "The Duchess of Sussex". Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  35. ↑ Royal Styles and Titles – 1937 Letters Patent.
  36. ↑ News.webshots.com
  37. ↑ François Velde (9 April 2012). "Victoria Eugénie of Battenberg". Heraldica. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  38. ↑ H M Coroner (8 January 2007). "Inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Mr Dodi Al Fayed: Decisions of 8 January 2007". Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  39. 1 2 "High Court Judgment Template" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
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