British Princes - Styles of British Princes

Styles of British Princes

• Sons of sovereigns - HRH The Prince "X"; e.g., HRH The Prince Edward.
• Sons of sovereigns' sons - HRH Prince "X" of "Y", where Y is the territorial designation of their father's highest peerage; e.g., HRH Prince Michael of Kent.
  • Prior to Prince Albert Victor, a son of the Prince of Wales - HRH Prince "X".
• Sons of sons of sovereigns' sons - Lord "X" "Z" (until 1917, it was HH Prince "X" of "Y").
  • Except the sons of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales – HRH Prince "X" of "Y" or HRH Prince "X" (The exact form of such a style will not be determined until such a person is styled with it.)
• The Prince of Wales is normally styled HRH The Prince of Wales, aside from within Scotland where he is styled HRH the Duke of Rothesay.
• and royal peers, HRH The Duke/Earl of Y. Royal peers remain princes, however, the peerage being in addition to, not in lieu of the princely style.

Wives of British princes take on their husbands' titles. If the prince has a peerage, the wife will become HRH and the female equivalent of the peerage rank (e.g., HRH The Countess of Wessex). If the prince has no peerage, as in the case of HRH Prince Michael of Kent, the wife will become HRH and will take the title Princess with her husband's name (e.g., HRH Princess Michael of Kent).

Following the marriage of Charles, Prince of Wales, to Camilla Parker Bowles on 9 April 2005 his new wife uses the style HRH The Duchess of Cornwall (Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland), using one of his peerage titles, instead of Princess of Wales.

These official styles are not consistently used in the media or by the general public. The terms Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Princess Anne, and such forth are more commonly heard, even though the persons involved may never have formally held that shorthand style.