British princess

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Anne, Princess Royal, daughter of Elizabeth II, granddaughter of George VI and princess of the blood Princess Anne of UK (cropped).jpg
Anne, Princess Royal, daughter of Elizabeth II, granddaughter of George VI 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, and is now expressed in letters patent. Individuals holding the title of princess will usually also be granted the style of Her Royal Highness (HRH). The current letters patent were issued in 1917 during World War I, with one extension in 2012.

Contents

Between 1714 and 1917, pursuant to the then custom, daughters of the monarch and daughters of male-line descendants of a monarch were accorded the rank of a British princess. King George V issued letters patent on 30 November 1917 (issue 30428, Dec. 14, 1917, p. 2.), predefining who held the title, style and rank of a British Princess [1] to restrict the automatic assignment of the title "princess" and the use of the style "Royal Highness" to the following persons:

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

The wife of a British prince whose marriage has been approved by the British Sovereign is automatically accorded the status of the prince (princess) and the feminine form of her husband's titles.

Princesses of the blood royal and princesses by marriage

Under the current practice, princesses of the blood royal 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,[ citation needed ] 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.

The legal wife of a British prince is also entitled to the status and rank of a British princess. If their husband is not the holder of his own substantive title, then the wife of a British prince has the right to be styled as Princess followed by their husband's first given name. [2] However, if their husband is the holder of either a Dukedom or an Earldom then this takes precedence. [2] 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 were at marriage known in their title by their husband's name, since all the others took the duchess form of the royal duke's title. The four are Princess George of Cumberland, Princess Arthur of Connaught, Princess Richard of Gloucester and Princess Michael of Kent.

Princesses by marriage 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. The title of HRH is not intrinsically linked to the title of Princess. Diana was restyled as "Diana, Princess of Wales" following her divorce as a courtesy of the late Queen Elizabeth II having been officially styled as The Princess of Wales during marriage. If Diana had ever remarried then she would have lost the right to the style and title completely.

Since the passage of the Royal Marriages Act 1772 , there were a few instances in the reign of King George III in which princes of the blood contracted marriages without consent of the king. This meant they were not legally married, denying the woman the lawful style "Her Royal Highness", as well as any title in the peerage. 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".

There is also the case when a princess of the 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 this usage of the title is technically erroneous, as she was not the child of a monarch nor the child of a son of a monarch. [3] 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. [4]

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, there was no settled practice regarding the use of the titles prince and princess other than the heir apparent and his wife. [5] Since 1301, the eldest sons of the Kings of England (and later Great Britain and the United Kingdom) have generally been created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester (though Edward II's eldest son Edward III, was not given the title). [6] Their wives were titled Princess of Wales.

The title Princess Royal came into being in 1642 [7] 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 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). [8]

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. [9] [10]

Styling of princesses

Princesses of the blood royal

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. [12] 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. [13] [14]

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".[ citation needed ] 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. [4]

Exceptions

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

List of princesses of the blood royal since 1714

ImageFull NameArmsLifespanRoyal lineageRightNotes
Queen Sophie Dorothea of Prussia.jpg
Sophia Dorothea 1687–1757Only 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.
Anna von hannover prinses van oranje.jpg
Anne Arms of Anne, the Princess Royal and Princess of Orange.svg 1709–17591st daughter of King George II Created Princess by the sovereignGained title in 1714 upon accession of her grandfather as King George I. Princess of Orange.
Princess Amelia of Great Britain (1711-1786) by Jean-Baptiste van Loo.jpg
Amelia Sophia Eleanor Arms of Amelia Sophia of Great Britain.svg 1711–17862nd daughter of King George IICreated Princess by the sovereign
  • Gained title in 1714 upon accession of her grandfather as King George I.
Jacopo Amigoni (c.1682-1752) - Princess Caroline Elizabeth (1713-1757) - 851698 - National Trust.jpg
Caroline Elizabeth Arms of Caroline Elizabeth of Great Britain.svg 1713–17573rd daughter of King George IICreated Princess by the sovereign
  • Gained title in 1714 upon accession of her grandfather as King George I.
Tischbein - Mary of Great Britain - Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel (cropped).png
Mary Arms of Mary, Landgravine of Hesse-Kassel.svg 1723–17724th daughter of King George IIPrincess from birth
  • Landgravine of Hesse-Kassel
Louise of Great Britain, Queen of Denmark and Norway.jpg
Louise Arms of Louise of Great Britain.svg 1724–17515th daughter of King George IIPrincess from birth
  • Queen consort of Denmark 1746–1751.
Augusta of Great Britain, duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel.jpg
Augusta Frederica Arms of Augusta, Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel.svg 1737–1813
  • 1st daughter of Frederick
  • Granddaughter of King George II
Princess from birth
Elizabeth Caroline 1754 by Liotard.jpg
Elizabeth Caroline 1741–1759
  • 2nd daughter of Frederick
  • Granddaughter of King George II
Princess from birth
  •  
Princess Louisa of Great Britain 1765-70.jpg
Louisa Anne 1749–1768
  • 3rd daughter of Frederick
  • Granddaughter of King George II
Princess from birth
  •  
Carolinemathildedenmark.jpg
Caroline Matilda 1751–1775
  • 4th daughter of Frederick
  • Granddaughter of King George II
Princess from birth
Charlotte, Princess Royal (1797).jpg
Charlotte Augusta Matilda Arms of Charlotte Augusta Matilda, the Princess Royal.svg 1766–18281st daughter of King George III Princess from birthHeld the title 'The Princess Charlotte' from birth and formally styled Princess Royal in 1789.
Queen consort of Württemberg 1806–1816.
Augusta Sophia of the United Kingdom.jpg
Augusta Sophia Arms of Augusta Sophia of the United Kingdom.svg 1768–18402nd daughter of King George IIIPrincess from birth
  •  
Sir William Beechey (1753-1839) - Princess Elizabeth (1770-1840) - RCIN 403412 - Royal Collection.jpg
Elizabeth Arms of Elizabeth, Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg.svg 1770–18403rd daughter of King George IIIPrincess from birth
  • Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg
Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh.jpg
Mary Arms of Mary, Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh.svg 1776–18574th daughter of King George IIIPrincess from birth
  • Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh
Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) - Princess Sophia (1777-1848) - RCIN 403420 - Royal Collection.jpg
Sophia Matilda Arms of Sophia Matilda of the United Kingdom.svg 1777–18485th daughter of King George IIIPrincess from birth
  •  
Princess Amelia (1783-1810).jpg
Amelia Arms of Amelia of the United Kingdom.svg 1783–18106th daughter of King George IIIPrincess from birth
  •  
Sophia Matilda of Gloucester by Haslem.jpg
Sophia Matilda 1773–1844
Princess from birth
Caroline Augusta Maria1774–1775
Princess from birth
  •  
Charlotte Augusta of Wales.jpg
Charlotte Augusta Arms of Charlotte Augusta of Wales.svg 1796–1817Only daughter of King George IV Princess from birth
  • Death in childbirth left Kingdom without direct line heir.
  • Princess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.
Charlotte Augusta Louisa1819–18191st daughter of King William IV Princess from birth
  •  
Princess Elizabeth of Clarence.JPG
Elizabeth Georgiana Adelaide 1820–18212nd daughter of King William IVPrincess from birth
  •  
Queen Victoria by Bassano.jpg
Alexandrina Victoria
later, Queen Victoria
1819–1901
Princess from birth
Augusta of Cambridge.jpg
Augusta Caroline Charlotte Elizabeth Mary Sophia Louise 1822–1916Granddaughter of King George IIIPrincess from birth
Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck (1833-1897).png
Mary Adelaide Wilhemina Elizabeth 1833–1897
Princess from birth
Vitoria, Imperatriz-viuva da Alemanha.jpg
Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa Lesser Coat of Arms of Empress Victoria.svg 1840–19011st daughter of Queen VictoriaPrincess from birth
Alice, Princess Louis of Hesse.jpg
Alice Maud Mary Arms of Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse.svg 1843–18782nd daughter of Queen VictoriaPrincess from birth
Princess Helena Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein.jpg
Helena Augusta Victoria Arms of Helena, Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein.svg 1846–19233rd daughter of Queen VictoriaPrincess from birth 
Princess Frederica of Hanover.jpg
Frederica Sophie Marie Henrietta Amelia Theresa 1848–1926Great-granddaughter of King George IIIPrincess from birth
Princess Louise 1881.png
Louise Caroline Alberta Arms of Louise, Duchess of Argyll.svg 1848–19394th daughter of Queen VictoriaPrincess from birth Duchess of Argyll
1900–1939
Princess Marie of Hanover 1880s.jpg
Marie Ernestine Josephine Adolphine Henrietta Theresa Elisabeth Alexandrina 1849–1904Great-granddaughter of King George IIIPrincess from birth
  • Daughter of George V of Hanover.
Princess Beatrice 1886.jpg
Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore Coat of Arms of Beatrice, Princess Henry of Battenberg (Order of Queen Maria Luisa).svg 1857–19445th daughter of Queen VictoriaPrincess from birth
  • Princess Henry of Battenberg
Louise, Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife1.jpg
Louise Victoria Alexandra Dagmar Marital Arms of Louise, Duchess of Fife.svg 1867–19311st 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 de Gales.jpg
Victoria Alexandra Olga Mary Arms of Victoria of Wales.svg 1868–19352nd daughter of King Edward VIIPrincess 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.
Portrett av dronning Maud (1869-1938), ca 1905 (1) crop.jpg
Maud Charlotte Mary Victoria Arms of Maud of Wales.svg 1869–19383rd daughter of King Edward VIIPrincess from birth
  • Queen consort of Norway 1905–1938.
Queen Mary of Romania 2.jpg
Marie Alexandra Victoria Coat of Arms of Marie of Saxe-Coburg, Queen of Romania (Order of Maria Luisa).svg 1875–1938Granddaughter of Queen VictoriaPrincess from birth
Victoria Melita of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.jpg
Victoria Melita Arms of Victoria Melita of Edinburgh.svg 1876–1936Granddaughter of Queen VictoriaPrincess from birth
  • Daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh
  • Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine 1894–1901.
Princess Alexandra of Hohenlohe.jpg
Alexandra Louise Olga Victoria Arms of Alexandra of Edinburgh.svg 1878–1942Granddaughter of Queen VictoriaPrincess from birth
  • Daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh.
Prinzessin Max von Baden (cropped).jpg
Marie Louise Victoria Caroline Amelia Alexandra Augusta Frederica 1879–1948Great-great-granddaughter of King George IIIPrincess from birth
Crownprincessmargretofsweden.JPG
Margaret Victoria Charlotte Augusta Norah Blason de la Princesse Margaret de Suede.svg 1882–1920Granddaughter of Queen VictoriaPrincess from birth
Alexandra mecklenburgi nagyhercegne.jpg
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
Princess-alice-countess-of athlone.jpeg
Alice Mary Victoria Augusta Pauline Arms of Alice of Albany, Countess of Athlone.svg 1883–1981Granddaughter of Queen VictoriaPrincess from birth
Beatrice of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha by Uhlenhuth.jpg
Beatrice Leopoldine Victoria Coat of Arms of Beatrice of Edinburgh as Duchess of Galliera.svg 1884–1966Granddaughter of Queen VictoriaPrincess from birth
  • Daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh.
Princess Olga of Hanover.jpg
Olga Adelaide Louise Marie Alexandrina Agnes1884–1958
  • 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
Princess Patricia of Connaught, 1912.jpg
Victoria Patricia Helena Elizabeth Arms of Patricia of Connaught.svg 1886–1974Granddaughter of Queen VictoriaPrincess from birth
  • Title held from her birth until 1919 when she relinquished her title and style upon marriage, [20] Daughter of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn.
Alexandra Fife.jpg
Alexandra Victoria Alberta Edwina Louise Arms of Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife.svg 1891–1959Granddaughter in female line of King Edward VIICreated Princess by the sovereign
Princess Maud of Fife as an adult.jpg
Maud Alexandra Victoria Georgina Bertha 1893–1945Granddaughter in female line of King Edward VIICreated Princess by the sovereign
  • Title granted by Letters Patent of 1905, [21] ceased use of title after her marriage in 1923 although it was never formally relinquished, Daughter of Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife.
Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood.jpg
Victoria Alexandra Alice Mary Arms of Mary, the Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood.svg 1897–1965Daughter 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.
Prinsessan Sibylla.png
Sibylla Calma Maria Alice Bathildis Feodora Armoiries de Sibylle de Saxe-Cobourg-et-Gotha.svg 1907–1972Great-granddaughter of Queen VictoriaPrincess from birth
Caroline Matilda Helen Louise Augusta Beatrice 1912–1983Great-granddaughter of Queen VictoriaPrincess from birth
  • Title from birth until 30 November 1917
  • Daughter of Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Albany.
HRH Princess Frederica of Hanover.jpg
Frederica Louise Coat of Arms of Frederica of Hanover.svg 1917–1981Great-great-great-granddaughter of King George IIIPrincess from birth
Queen Elizabeth II official portrait for 1959 tour (retouched) (3x4 close cropped).jpg
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary
later, Queen Elizabeth II
Arms of Elizabeth, Heiress Presumptive (1944-1952).svg 1926–20221st daughter of King George VIPrincess 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.
Prinses Margaret in het Amstel Hotel (Bestanddeelnr 917-7739).jpg
Margaret Rose Arms of Margaret, Countess of Snowdon.svg 1930–20022nd daughter of King George VIPrincess 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.
HRH The Princess Alexandra 04 25 10.png
Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel Arms of Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy.svg 1936–presentGranddaughter of King George VPrincess from birth
Princess Anne Wellington 2023.jpg
Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise Arms of Anne, the Princess Royal.svg 1950–presentOnly daughter of Queen Elizabeth IIPrincess 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.
Princess Beatrice Elizabeth Mary of York 2018 (01).jpg
Beatrice Elizabeth Mary Arms of Beatrice of York.svg 1988–presentGranddaughter of Queen Elizabeth IIPrincess 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.
Princess Eugenie, 2017.jpg
Eugenie Victoria Helena Arms of Eugenie of York.svg 1990–presentGranddaughter of Queen Elizabeth IIPrincess 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.
Lady Louise, 2017 (cropped).jpg
Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary 2003–presentGranddaughter of Queen Elizabeth IIPrincess from birth
Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee 2022 - Platinum Pageant (52124830349) (cropped2).jpg
Charlotte Elizabeth Diana 2015–presentGreat-granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth IIPrincess 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–presentGranddaughter of King Charles IIIPrincess since the accession of her grandfather

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
ImageNameArmsBirthDeathMarriageHusbandComments
Style of Michael Dahl - Queen Caroline - Warwick Shire Hall.jpg
Princess Wilhelmina Charlotte Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach 168317371705 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.
Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Princess of Wales by Charles Philips cropped.jpg
Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg Arms of Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, Princess of Wales.svg 171917721736 Frederick, Prince of Wales Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha by birth.On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales.
Maria Walpole, Duchess of Gloucester, by Thomas Gainsborough.jpg
Maria Walpole 173618071766 Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh Gained title by her second marriage.
Anne, Duchess of Cumberland - Gainsborough 1773-77.jpg
Anne Luttrell 174218081771 Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn Gained title by her second marriage.
Frederica, Duchess of York (1767-1820) (1).jpg
Princess Friederike Charlotte Ulrike Katharina of Prussia 176718201791 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.
Caroline of Brunswick, Queen of the United Kingdom and Hanover.jpg
Duchess Caroline Amelia Elizabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 176818211795 George, Prince of Wales Held title until her husband's accession as King George IV in 1820.
Friederike von Preussen - 1796.jpg
Duchess Friederike Luise Caroline Sophie Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 177818411815 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.
John Lucas (1807-1874) - Augusta Wilhelmina Louisa (1797-1889), Duchess of Cambridge - MO 003 - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Library, Art ^ Archives.jpg
Princess Augusta Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Kassel 179718891818 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.
Dawe, George - Buste van de hertogin van Kent - 170 - Royal Collection of Belgium.jpg
Princess Marie Louise Victoire of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld 178618611818 Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn Gained title by her second marriage.
Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen.JPG
Princess Adelaide Amelia Louise Theresa Caroline of Saxe-Meiningen 179218491818 Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews Held title until her husband's accession as King William IV in 1830.
Marie of Saxe-Altenburg, Queen of Hanover 19.jpg
Princess Alexandrine Marie Wilhelmine Katharine Charlotte Theresia Henriette Luise Pauline Elisabeth Friederike Georgine of Saxe-Altenburg 181819071843 George, Crown Prince of Hanover Became Queen of Hanover on her husband's accession as King George V in 1851.
1902 alexandra coronationhr (cropped).jpg
Princess Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia of Denmark Arms of Alexandra of Denmark.svg 184419251863 Albert Edward, Prince of Wales Held title until her husband's accession as King Edward VII in 1901.
Maria Alexandrovna of Russia duchess of Edinburgh.jpg
Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia 185319201874 Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh Held title until her husband's accession as Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1893.
Princess Tira of Denmark.jpg
Princess Thyra Amalie Caroline Charlotte Anna of Denmark 185319331878 Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover Husband lost British title of Prince in 1917.
Princess Louise, Duchess of Connaught by Lafayette.jpg
Princess Louise Margaret Alexandra Victoria Agnes of Prussia Coat of Arms of Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia, Duchess of Connaught.svg 186019171879 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 Helen, Duchess of Albany.jpg
Princess Helen Frederica Augusta of Waldeck and Pyrmont 186119221882 Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany Princess Helen of Waldeck and Pyrmont by birth. On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Albany.
Mary of Teck.jpg
Princess Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes of Teck Arms of Mary of Teck.svg 186719531893 Prince George, Duke of York Held title until her husband's accession as King George V in 1910.
Victoria Adelaide of Schleswig-Holstein duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.jpg
Princess Viktoria Adelheid Helene Luise Marie Friederike of Schleswig-Holstein 188519701905 Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Albany Husband lost British title of prince in 1919.
Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia in 1908.jpg
Princess Viktoria Luise Adelheid Mathilde Charlotte of Prussia 189219801913 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.
Alexandra Fife.jpg
Alexandra Victoria Alberta Edwina Louise Arms of Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife.svg 18911959 Prince Arthur of Connaught Princess by Letters Patent of 1905, [21] Daughter of Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife.

Became Princess by marriage as wife of Prince Arthur of Connaught [22]

Created Princess by the sovereign
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother portrait.jpg
Lady Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon Arms of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.svg 190020021923 Prince Albert, Duke of York Held title until her husband's accession as King George VI in 1936.
Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark in King George VI's Coronation (cropped).jpg
Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark Arms of Marina of Greece and Denmark, Duchess of Kent.svg 190619681934 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.
Alice, Duchess of Gloucester.jpg
Lady Alice Christabel Montagu Douglas Scott Arms of Alice, Duchess of Gloucester.svg 190120041935 Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester When she was widowed in 1974 she was granted special permission to style herself as a princess suo jure .
The Duchess of Kent with koala (cropped).jpg
Katharine Lucy Mary Worsley Arms of Katharine, Duchess of Kent.svg 19331961 Prince Edward, Duke of Kent On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent.
Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester 2015.jpg
Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen Arms of Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester.svg 19461972 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.
HRH Princess Michael of Kent Allan Warren.jpg
Baroness Marie-Christine Anna Agnes Hedwig Ida von Reibnitz Arms of Marie Christine von Reibnitz, Princess Michael of Kent.svg 19451978 Prince Michael of Kent Gained title by her second marriage.
Diana, Princess of Wales 1997 (2) (cropped).jpg
Lady Diana Frances Spencer Arms of Diana, Princess of Wales (1981-1996).svg 196119971981 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". [23]
Sarah, Duchess of York, Gahanga Cricket Stadium 1 (October 2017) (cropped).jpg
Sarah Margaret Ferguson Arms of Sarah, Duchess of York, 1986-1996.svg 19591986 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". [24]
Countess of Wessex UK in NL Embassy 2023 (cropped) (cropped).jpg
Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones Arms of Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.svg 19651999 Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex and Viscountess Severn. [25] 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.
Queen Camilla in Aotearoa 2019.jpg
Camilla Rosemary Shand Arms of Queen Camilla.svg 19472005 Charles, Prince of Wales By her second marriage she became: Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Rothesay, Countess of Chester etc. [26] 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. [27] On 9 April 2021, she became Duchess of Edinburgh. [28] She held the titles until her husband's accession as Charles III on 8 September 2022, when she became Her Majesty The Queen. [29]
Princess of Wales in 2023 (cropped)03.JPG
Catherine Elizabeth Middleton Arms of Catherine, Princess of Wales.svg 19822011 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. [30] [31] [32]
SXSW-2024-OB7A0018-alih-Meghan, Duchess of Sussex-crop2-v2.jpg
Rachael Meghan Markle Shield of arms of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.svg 19812018 Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton, and Baroness Kilkeel. [33] 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:[ citation needed ]

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. [34] 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:[ citation needed ] 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." [35] 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" [36] 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." [37] This appears to have been confirmed in the High Court judicial review matter of Al Fayed & Ors v Butler-Sloss. [38] 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." [38]

Common names

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

See also

Sources

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  2. 1 2 "Who can be a prince or princess? • Debretts". 9 March 2023.
  3. "Why we will never see 'Princess Catherine' – Royal Central". 28 July 2020.
  4. 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)
  5. "Prince and princess | Definition, Countries, History, & Facts". Encyclopædia Britannica . Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  6. Lyon, Ann (July 2006). "The Prince and the Duchess: The Honours of the Royal Family: An Unconsidered Area of the Royal Prerogative" . Liverpool Law Review. 27 (2): 203–231. doi:10.1007/s10991-006-9003-0 . Retrieved 18 May 2025.
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  8. Royal Styles and Titles – 1864 Letters Patent.
  9. "No. 60384". The London Gazette . 8 January 2013. p. 213.
  10. "Royal baby girl 'would be princess'". BBC News. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  11. The Royal Family. "Style and Title of the Princess Royal". Archived from the original on 27 July 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  12. "Page 7044 | Supplement 34453, 10 November 1937 | London Gazette | The Gazette". Archived from the original on 3 April 2015.
  13. "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.
  14. "Supplement 24801" (PDF). The London Gazette. 28 July 1910. p. 5485.
  15. Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser Band III. "Fife". C.A. Starke Verlag, 1955, pp. 336–337. (German).
  16. "THE NEXT ROYAL MARRIAGE: PRINCESS MAUD AND LORD CARNEGIE". Register. 6 November 1923. p. 7 via Trove.
  17. "United Kingdom Government News: TITLE OF HRH THE PRINCE EDWARD". 1 February 2014. Archived from the original on 18 January 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  18. "Queen Elizabeth's Grandchildren Will 'Work for a Living' and Won't Use HRH, Says Mom Sophie Wessex". Peoplemag. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  19. Royal Styles and Titles – 1816 Letters Patent.
  20. Royal Styles and Titles – 1919 Letters Patent.
  21. 1 2 3 Royal Styles and Titles – 1905 Letters Patent.
  22. Born Lady Alexandra Duff, she was granted the title and style of Her Highness Princess Alexandra by Letters Patent of 9 November 1905, as the daughter of Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife. Upon her marriage to Prince Arthur of Connaught in 1913, she assumed the style of Her Royal Highness Princess Arthur of Connaught, Duchess of Fife. The Duchess Title, she inherited from her father prior to her marriage.
  23. British Monarchy (2009). "Diana, Princess of Wales — Marriage and family". Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  24. "The Royal Family" (PDF). royal.gov.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  25. British Monarchy (2009). "The Countess of Wessex – Styles and titles". Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  26. Jack, Ian (11 March 2005). "Lay of the last duchess". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  27. "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."
  28. "HRH The Duke of Edinburgh". College of Arms . 9 April 2021. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  29. House of Commons Hansard (4 April 2005). "Royal Marriage" . Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  30. "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.
  31. 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.
  32. 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.
  33. British Monarchy (2023). "The Duchess of Sussex". The Royal Family. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  34. Royal Styles and Titles – 1937 Letters Patent.
  35. "News.webshots.com".
  36. François Velde (9 April 2012). "Victoria Eugénie of Battenberg". Heraldica. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  37. 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.
  38. 1 2 "High Court Judgment Template" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 June 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2008.