Substantive title

A substantive title, in the United Kingdom, is a title of nobility which is owned in its own right, as opposed to titles shared among cadets, borne as a courtesy title by a peer's relatives, or acquired through marriage. ^[1]

Current monarchies

• United Kingdom – Prince of Wales (must be conferred by the monarch after merging in the Crown)
• United Kingdom – Duke of Cornwall (restricted to the eldest son of the monarch who is also heir apparent)
• United Kingdom – Duke of Rothesay (restricted to the eldest son of the monarch who is also heir apparent)

Granted titles

The Almanach de Gotha treated titles used by dynasties of abolished monarchies: ^[2] the head of the house bearing a traditional title of the dynasty in lieu of or after the given name.

• United Kingdom:
  • Princess Royal ; since 1987
  • Duke of Albany
  • Duke of Cambridge; since 2011: on occasion of the recipient's wedding
  • Duke of Clarence
  • Duke of Edinburgh; since 2023: on occasion of the recipient's birthday
  • Duke of Gloucester
  • Duke of Kent
  • Duke of Lancaster
  • Duke of Sussex; since 2018: on occasion of the recipient's wedding
  • Duke of York; since 1986: on occasion of the recipient's wedding
  • Duke of Windsor; from 1936, on occasion of the recipient's abdication
  • Earl of Forfar; since 2019: on occasion of the recipient's 55th birthday
  • Earl of Wessex; since 1999: on occasion of the recipient's wedding

In accordance with a tradition dating back to the reign of Napoleon I, titles in pretence were treated by the Almanach de Gotha as if still borne by members of reigning dynasties. ^[2]

References

1. "About titles". GOV.UK. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
2. de Diesbach, Ghislain (1967). Secrets of the Gotha. UK, pp. 23-24, 29, 37: Chapman & Hall.