A Royal Style and Titles Act, or a Royal Titles Act, is an act of parliament passed in the relevant country that defines the formal title for the sovereign as monarch of that country. This practice began in 1876, when the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the Royal Titles Act. By that law, and the subsequent Royal Titles Act 1901 and Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927, the monarch held one title throughout the British Empire. Following the enactment of the Statute of Westminster 1931, the governments of the now separate and independent realms sharing one person as sovereign agreed in 1949 that each should adopt its own royal style and title, which was done in 1952. As colonies became new realms, they passed their own royal style and titles acts. Most of the laws were created during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
Until the early part of the 20th century, the monarch's title throughout the British Empire was determined exclusively by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. As the Dominions gained importance, the British government began to consult their governments on how the monarch should be titled. By 1926, following the issuance of the Balfour Declaration, it was determined that the changes in the nature of the Empire needed to be reflected in King George V's title. This led to the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927; though, again, this applied one title to the King across the whole Empire. The preamble to the Statute of Westminster 1931 established the convention requiring the consent of all the Dominions' parliaments, as well as that of the United Kingdom, to any alterations to the monarch's style and title. It had been decided among the realms in 1949 that each should have its own monarchical title, but with common elements. Which elements, however, was not determined after the accession of Elizabeth II as queen in February 1952. The parliament of each then-realm of the Commonwealth passed its own Royal Style and Titles Act before Elizabeth's coronation in June of the following year.[1]
The Royal Titles Act, 1981, passed by the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda, gave that body's assent to the adoption of a title by the monarch of Antigua and Barbuda. After the Governor-General's proclamation dated 11 February 1982, the sovereign's official title was Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of Antigua and Barbuda and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.[2]
The Parliament of Australia passed in 1953 a Royal Style and Titles Act, giving the Australian monarch, then Elizabeth II, the title Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of the United Kingdom, Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.[3] This was amended in 1973 to remove the reference to the United Kingdom and the term defender of the faith.[4][5]
The Canadian Parliament passed in 1947 the Royal Style and Titles Act and an order-in-council was issued on 22 June the following year to remove the term Emperor of India from the Canadian sovereign's title.[6] In 1953, the same legislature passed another Royal Style and Titles Act, consenting to the issuance of a royal proclamation changing the royal style and title.[7] This was done on 28 May, declaring the Canadian monarch's title to be, in English, Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada, and Her other Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, and, in French, Elizabeth Deux, par la grâce de Dieu Reine du Royaume-Uni, du Canada, et de ses autres royaumes et territoires, Chef du Commonwealth, Défenseur de la Foi.[8]
In April 2023, after the accession of Charles III to the Canadian throne, the Deputy Prime Minister, on behalf of Cabinet, introduced Bill C-47 in the House of Commons.[9] This bill contained provisions that authorized the King to issue a royal proclamation establishing his title for Canada, which excludes a reference to the United Kingdom and the title Defender of the Faith. The bill received royal assent on 22 June 2023[10] and a proclamation of the new title was issued on 8 January the following year.[11] The new title is, in English, Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of Canada and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth and, in French, Charles Trois, par la grâce de Dieu, Roi du Canada et de ses autres royaumes et territoires, Chef du Commonwealth.[12]
Ceylon
The Royal Titles Act 1953, passed by the Parliament of Ceylon, granted the Ceylonese monarch the title and style Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Ceylon and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.[13][14][15]
The Gambia
The Royal Style and Titles Act 1965, passed by the National Assembly of the Gambia, granted the Gambian monarch the title and style Elizabeth the Second, Queen of The Gambia and all Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.[16][17]
Ghana
The royal proclamation of Ghana's independence with Queen Elizabeth's British title at top, as the Ghanaian parliament had not yet enacted the Royal Style and Titles Act 1957
The Parliament of Ghana's Royal Style and Titles Act 1957 granted the Ghanaian monarch the title and style Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Ghana and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.[18][19]
One of the first post-Second World War examples of New Zealand's status as an independent monarchy was the alteration of the monarch's title by the Royal Titles Act 1953. For the first time, the official title of New Zealand's monarch mentioned New Zealand separately from the United Kingdom and the other realms, to highlight the monarch's role specifically as sovereign of New Zealand, as well as the shared aspect of the Crown throughout the realms. The title created from this act was Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Her Other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. After the passage of the Royal Titles Act 1974, the monarch's title in New Zealand was Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of New Zealand and Her Other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.[20]
The Royal Style and Titles Act 1961, passed by the Parliament of Nigeria, granted the Nigerian monarch the title and style Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Nigeria and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.[21] An introductory part of the style, By the Grace of God, was nevertheless added in official use.[22]
The Sierra Leonean Parliament's Royal Style and Titles Act 1961 granted the Sierra Leonean monarch the title and style Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Sierra Leone and of Her Other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.[23]
The Royal Style and Titles Act 2013, passed by the National Parliament of Solomon Islands, granted the Solomon Islander monarch the style and title Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of Solomon Islands and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.[24][25] The title was already in non-statutory use since 1988, when it was included in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Manual.[25][24]
The Royal Style and Title Act 1987, passed by the Tuvaluan Parliament, granted the Tuvaluan monarch the style and title Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of Tuvalu and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth.[28][29]
The Royal Titles Act 1953[32] specified that it applied only to the United Kingdom and those overseas territories whose foreign relations were controlled by the United Kingdom. The legislation tidied up the use of the title King of Ireland, following Ireland's transition to a republic in 1949.
As authorised by the act, Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed that her title in the United Kingdom would be Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. The title was equivalently, and, for the first time, set in Latin, as Elizabeth II, Dei Gratia Britanniarum Regnorumque Suorum Ceterorum Regina, Consortionis Populorum Princeps, Fidei Defensor.[33]
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state that has Charles III as its monarch and head of state. All the realms are equal with and independent of the others, though one person, resident in the United Kingdom, acts as monarch of each. The phrase Commonwealth realm is an informal description not used in any law.
Defender of the Faith is a phrase that has been used as part of the full style of many English, Scottish, and later British monarchs since the early 16th century. It has also been used by some other monarchs and heads of state.
The style and title of the Canadian sovereign is the formal mode of address of the monarch of Canada. The form is based on those that were inherited from the United Kingdom and France, used in the colonies to refer to the reigning monarch in Europe. As various Canadian territories changed ownership and then the country gradually gained independence, the style and title of the monarchs changed almost as often as the kings and queens themselves. The mode of address currently employed is a combination of a style that originates in the early 17th century and a title established by Canadian law in 2024.
The precise style of the British sovereign has varied over the years. It is chosen and officially proclaimed by the sovereign. In 2022, King Charles III was proclaimed by the Privy Council to have acceded to the throne with the style:
Charles the Third, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of His other Realms and Territories King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith
The Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that authorised the alteration of the British monarch's royal style and titles, and altered the formal name of the British Parliament and hence of the state, in recognition of most of Ireland separating from the United Kingdom as the Irish Free State. It received royal assent on 12 April 1927.
The monarchy of Antigua and Barbuda is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Antigua and Barbuda. The current Antiguan and Barbudan monarch and head of state, since 8 September 2022, is King Charles III. As sovereign, he is the personal embodiment of the Crown of Antigua and Barbuda. Although the person of the sovereign is equally shared with 14 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations, each country's monarchy is separate and legally distinct. As a result, the current monarch is officially titled King of Antigua and Barbuda and, in this capacity, he and other members of the Royal Family undertake public and private functions domestically and abroad as representatives of Antigua and Barbuda. However, the King is the only member of the Royal Family with any constitutional role.
The monarchy of Australia is a key component of Australia's form of government, embodied by the Australian sovereign and head of state. The Australian monarchy is a constitutional one, modelled on the Westminster system of parliamentary government, while incorporating features unique to the constitution of Australia.
The Royal Titles Act 1953 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It authorizes the Queen to alter her style and titles for the United Kingdom as well as territories whose foreign relations are under the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.
Elizabeth II was Queen of Ghana from 1957 to 1960, when Ghana was an independent sovereign state and a constitutional monarchy. She was also queen of the United Kingdom and other sovereign states. Her constitutional roles in Ghana were delegated to the governor-general of Ghana.
Elizabeth II was Queen of The Gambia from 1965 to 1970, when the Gambia was an independent sovereign state and a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth of Nations. She was also the monarch of the other Commonwealth realms, including the United Kingdom. Her constitutional roles in the Gambia were delegated to the governor-general.
Elizabeth II was Queen of Guyana from 1966 to 1970, when Guyana was independent sovereign state with a constitutional monarchy. She was also the sovereign of the other Commonwealth realms, including the United Kingdom. Her constitutional roles were delegated to the governor-general of Guyana.
Elizabeth II was Queen of Kenya from 1963 to 1964, when Kenya was an independent sovereign state with a constitutional monarchy. She was also the sovereign of the other Commonwealth realms, including the United Kingdom. Her roles as the Kenyan head of state were delegated to the governor-general of Kenya.
Elizabeth II was Queen of Malawi from 1964 to 1966, when Malawi was an independent sovereign state and a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth of Nations. She was also the sovereign of the other Commonwealth realms, including the United Kingdom. The 1964 Constitution of Malawi vested executive power in the monarch as head of state, though her constitutional roles were delegated to her representative, the Governor-General, Sir Glyn Smallwood Jones, who was also the last Governor of Nyasaland.
Elizabeth II was Queen of Mauritius as well as its head of state from 1968 to 1992 when Mauritius was an independent sovereign state and a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth of Nations. She was also the monarch of other Commonwealth realms, including the United Kingdom. Her constitutional roles in Mauritius were delegated to a governor-general. Mauritius became a republic in 1992.
Elizabeth II was Queen of Uganda as well as the head of state of Uganda from 1962 to 1963, when the country was an independent constitutional monarchy. She was also the sovereign of other countries in the Commonwealth of Nations, including the United Kingdom.
Elizabeth II was Queen of Trinidad and Tobago from the independence of Trinidad and Tobago on 31 August 1962 until the country became a republic on 1 August 1976. Her constitutional role as head of state was delegated to a governor-general, who acted on the advice of government ministers.
Elizabeth II was Queen of Tanganyika from 1961 to 1962, when Tanganyika was an independent sovereign state and a constitutional monarchy. She was also the monarch of other sovereign states, including the United Kingdom. Her constitutional roles in Tanganyika were mostly delegated to the governor-general of Tanganyika.
The Royal Style and Titles Act 2013 is an act of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands which altered the monarch's title in Solomon Islands.
The Royal Titles Act 1953 was an act of the Parliament of Ceylon which altered the monarch's title in Ceylon.
↑ Royal Styles and Title Act, 1961, quoted in Benjamin Obi Nwabueze (1982). A Constitutional History of Nigeria. C. Hurst & Co. p.86. ISBN0-905838-79-3.
1 2 Royal Style and Titles Act 2013 (passed by the National Parliament 1 Aug 2013, received royal assent 10 Oct 2013) and went into effect upon its publication in a supplement to the Solomon Islands Gazette, No. 82, Extra, 1 Nov 2013.
Act 6 of 1953 "Royal Style and Titles Act, 1953 (South Africa) from the Union of South Africa Government Gazette Extraordinary, vol. CLXXI, 4 March 1953, pages 12-13 - official titles in Latin, English, and Afrikaans (prior to declaration of republic in 1961)
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