The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-26 00:00:00

THE "PRINCE CONSORT."

At the Council which was held yesterday. an
order was passel for publishing a Letter Patent,
by which the Queen gran's to Prince Albert the
title of " Prince Consort" during their joint lives.
No one can object to the distinction which is thus
conferred on the husband of the Queen after 17
years of married life. We are not now concerned
to say whether the title of " Prince Consort" gives
to the possessor any accession of heraldic rank which
continental Chamberlains would recognise. Suffice
it to say that it makes Prince Albert legally,' as
he already is actually, a member of the British
Royal Family. Hitherto the Prince has had no
British rank whatever. Philip of Spain eras
titular King of England, but the Consort of the
present Queen is only what he was prior to his
marriage—a Prince of the House of Saxe-Coburg-
Gotha. He has not even received a British
Peerage. Although a naturalised subject of
the British Crown, Prince Albert has hitherto
borne only his German title, and out of
England takes, we believe, according to the code
of Court precedence, only his rank as a younger
brother of a Ducal German house. Although
styled "Royal" among ourselves, and no doubt
invested by courtesy with Royal honours in friendly
States, the Prince has by birth a claim only to the
title of " Serene Highness," and must yield prece-
dence to numerous scions of continental Royalty,
whose lot is obscure comparatively with his own." .
Her Majesty has then certainly transgressed no
bound of moderation when, after a reign of 20
years, she confers on her husband a title which,
without giving him any authority at home, assures
to him a high and definite position abroad. Prince
Albert will now meet foreign Royal families with
the status of a British Prince of the highest rank.
Already, by ttoyal Order, he has taken precedence
of all members of the reigning family in Eugland,
the new title only assures to him the same position
in other countries, where these matters are ordered
by immemorial usage rather than in accordance
with the statutes of any particular monarchy.
.We
may well acquiesce, therefore, in the act which the
natural affection of our Queen has prompted in
making this innovation on English heraldry.
The law of this country has, indeed, always been
that the rank of the wife confers no dignity on
the husband. No dougbt this is in accordance wiuli
the law which determines the descent of dignities
in England. Alt our old English Baronies and a
great number of the Scottish Peerages are, like the
Crown, heritable by women. So; in default of a Salle
Law, we have established by custom another which
the non-existence of the former almost renders neaps-
sary—namely that the husband shall receive no rank,
dignity, or precedence in right of his wife. This
has become so much a part of our jurisprudence
that we are inclined to forget that it is hardly un-
derstood in many parts of Europe. In Sp un and
Portugal, both lately governed by Queens, the
Consorts of the Sovereign had the title of " King."
It was thought no more than just that the hus-
band. of a Queen Regnant should have the same
social rank as his wife, even though he did not
share her authority. Her Majesty is certainly the
best judge whether a similar regulation in England
will enhance the dignity of her husband. If the
title of "Prince Consort" gives to Prince Albert
a higher position at the Courts where the wife's
dignity naturally attaches to her Cons.rt, the
people of England can have no objection to the
grant. It is within the prerogative of the Sove-
reign of England to bestow any title of honour or
any place iu precedence, although actual authority
within the realm can only be constitutionally exer-
cised in pursuance of an Act of Parliament. Prince
Albert, therefore, may fairly bear his new title.
We cannot, indeed, believe that the change \vas
necessary to obtain for the Prince fitting respect
among ourselves. For 17 years he has received
almost every honour which the Crown or the great
Corporations of the country can bestow. The list
of his titles and offices obtained before Middle age
is a proof of the public respect for himself or the
widely diffused loyalty to the Crown. His Royal
Highness the Prince Consort of the United King-
dom will be to us pretty much the same as his Royal
Highness the Prince AlbertofSias muchxe-Co in a Saxe-Coburg
naroe
Gotha.
But, in spite of the poet, there
d, if there be increased homage rendered to the
new titi3 on the banks of the Spree or the Danube,
the English people will be happy to sanction and
adopt it.--Times.