Composition The royal sign-manual often begins with the sovereign's regnal name (without a number, unless otherwise specified), followed by the letter R for Rex (king) or Regina (queen). As a result, both Elizabeth I and Elizabeth II's sign-manuals read Elizabeth R. When a British monarch was also the Emperor or Empress of India, his or her sign manual included the additional title His/Her Imperial Majesty within small ornate gold frames. Other common elements include the crown above the royal signature, various symbols of authority below it, and the motto or slogan above the last symbol. The exact order of these elements varies from one manual to another; what follows is typical of those used during the reign of Elizabeth II. The first part of the manual contains the sovereign's full name. Below this is placed the date on which the manual began to be used, together with an indication of whether it is being used currently by someone in the line of succession. Next comes a list of all the powers held by the monarch at that time. These may be divided into three categories: constitutional powers, ceremonial duties, and honorary positions. Members of the royal family are listed under their respective titles, along with their age at the time the manual began to be used. After them come other members of the royal family, in order of precedence. The third section consists of badges, mottos, and devices. These items are important because they provide information about the monarch's preferences and traditions.