Royal Family tree - BBC News BBC News Read more about sharing. Close share panel Four generations of royals are celebrating the Queen's 90th birthday. Find out more about the Royal Family below. INTERACTIVE Royal family: Line of succession × × Born: 1948 The Prince of Wales is the Queen’s eldest son and first in line to the throne. On 29 July 1981 he married Lady Diana Spencer, who became the Princess of Wales. The couple had two sons, William and Harry. They later separated and their marriage was dissolved in 1996. On 31 August 1997 the Princess was killed in a car crash in Paris. Prince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles on 9 April 2005. Duke of Cambridge × Born: 1982 Prince William is the eldest son of the Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales. The Duke was 15 years old when his mother was killed in a Paris car crash. He went on to study at St Andrews University, where he met his future wife, Kate Middleton. The couple were married in 2011.

On his 21st birthday he was appointed a Counsellor of State – standing in for the Queen on official occasions. He and his wife had their first child, George, in July 2013. Prince George of Cambridge × Born: 2013 Prince George of Cambridge, was born at 16:24BST on Monday 22 July, 2013, at St Mary's hospital in west London. Prince William was present for the birth of his son, who weighed 8lb 6oz. Prince George is third in line to the throne, after his father and grandfather. His full name, George Alexander Louis, was announced two days after his birth. Princess Charlotte of Cambridge × Born: 2015 The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to their second child, a baby girl, at 08:34 BST (07:34 GMT) on 2 May 2015 at St Mary's Hospital in London. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth of the 8lbs 3oz (3.7kg) baby. The duke and duchess named her Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

She is fourth in line to the throne and is known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. Prince Harry × Born: 1984 Prince Harry trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and went on to become a Lieutenant in the British Army, serving as a helicopter pilot. He has been a Counsellor of State since his 21st birthday, standing in for The Queen on official duties. Prince Andrew, Duke of York × Born: 1960 Prince Andrew was the third child of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh – but the first to be born to a reigning monarch for 103 years. He was created the Duke of York on his marriage to Sarah Ferguson, who became Duchess of York. They had two daughters - Beatrice was born in 1988 and Eugenie in 1990. In March 1992 it was announced that the duke and duchess were to separate and they divorced in 1996. Princess Beatrice × Born: 1988 Princess Beatrice is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York. Her full title is Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of York.

She has no official surname, but uses the name York. If she marries, she will retain her royal title, but will have the option of taking her husband’s surname. Princess Eugenie × Born: 1990 Princess Eugenie is the younger daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York. Her full title is Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York. Like her sister Princess Beatrice, she has no official surname, but uses the name York. If she marries, she will retain her royal title, but will have the option of taking her husband’s surname. Earl of Wessex × Born: 1964 Prince Edward was given the title Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn on his marriage to Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999. The couple have two children, Lady Louise, born in 2003 and James, Viscount Severn, born in 2007. James, Viscount Severn × Born: 2007 Viscount Severn is the younger child of the Earl and Countess of Wessex. The couple decided to give their children the courtesy titles as sons or daughters of an Earl, rather than the style prince or princess.

It is thought this decision was made to avoid some of the burdens of royal titles. Lady Louise × Born: 2003 Lady Louise Windsor is the elder child of the Earl and Countess of Wessex. The couple decided to give their children the courtesy titles as sons or daughters of an Earl, rather than the style prince or princess. It is thought this decision was made to avoid some of the burdens of royal titles. Princess Royal × Born: 1950 The Princess Royal is the Queen’s second child and only daughter. She was given the title Princess Royal in June 1987. Princess Anne has married twice; her first husband Captain Mark Phillips is the father of her two children, Peter and Zara, while her second husband is Vice-Admiral Timothy Laurence. The princess was the first royal to use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor in an official document, in the marriage register after her wedding to Captain Phillips. Peter Phillips × Born: 1977 Peter Phillips is the eldest of the Queen’s grandchildren.

He married Canadian Autumn Kelly in 2008 and together they have two daughters, Savannah, born in 2010 and Isla, born in 2012. The children of the Princess Royal do not have royal titles, as they are descended from the female line. Mark Phillips refused the offer of an earldom when he married Princess Anne so their children do not have any courtesy titles. Savannah × Born: 2010 Savannah, born in 2010, is the eldest daughter of Peter and Autumn Phillips and the Queen's first great-grandchild. Isla Isla, born in 2012, is the second daughter of Peter and Autumn Phillips. Zara Tindall × Born: 1981 Zara Tindall has followed her mother and father with a highly successful riding career – including winning a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics. She married former England rugby player Mike Tindall in 2011 and the couple had their first child, Mia Grace, in 2014. The children of the Princess Royal do not hold a royal title, as they are descended from the female line.

Their father, Mark Phillips turned down an earldom when he married Princess Anne, so they do not have any courtesy titles. Mia Grace Who are the Duke of York, Duke of Kent, etc., and how did they get their titles? | HowStuffWorks Who are the Duke of York, Duke of Kent, etc., and how did they get their titles? NEXT PAGENEXT Britain's royalty and nobility fascinate the rest of the world, especially Americans. We wonder what all those titles mean and who all those people we've seen at royal weddings and funerals are. And today (August 4, 2000) is a good day to talk about the royal family because it is the birthday of the Queen Mother, who is 100 years old. The British royal family is like other families, made up of spouses, children, grandchildren, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. The head of the British royal family is Queen Elizabeth II, and she is the one who decides who are bona fide members of the family and what titles they will carry. Up Next Charles I of England Quiz To answer your question -- a duke is the highest rank you can achieve without being a king or a prince.

Historically a duke is a high-ranking nobleman, land-owner or a prince, and in feudal times was the lord over part of the country. Today the titles are largely symbolic and there are 28 dukedoms. Some people (like Prince Charles) have several dukedoms and some dukedoms are unassigned. When a duke who does not have an heir dies, the title returns to the royal family to be given out to someone new. Not everyone who carries the title duke or earl is a member of today's royal family. Britain has a system of peerage, which ranks members of the nobility and aristocracy. Many titles of nobility were won many years ago through great wealth, favors to the king or good deeds and are passed on from one generation to the next. This is known as the inherited peerage. For example, Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, is the ninth man in his family to carry that title. Before he became Earl Spencer (note that the practice is to drop the "of") upon the death of his father, he was known as Charles Spencer or as Viscount Althorp, a title that his son, Louis, now carries.

Other noble titles are given on merit or on special occasions. The life peerage are titles that the monarch confers on exceptional people during their lifetimes, and those titles do not pass to children or descendents. Margaret Thatcher, the former prime minister of Britain, is now Baroness Thatcher. The British prime minister consults with the queen about who is deserving of a life peerage, and several people are elevated to the peerage every year. Life peers get a seat in the House of Lords, but a law passed in 1999 limits the right of hereditary peers to have a seat. The order of the titles in British Isles nobility from highest to lowest are: Duke (and duchess): The name is derived from the Latin dux, which means leader. Most dukedoms carry a place name, although that means little to the modern titles because the holders are not the sovereigns of a land area. Marquess or marquis (and marchioness): This title appeared in England with the Norman conquest and was given to nobles who were in charge of border areas. The name is related to older words for a frontier.

Earl (and countess): The name comes from a Norse word, jarl, which meant leader. It is equivalent to a count in European nobility. Viscount (and viscountess): Pronounced VI-count, this title derives from the Latin comes for a companion and was sort of an assistant nobleman in the old days. Baron (and baroness): The lowest rank of nobility came to England with the Normans, also, and the word is derived from the Norman word for a freeman. If you have a life peerage this is the highest title you can carry. Below these are the lower nobility, who carry the titles: Baronet: This title is granted to members of the upper classes, referred to as the gentry. The story is that King James I created the title to raise money. Knight: In medieval times, knights were the soldiers of the king or of princes. Now, the queen grants knighthood to her subjects who have achieved great success in their professions. Paul McCartney, the former Beatle, has been knighted. The female equivalent is dame. Esquire: In medieval times, an esquire was a candidate for knighthood.

Nowadays, it is applied to members of the gentry just below knights. The queen bestowed titles on her sons at their marriages and gave her daughter a special title. She has several titles that are hers to do with as she wishes. If an inherited peer dies without an heir, the title becomes the crown's property. Some titles that the queen's sons hold are part of the Scottish or Irish peerage. The princes' titles can be inherited by their sons. According to the royal family's official Web site, here are the members of the family today: Queen Elizabeth II. When Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in 1926, no one expected her to become the queen. Her father, the Duke of York, was Prince Albert, the second oldest son of King George V, and his older brother, Prince Edward, was the heir apparent to the throne. Prince Edward did become King Edward VIII when George V died in early 1936. But in one of the most famous scandals of the 20th century, Edward abdicated the throne because he wanted to marry a twice-divorced American woman named Wallis Simpson.

So, in late 1936, Prince Albert became King George VI, and his older daughter became the heir presumptive, meaning that unless her parents had a son, she would succeed to the throne. Elizabeth became queen at her father's death in 1952. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. The queen's husband, like the queen, is a great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria, and he was a member of both the Greek and Danish royal families. He spent a great deal of his childhood in England and served in the Royal Navy. He gave up his royal title and became a British citizen as a young adult. He received his noble title just before he and then Princess Elizabeth wed in 1947. He can't be king because that would actually give him a rank higher than his wife's. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Born Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon, the widow of King George VI celebrates her 100th birthday Aug. 4, 2000.

She is beloved in Britain, not just because of her royal standing, her aristocratic birth and her grandmotherly demeanor, but because she stayed in London during the horrible bombing in World War II when she could have taken her children to a safer place in the countryside. She and her daughter are the only two members of the royal family who are referred to as "Her Majesty," an address that is reserved for kings and queens. Everyone else in good standing is "His Royal Highness" or "Her Royal Highness." The Prince of Wales. The queen has given her oldest son, Prince Charles, several titles, chief among them prince of Wales. That is the traditional title carried by the heir to the British throne. He is also Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick and Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. His sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, are second and third in the line of succession after Charles. Their mother, of course, was Diana, whose death in 1997 caused an outpouring of grief across Britain and around the world. The Duke of York.

The queen's second son, Andrew, is also Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh, titles his mother gave him when he married. His wife, Sarah Ferguson, became the Duchess of York, and even though the couple divorced in 1996, she is known as Sarah, Duchess of York. She lost the right to be addressed as "Her Royal Highness" though. Their daughters are Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Because Prince Andrew has no sons, his title will not be passed on to an heir. It is the crown's property, in a sense, and upon the current Duke of York's death, a king or queen in the future could give the title to another man. The Earl of Wessex. The youngest son of the queen prefers to be called Edward Windsor when he is working as a television producer, but he is listed as the Earl of Wessex in the royal family. He became a earl at his marriage in 1999 to Sophie Rhys-Jones, who is now the Countess of Wessex. It is unusual for the son of a sovereign to have a title no higher than earl. The Princess Royal.

The queen gave her only daughter, Princess Anne, this special title in 1987. It is a title that traditionally can only be given to the monarch's oldest daughter, but not all oldest daughters get the title. The Princess Royal, married for the second time and the mother of two, is considered the hardest working member of the royal family. She sponsors many charitable causes. The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon. The queen's younger sister and only sibling became Countess of Snowdon when her then-husband was named Earl of Snowdon at their marriage in 1960. They have been divorced since 1978. Their two children are Lord Linley and Lady Sarah. Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. Princess Alice is the widow of the Duke of Gloucester. Her husband, Prince Henry, was the third son of King George V, the queen's grandfather. Her son is now the Duke of Gloucester. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. Prince Richard is Princess Alice's son and the queen's cousin, and the duchess is his wife, the former Birgitte van Deurs.

He inherited his father's title, even though he was a second born son because his older brother died in an accident some years before his father died. The Duke and Duchess of Kent. The duke is the queen's cousin, Prince Edward. His father was the fourth son of King George V. The Duke of Kent inherited his title from his father, who died in an accident in 1942. The Duchess of Kent is the former Katharine Worsley. Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. Prince Michael is the younger brother of the Duke of Kent. The prince's wife is known as Princess Michael of Kent, even though her given name is Marie-Christine. That is the nobility's way of indicating that she is a princess by marriage, not by birth. Prince Michael is no longer in the line of succession for the throne. He gave up his spot when he married Princess Michael, a Roman Catholic divorcee, but the two still perform royal duties and represent the queen at weddings and funerals. Princess Alexandra. She is the sister of the Duke of Kent and Prince Michael of Kent. Her husband is Sir Angus Ogilvy, and they have two children. Here are some interesting links.

Royal Tartans | Scottish Tartans Authority Royal Tartans by Colin W Hutcheson The vast majority of tartans are modern and do not pre-date the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Few of those connected with the Royal Household today date back further than the reign of Queen Victoria, but it is appropriate to record some historical information about those turbulent times. The Royal House of Stewart or Stuart, the "High Stewards" of Scotland can be traced back to a Breton nobleman in 1097. Later, when the reign of James V ended in 1542, the direct male line of the Stewarts failed, but the succession continued through Mary Queen of Scots to James VI (VI of Scotland and I of England) who died in 1625. On the death of Prince Charles Edward (Bonnie Prince Charlie) in 1788 and his brother Prince Henry Cardinal Duke of York (d. 1807), the male line ended. The House of Stewart continued down the female line to Queen Victoria and onward to our Royal Family today.

The Jacobite risings and the subsequent exile of Prince Charles Edward Stuart in 1746 after Culloden nearly caused the disappearance of Scottish tartans altogether but the continued use of them by the regiments, and the interest in them of the Hanoverian court at the end of the 18th Century, followed by the visit of George IV to Edinburgh in 1822, did much to preserve the wearing of Tartans and Highland Dress. Tradition has it that those who have no tartan of their own can wear the Black Watch (The Universal or Government Tartan) or the Hunting Stewart, but not the Royal Stewart without the express authority of the Queen. However, commercialisation in recent times has rather blurred this. The one tartan which cannot be worn by anyone unless the Queen's permission has been granted is the Balmoral. The Monarch and immediate family. BALMORAL - This tartan was designed by Queen Victoria's husband. Prince Albert in 1853 and, while predominantly grey with overchecks of red and black the background contains a thread of black and white yarns twisted together to achieve the appearance of the rough hewn granite so familiar in Royal Deeside.

It is worn by HM Queen herself as a skirt and several members of the Royal Family but only with the Queen's permission. The only other approved wearer of the Balmoral Tartan is the Queen's personal piper. (The Estate workers and Ghillies wear the Balmoral Tweed). STEWART HUNTING - worn by the Queen when "off duty" and during moments of relaxation. A most popular tartan with surprisingly little history as to when it was designed but also worn by HM King George VI and HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother when she was Queen. STEWART OLD - Also worn by the Queen on holiday at Royal Deeside and also favoured by the late HM Queen Mother. A distinctive tartan it originally belonged to the Stewarts of the Western Highlands. STEWART ROYAL - Probably the most well known tartan world wide today and the basis of many of the Stewart Tartans. STEWART DRESS - The Dress version of Royal Stewart with the predominant red squares replaced by white. Worn by the female members of the Royal family often for evening occasions but also worn for Dress occasions by HRH Duke of Edinburgh, HRH Prince of Wales and HRH Prince Edward.

STEWART VICTORIA - Known to have been favoured by Queen Victoria who had an extra red line inserted to the Dress Stewart, and used it for curtains and furnishings at Balmoral. KING GEORGE VI - A dark green version of Royal Stewart was woven for King George IV in 1819. A version named the Green Stewart with a lighter green ground was woven especially for King George VI. The Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Charles, has been a staunch supporter of the Kilt and wears a number of tartans linked with titles he holds. LORD OF THE ISLES HUNTING - HRH is often to be seen in this tartan when he visits Scotland and holds the title Lord of the Isles. Commercially it will appear in darker colours of green than those worn by the Prince. ROTHESAY HUNTING - The Prince of Wales is also Duke of Rothesay and wears the Hunting version. The Prince wears many of the Royal Tartans most notably the Balmoral. A non Royal tartan he has also worn is the Gordon Tartan in his capacity as Colonel in Chief of the Gordon Highlanders Regiment.

The Second son of the Monarch, the Duke of York holds the Scottish title, the Earl of Inverness, and, from Victorian times always followed a career in the Royal Navy. The title was first given to the sixth son of George III, HRH Prince Augustus Frederick who was also Duke of Sussex in 1801. In several of the following generations the second son held the title of Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killarney and were, the son of Edward VII (later George V), the son of George V (later George VI), and the son of HM Queen Elizabeth II (Prince Andrew). INVERNESS - the Inverness Tartan has a red background and the Inverness Hunting, a preferred version by George V, has a navy ground. The Royal Princesses PRINCESS ELIZABETH - so named in the 1930's but is, in fact, the Inverness tartan. PRINCESS MARGARET ROSE - designed for the late Princess Margaret in the 1930's. PRINCESS BEATRICE - designed for Queen Victoria's youngest child.

PRINCESS MARY - based on Royal Stewart with a dark green ground in place of Red. PRINCESS LOUISE - designed for Princess Louise. In 1881 the 91st regiment was linked with the 93rd as a territorial one and named as Princess Louise's Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. Princess Louise was one of Queen Victoria's daughters. Other Royal Tartans UK Royal Titles UK Royal Titles Discussion about royal and noble titles in the UK Themes in the blog August 12, 2013 Anonymous asked: How do titles transfer? For example George VI was previously Duke of York and then Andrew became Duke of York, does this mean when William and Kate have children the titles will shift? I know Andrew was born after the King had passed but do titles correspond with how close a person is to the thrown? If William were to die before becoming King than George would become the Duke of Cambridge. However if he becomes King than the title will ‘merge with the crown’ effectively meaning that it will cease to exist Prince George: A (projected) Life in Titles It’s been a good couple of weeks since the world was mesmerised by the birth of our latest Royal.

Generally speaking, I’ve been rather impressed with the mainstream media’s reporting of his title, which I’m sure they’ll be relieved to hear. However, as of yet, I don’t think I’ve come across a detailed projection of how we can expect his titles to evolve as he moves through his life. Enter UKRoyaltitles.co.uk and another sensational blog post. As we know, the youngster is currently styled His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge. Barring anything unexpected, he should remain this way until his grandfather’s ascension to the throne. At that moment his father shall become Duke of Cornwall (along with a whole host of other titles) meaning that technically, he will become HRH Prince George of Cornwall and Cambridge. I expect in reality the Cambridge will be gradually dropped. At some stage during his grandfather’s (probably fairly brief) reign it is highly likely that William will be created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester. At this stage, we will be introduced to HRH Prince George of Wales.

Roll the clock forward a few years and with the succession of King William IV (if his father chooses to be known as such) George will automatically become Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isle, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. He will also become THE Prince George, as children (rather than grandchildren) of the sovereign use the definite article in their style. In reality he will be referred to as HRH The Duke of Cornwall until his likely creation as Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, a title that can only (by custom) be bestowed upon the heir apparent but unlike the other titles, is not automatic. At this stage he, like his grandfather today will be known HRH The Prince of Wales. Then, one distant day in the future – when scarily, I and most of my readers will probably be dead – he will ascend the throne himself, presumably (although not definitely) taking the regnal name of George. Depending on the title his grandfather takes, he will be known King George VII or VIII. There is one other possible title he may pick up along the way.

Sons of sovereigns (or those directly in line of succession) tend to receive peerages upon marriage (in the way that William was created ‘Duke of Cambridge’) primarily so that their wife can enjoy a decent title. If George is to marry once his father has already succeeded than this will be a non-issue – he will, at the very least, be Duke of Cornwall allowing his wife to style herself a Royal Duchess. However in the – unlikely but not impossible – event of him marrying during his father’s reign a title would need to be bestowed upon him. Cambridge would be not be available (that’s William’s until he becomes King) but a whole host of other Royal Dukedoms including Clarence, Sussex and Windsor, will be waiting in the wings. Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and God bless our little Prince and future King. Just to confirm (as you would expect from this site) what our tiny royal’s title is. Once named, he will be known as His Royal Highness Prince X of Cambridge. This title depends on one set of Letters Patent and two title conventions. It is through the letters patent on 1917 that he claims his princely style.

This declaration secured the style of Royal Highness and the titular dignity of Prince on the sons of the sovereign, sons of sons of the sovereign and the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales. However, even had the baby been a girl, LPs issues by the Queen last year would have meant she too would have enjoyed a royal title. By convention, the prince will not use the definite article in his title. This is reserved for sons of sovereigns (e.g. The Prince Edward). Also by convention he will add ‘of Cambridge’ to his title in a nod to his father’s Dukedom. However, to be clear, this is just a titular courtesy; he is a prince of the entire United Kingdom. Over his life the prince is likely to enjoy a string of titles all of which I will blog about this week. I’m trying to track down a copy of the Letters Patent (not sure if this is even possible) but from how it’s being reported it seems as if the Queen has changed the rule in general rather than just for this occasion. A few things are interesting about this: 1. The Queen has obviously felt the need to do this through Letters Patent.

This could be significant for the Wessex debate as it adds force to the argument that Lord Severn and Lady Louise are entitles to the Princely style. 2. Her Majesty has extended the use of the princely style in general (e.g. all children of the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales) rather than just making it gender neutral (e.g. the eldest child of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales). 3. I had wondered if when the Queen did this she would take the chance to streamline the Royal family and restrict the title for others (e.g. have the title follow the direct line of succession but not other male-line grandchildren). She has clearly not chosen to do this. 4. The Queen has also not corrected other ‘inequality’ issues with titles. E.g. it is still only men who can transmit the Royal style. I suspect this will change in the future. Hopefully more to follow… Congratulations to the Duchess; but her baby may not be Royal Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the announcement of a forthcoming child.

As I’m sure many will agree, it’s the cherry on top of an already fantastic year for the Royal Family, which has seen the country devoted in its appreciation of the Queen during her Diamond Jubilee. Totes emot. Constitutionally this is also very significant. Given the Prime Minister’s determination to change Commonwealth succession laws, the Duchess of Cambridge is currently carrying the future King or Queen of the United Kingdom. However, this blog– as regular readers know – is devoted to the rather narrow focus of titles. But here again, there is much to talk about. As I have said many times before, there is a very real chance that Kate is carrying a future Queen of the realm; but if that is the case it will be a Queen born without a Royal title. Royal titles – or specifically the style or Royal Highness and the titular dignity of Prince or Princess – are governed by Letters Patent issued by King George V in 1917 (LP17). This make clear that these royal dignities are restricted to the children of sovereigns, the children of sons of sovereigns and the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales.

While a son for William would have royalty immediately thrust upon him, a daughter for the royal couple (who let’s say for fun is named Elizabeth) would be known as Lady Elizabeth Mountbatten-Windsor. Awkward much? Hopefully someone senior in courtly circles (who I assume is a regular follower of this poetic collection of constitutional expertise and street-talk) will take notice and make a change. New Letters Patent could be in order. Apparently the Queen is resisting changes to the honours system which would see the ‘Empire’ in OBE etc become ‘Excellence.’ She would, it seem, prefer that such changes were delayed until her son’s reign. This is interesting in and of itself, but it also got me thinking. Despite all the twists and turns of modernisation in today’s Royal Family, titles have generally escaped scrutiny. There was some talk a few years ago about ‘shrinking down’ the number or Princes/Princesses but little has come of it. Various other issues – including the fact that only royal men can transmit status to their children – have largely passed without challenge. Speculation on the future evolution of Royal and noble titles, is most certainly in the scope of this blog. Expect to see more of it.

1948 – 1952: His Royal Highness Prince Charles Philip Arthur George of Edinburgh Commonly known as: HRH Prince Charles of Edinburgh 1952 – 1958: His Royal Highness The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isle and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland Commonly known as: HRH The Prince Charles 1958 – Present: His Royal Highness The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isle and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland Commonly known as: HRH The Prince of Wales Titles explained Officially called ‘Prince of Wales’ in England and Wales, ‘Duke of Rothesay’ in Scotland and with more titles than any other member of the Royal Family, the heir to the throne is most commonly known as 'Prince Charles.’ But strangely enough, this is a title that he was very nearly born without.

As regular readers of this blog will know, the princely title and the style of Royal Highness are governed by letters patent issues by George V in 1917 (LP17). This decree restricted the princely title (along with HRH) to the children of the sovereign and the children of sons of the sovereign; the children of the King’s daughters would - like the vast majority of children in the land - take their style from their father. Had action not been taken than the future King of the United Kingdom would have been born as plain Charles Mountbatten with the courtesy title of Earl of Merioneth (a subsidiary title of the Duke of Edinburgh). However, his grandfather George VI had the foresight to act; albeit only just in time. Just weeks before Princess Elizabeth gave birth, new Letters Patent were issued declaring that all children of Elizabeth and Philip would be a Prince or Princess. As such he was known, for the first three and half years of his life, as His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Edinburgh. But on the 22nd February 1952 his mother’s succession to the throne triggered a revolution in titles for the Kingdom’s new heir.

Not only did he lose the 'of Edinburgh’ tag and gain the definite article (to become HRH The Prince Charles) but he gained the title 'Duke of Cornwall’ which belongs to the heir-apparent of England by right and a host of titles that our synonymous with Scotland’s heir: Duke of Rothersay, Earl of Carrick, Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isle and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. The next development in Charles’s title came during the summer of 1958, against the backdrop of the Commonwealth games in Cardiff. At this time the Queen created Charles Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, two ancient titles that are always bestowed as a pair. At the same time as announcing the creation, the Queen also pledged to present him to the Welsh people 'when he was grown up.' Sure enough, when Charles reached the age of 21 in 1969 the Queen kept her word, and publicly invested her son as Prince of Wales at Carnarvon Castle. Charles is generally regarded at the 21st Prince of Wales, the first being the future Edward II as heir to Edward I.

Although I do not subscribe to this theory myself, there are those that consider Charles to be the 22nd Prince, believing that Henry VIII’s only surviving son, the future Edward VI was invested with the title. While believable conceptually, I do not personally consider there to be substantial evidence that such a creation ever took place. Naturally it is assumed that the Charles will one day succeed his mother and his title will once again be changed. There has been much talk over recent years as to exactly what that will look like; will he be defender of the faith? Will he automatically be called head of the commonwealth? None of us know the answers for sure. It is safe to say however, that in his record-breaking tenure as heir to the throne, it is bound to be something to which he himself has given much thought. Is Olympic Harry the nation’s fourth man? The order of precedence is notoriously tricky to understand; but by Harry representing the Queen at last night’s ceremony, the sovereign has implicitly acknowledged that he’s the 4th man of the realm. Since starting this blog, I’ve been restricted content to ‘Title’ conversations, often ignoring major events in the life of our premier family if I could not find a relevant connection.

However the time has come to open it up to another connected and equally elusive topic - the question of precedence. Ever since Catherine joined Royal ranks, there’s been speculation around the precedence she enjoys within the family. Recent reports suggest that the Queen has ‘re-jigged’ precedence so that blood royals come above HRHs-by-marriage. This would also tie-in with what seemed to happen after Camilla’s marriage, resulting in the York girls – Beatrice and Eugenie – taking precedence over the future Queen of the UK. Prince Harry’s centre-stage presence at the Olympic closing ceremony last night also raised a few questions. As far as I understand it, only the most senior Royal present can be the Queen’s formal representative at any given event, meaning it clearly would not have been possible for the Prince to stand in for the sovereign if his father or grandfather had been there. This however, suggests that Prince Henry of Wales (as he was correctly styled last night) must have taken precedence over all other Royals at the event. (I daresay that this little head-scratcher somewhat distracted most of the viewers from enjoying the ceremony itself).

Perhaps it is no surprise that he took priority over his sister-in-law; this fits in well with the blood principle that the Queen seems to have establish in recent years. More curious is that Harry took precedence over his Aunt, The Princess Royal, who as a child (rather than grandchild) of the sovereign would ordinarily hold greater rank. This, to be fair, would fit into the pattern of the Duke of Cambridge’s engagements appearing above that of his uncles in the court circular. So, based on what we observe, it would seem that Her Majesty has broadly tweaked the principles that determine the order of precedence within the Royal Family to match those that shape the line of succession; namely that blood matters more than marriage and descendants of heirs take precedence over lateral lines. Simples. Hardly. All of this is of course based on piecemeal observation, leaked reports and hearsay. The only thing I am truly clear on is that the concept of Precedence is something of a conundrum to all who seek to comment on it. If you’re one of the gifted few that has managed to get your head around it, please get in touch; I’ll personally nominate you for a knighthood.

The Duke of Edinburgh | The Royal Family The Duke of Edinburgh Charities and Patronages About The Duke of Edinburgh Following a successful naval career during which he saw active service in the Second World War, The Duke of Edinburgh began to focus on his work in support of The Queen following her Accession in 1952. In 2009 he became the longest serving British consort (companion to the Sovereign), a distinction previously held by Queen Charlotte, George III’s consort. His Royal Highness also has many interests which he pursues separately to his work with Her Majesty, including conservation, engineering, and The Duke of Edinburgh's Award which he founded in 1956. In addition to supporting The Queen on a large number of charitable engagements, The Duke of Edinburgh is Patron or President of some 800 organisations. Though probably best known for founding The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme in 1956, His Royal Highness is also involved in the work of many more charities and organisations which reflect his wide ranging interests in topics including conservation, sport, the military and engineering. The Duke of Edinburgh is involved in a great many charities, with special interests in scientific and technological research, the conservation of the environment and the encouragement of sport.

His passion for industry has been seen in countless visits to research laboratories, coalmines, factories and engineering works, with the aim of contributing to the improvement of British industrial life. On an international scale, he has sponsored six conferences on the human problems of industrial communities within the Commonwealth, in his capacity as Patron of The Work Foundation. Between 1959 and 2011 The Duke chaired the judging panel for The Prince Philip Designers Prize, which rewarded the innovation and creativity of designers and engineers shaping daily life. Winners included product designer Sir James Dyson, architect Lord Foster (designer of 30 St Mary Axe, or 'The Gherkin') and Andrew Ritchie, inventor of the Brompton folding bicycle. The Duke of Edinburgh Awards First launched in 1956 in collaboration with German educationalist Kurt Hahn and Lord Hunt, leader of the first successful ascent of Everest, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award has become the world's leading youth achievement award. The Award operates in more than 140 countries and in its 60 years of running has inspired millions of young people to serve their communities, experience adventure and develop and learn outside of the classroom.

The four key elements of the Award are Service, Skills, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey, and is open to those between 14 and 24 years of age. In 2016 The Duke of Edinburgh's Award celebrated its 60th anniversary. To celebrate the occassion the DofE encouraged people of all ages to set and achieve their goals through the DofE Diamond Challenge. The Duke and other members of the Royal Family also marked the milestone at a series of events, from a garden party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace to visits around the UK to meet DofE participants and supporters. You can find out more about The Duke of Edinburgh's Award in the UK at , and on an international level at . Military Appointments Although Prince Philip ended his active naval career in July 1951, he is still very closely connected to the Armed Forces. In 1952 The Duke was appointed Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps, Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Cadet Force and Air Commodore-in-Chief of the Air Training Corps. The following year he was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet and appointed Field Marshal and Marshal of the Royal Air Force.

The Duke is also Captain-General of the Royal Marines and Colonel-in-Chief, or Colonel, of a number of British and overseas regiments. Biography Early Family life Prince Philip was born in Corfu on 10 June 1921, the only son of Prince Andrew of Greece. His mother was Princess Alice of Battenberg and he therefore held the title 'Prince of Greece and Denmark'. At 18 months old, Prince Philip and his family had to leave Greece. The country had become politically unstable and his uncle, the King of Greece, Constantine I, was forced to abdicate. Fearing for the family's safety, Prince Philip's uncle, King George V ordered a Royal Navy ship to collect them and the young Prince was carried to safety in a cot made from an orange box. Titles During the First World War Prince Louis of Battenberg, Prince Philip's grandfather, changed the family's name to Mountbatten. Prince Phillip adopted this name when he also became a naturalised British subject and renounced his Royal title in order to marry Princess Elizabeth. Upon his marriage Prince Phillip was bestowed with the titles Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich.

Naval Career Prince Philip joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1939, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Prince Louis, who was Admiral of the Fleet and First Sea Lord. After completing his initial training under the auspice of Best Cadet of his entry, Prince Philip spent six months in the Indian Ocean as Midshipman aboard the battleship HMS RAMILLIES in 1940. Prince Philip was subsequently promoted to sub-lieutenant and appointed to the destroyer HMS WALLACE. In 1942 he became the ship's First Lieutenant at the unusually early age of 21. In 1952 he was promoted to Commander, but his naval career came to an end on the death of his father-in-law, King George VI. Second World War Aged 17 Prince Philip joined the battleship HMS VALIANT, which fought in the Battle of Cape Matapan. The Prince was in charge of the ship's searchlight control, enabling VALIANT to pinpoint enemy vessels in the dark. For this work, he was mentioned in despatches.

Prince Philip was then appointed First Lieutenant of the W-class destroyer, HMS WHELP, which was present in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese signed the surrender. Marriage In July 1947 the engagement of Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten to Princess Elizabeth was announced. Four months later, on 20 November, they were married in Westminster Abbey. Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh spent part of their honeymoon at Broadlands in Hampshire, the home of Earl Mountbatten of Burma, and Birkhall, which is located on the Balmoral estate. Children The Queen and Prince Philip have four children. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales was born in 1948 and Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, was born two years later. After ascending the throne, the couple had two further children: Prince Andrew, Duke of York, born in 1960 and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, born in 1964. Interests Prince Philip is particularly interested in science, industry and engineering. He has visited research stations and laboratories, coalmines and factories, engineering works and industrial plants - all with the aim of understanding, and contributing to the improvement of, British industrial life.

Environmental and conservation issues are also of great interest to Prince Philip. Concerned about pollution by exhaust fumes, he began using an electric car in the 1960s. Since visiting Antarctica and the South Atlantic in 1956-57, Prince Philip has devoted himself to raising public awareness of the relationship of humanity with the environment. The Duke is a keen sportsman and enjoys polo, carriage driving and sailing. He is also a qualified pilot and was the first member of the Royal family ever to fly out of Buckingham Palace Garden in a helicopter. Supporting The Queen The Duke of Edinburgh has been consort (companion to the Sovereign) for over 60 years, from Her Majesty’s Accession in 1952. In 2009 he became the longest serving British consort, a distinction previously held by Queen Charlotte, George III’s consort. His Royal Highness continues to support The Queen in her role as Head of State by accompanying Her Majesty to events in the UK and abroad, as well as attending state and ceremonial occasions alongside other members of the Royal Family. Since The Queen's Accession, The Duke of Edinburgh has played a prominent part in many aspects of national life.

The Duke of Edinburgh accompanies The Queen on all her Commonwealth tours and State Visits overseas, as well as on tours and visits to all parts of the United Kingdom. He has also travelled abroad a great deal on his own account. He is patron or president of some 800 organisations, with special interests in scientific and technological research and development, the encouragement of sport, the welfare of young people, and conservation and the environment. Prince Philip created The Duke of Edinburgh Award in 1956 and continues to be involved, particularly in recognising the achievements of Award participants and the adults who support the Charities and Patronages Fundraising trust which is part of the World Wide Fund for Nature International. Region: International Members of the Royal Family: The Duke of Edinburgh, Member 16 Squadron 1939-1945 Members of the Royal Family: The Duke of Edinburgh, Associate Member Abbotsford Flying Club Formed in 1961 by several WW11 pilots who wanted to promote General Aviation. Region: Canada Members of the Royal Family: The Duke of Edinburgh, Honorary Life Member Accrington Camera Club Lancashire club promoting the enjoyment of photography.

Region: UK (England) Members of the Royal Family: The Duke of Edinburgh, Life Member Action Medical Research UK charity aiming to improve national health through research into serious illnesses. Region: UK-wide Members of the Royal Family: The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron Air Force Association of Australia ( The Royal Australian Air Force Association ) Looks after serving and ex-Service men and women of the Royal Australian Air Force. Region: Australia Members of the Royal Family: The Duke of Edinburgh, Honorary Life Member Air Squadron Supports British military and civil aviation. Region: UK-wide Members of the Royal Family: The Duke of York, Honorary Member The Duke of Edinburgh, Honorary Air Commodore Air Training Corps Youth aviation organisation sponsored by the Royal Air Force in the UK. Region: UK-wide Group of hospitals based in Victoria, Australia. Region: Australia Members of the Royal Family: The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron In Chief All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Tennis club based in Wimbledon, London, which stages the annual Wimbledon tennis championships.

Region: UK (England) Members of the Royal Family: The Duke of Kent, President The Duke of Edinburgh, Honorary Life Member Her Majesty The Queen, Patron The Duchess of Gloucester, Honorary Member History Of Royal Titles: HRH and Prince/Princess – Royal Central Competition Winner Confirmed! One of the primary things that shows a member of the Royal Family’s status above an ordinary person is their title and style. The title is the part which precedes their name and the style is what determines how one addresses the royal. Royal titles haven’t always been as they are now. The title of Prince/Princess has meant different things over the years too! It was during George I’s reign that the title of Prince began to mean something again. Before, the title was handed to many different people, included non-relations of the Royal Family. George I instituted calling his sons Princes with the style of Royal Highness, whilst grandchildren were princes with the style of just Highness. Royal Highness ranks higher than just Highness. The style of HRH (Royal Highness) means His/Her Royal Highness and is prefixed to many Royal Titles, not just Prince/Princess.

Control over the use of HRH and Prince/Princess was still, despite George I’s changes, rather relaxed and by the 20th century all kinds of relations of the Monarch were ‘entitled’ to the style of Prince/Princess. It wasn’t until during WW1 that the then King, George V realised that such allowances for British titles could spell disaster for him and his family, he was essentially a German Monarch in Britain. In order to keep confidence with the British People and to not seem to be siding with the Germans, he restricted the right to the title of Prince/Princess in a special order in 1917, removing the right for his German relatives to bear the title. This was known as the 1917 Letters Patent and is one of the most quoted letters patent by royal commentators.

The exact order of the letters patent exclusively reserved the right of the title of Prince/Princess and the style of Royal Highness to ‘all children of the sovereign, all male-line grandchildren of the sovereign (children born to sons of the Monarch) and the son of the son of the Prince Of Wales.’ – the effect of this order is still felt today and in order to ensure Prince William’s child becomes a Prince/Princess, a special order by Her Majesty The Queen was instituted 2013 Letters Patent, granting the style of Royal Highness and Prince/Princess to all children of Prince William, regardless of gender. Had this not have happened, under the 1917 letters patent, the first son would be a Prince, but any other children would be Lords and Ladies. Nowadays, the style of just Highness (His/Her Highness) is never used in the British Monarchy, instead, the style of Royal Highness is the only style used for descendants of the Monarch. It is possible to hold the style of Royal Highness without being a Prince or Princess.

Dukes, Duchesses, Earls, Countesses and more have all been given the style of HRH in the past without becoming Princes. A notable example of this would be when The Duke Of Edinburgh (then Philip Mountbatten) became engaged to the then Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) in 1947. The King [George VI] granted the title of Duke Of Edinburgh and the style of Royal Highness to Philip who still bears the title to this day. He was made a Prince by Queen Elizabeth in 1956. Equally, though there are no modern day examples, the title of Prince/Princess could also be held without the style of Royal Highness. The two are separable. Wives of Princes and those with the style of Royal Highness can assume the female form of their husband’s title. For example, Prince William’s wife is officially, Her Royal Highness Princess William, Duchess Of Cambridge, where Prince William is His Royal Highness Prince William, Duke Of Cambridge. There have also been instances where those entitled to the style of Royal Highness and title of Prince/Princess have been denied their title by special orders from Her Majesty.

Prince Edward’s children, under the 1917 letters patent, should be styled as ‘His Royal Highness Prince James of Wessex’ and ‘Her Royal Highness Princess Louise of Wessex’, though in an attempt to remove some of the burdens associated with royal titles, Prince Edward and The Queen agreed that his children would be styled as children of an Earl. This was done by special letters patent. Some people argue that this letters patent doesn’t carry enough force to override the 1917 letters patent and that Edward’s children are still Princes and Princesses. They are styled as James, Viscount Severn and The Lady Louise Windsor. There’s nothing stopping The Queen revoking this at a later time and allowing Prince Edward’s children to be princes and princesses. Related Items John With regard to James, Viscount Severn. where does the name Severn come from? I have looked but can’t find any answer. Thank you. Royal Central When Prince Edward (James’s father) was made Earl of Wessex in 1999, he was also made Viscount Severn (severn being a place in west-England), James uses the title as what’s known as a ‘courtesy title’.

If Prince Edward didn’t hold the title of Viscount Severn, James would just be ‘The Honourable James Mountbatten-Windsor’! Scott In regards to the children of the Earl of Wessex, there were no “special letters patent” regarding their titles! Which is why, under the current LPs, they are actually Prince and Princess, despite not using those titles. Royal Central May I remind you that Her Majesty’s will, however expressed, is sufficient to cause orders to take place. Besides, even if they are technically princes and princesses, it’s not a style that is ever used, formally or otherwise, like with the Duchess Of Cornwall who is technically Princess Of Wales. Scott My point was that there were no “special Letters Patent” issued as is suggested in the article. It was stated in a press release from Buckingham Palace. Ok. So help me out here – why have the Duke of York’s children got the HRH Princess titles? Royal Central Because they’re children of a son of the Monarch. If they were children of a daughter of the Monarch (like Zara Phillips & Peter Phillips), they’d have no title.

Scaria Nebu George Why is HRH Catherine Duchess of Cambridge never referred to as Princess William of Cambridge? British Royals latest earl of inverness : definition of earl of inverness and synonyms of earl of inverness (English) The title of Earl of Inverness ( Scottish Gaelic :Iarla Inbhir Nis) was first created in 1718 in the Jacobite Peerage of Scotland by James Francis Edward Stuart ("James III & VIII") for the Honourable John Hay of Cromlix , third son of the 7th Earl of Kinnoull , but became extinct upon the death of the grantee in 1740. It has been created several times in of the Peerage of the United Kingdom , each time as a subsidiary title for a member of the royal family . It was created first in 1801 as a subsidiary title of Prince Augustus Frederick , Duke of Sussex , sixth son of George III , becoming extinct in 1843.

Sussex's second wife (whom he married in contravention of the Royal Marriages Act of 1772 ) was given the title of Duchess of Inverness , which became extinct upon her death in 1873. The next creation was for Prince George , second son of Edward VII , as a subsidiary title along with the Dukedom of York. As the Prince became King in 1910, succeeding his father, his titles merged in the crown. The title was created again in 1920 as a subsidiary title of Prince Albert , second son of George V , who was also created Duke of York at the same time. The title merged in the crown when York succeeded his brother in 1936 to become King George VI. The title was created a fourth time in 1986 as a subsidiary title for Queen Elizabeth II's second son, Prince Andrew, Duke of York . Contents

Question: Which member of the Royal family also has the title Earl of Inverness?
Answer: PRINCE ANDREW