What is the hierarchy of British royalty?

The five possible titles, ranked from highest to lowest, are: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron for men; duchess, marchioness, countess, viscountess, and baroness for women. In addition to being bestowed, the titles could also be inherited, but only by male heirs.
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What are the ranks of British royalty?

The five ranks, in descending order, are duke, marquess, earl (see count), viscount, and baron. Until 1999, peers were entitled to sit in the House of Lords and exempted from jury duty. Titles may be hereditary or granted for life.
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Is an earl higher than a Lord?

Earl. Next in order of precedence for titles of nobility is Earl, which comes from the Old English or Anglo-Saxon eorl, which means military leader, or man of noble birth or rank. The correct form of address is 'Lord So-and-So'.
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Is a prince higher than a duke?

A prince is typically the son or grandson of a monarch. The title duke is typically bestowed to a male member of the monarchy, often identifying him as a ruler of a territory known as a duchy. In some cases, a prince can also hold the title of duke, but prince is usually the higher-ranking position.
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What is the daughter of a duke called?

The daughter of a duke, marquess, or earl who marries an untitled man becomes "Lady [Given name] [Husband's surname]". The daughter of a viscount or baron who marries a commoner is styled "The Honourable [Given name] [Husband's surname]".
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Royalty 101: British Titles of Royalty



Is an emperor higher than a queen?

The title of Emperor/Empress (who rules over an Empire) is widely regarded as the highest ranking Monarchial title, King/Queen (who reigns over a Kingdom) is a lesser title than Emperor but still ranks above any other title.
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Why was Diana called princess but not Kate?

On her children's birth certificates, Kate's occupation is listed as 'Princess of the United Kingdom', but her status as Princess is through marriage rather than birth.
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Why is William called duke and not prince?

While dukedoms can be inherited directly from a parent, they can also be bestowed by the reigning king or queen. Most British princes are given the title of “Duke” at the time of his marriage. For example, Prince William was created “Duke of Cambridge” upon his marriage in 2011.
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Is Harry no longer a prince?

All of these changes to the Royal order begs the question; Is Harry still a prince? Well, technically, the answer is yes. Harry is still a prince by birthright and is still in the line of succession to the throne, but it isn't as simple as that. Sign up to British Heritage Travel's daily newsletter here!
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What is an Earls wife called?

The wife of an earl is a countess; she is "Right Honourable" and is styled "My Lady."
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Why is prince Edward only an earl?

And according to reports, Edward chose the Earldom himself because he liked the character of Lord Wessex in the film Shakespeare in Love.
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Do Earls still exist?

At present there are 191 earls (not including the Earl of Wessex and courtesy earldoms), and four countesses in their own right. The premier earl of England and Ireland is the Earl of Shrewsbury and Waterford (created 1442). The premier earl on the Union Roll is the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres (created 1398).
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Is a dame higher than a lady?

dame, properly a name of respect or a title equivalent to lady, surviving in English as the legal designation for the wife or widow of a baronet or knight or for a dame of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire; it is prefixed to the given name and surname.
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Is Duchess higher than princess?

Duchesses rank below princesses, meaning both Meghan and Kate must curtsey to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie when they see them in the halls of Buckingham Palace.
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What is the son of a duke called?

A duke's eldest son and heir is often a marquess, though he can also be an earl, viscount, or baron. The title given to the heir is a lesser title of the peer, usually the next highest peerage he holds.
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Is Meghan Markle still duchess?

Markle was married to American film producer Trevor Engelson from 2011 until their divorce in 2013. She retired from acting upon her marriage to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex in 2018 and became known as the Duchess of Sussex.
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What is the wife of a prince called?

Princess consort is an official title or an informal designation that is normally accorded to the wife of a sovereign prince. The title may be used for the wife of a king if the more usual designation of queen consort is not used.
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Can a princess marry a duke?

However, Charlotte, whose full title is High Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, will only become a Duchess if she marries a Duke. She won't automatically receive the title, as it is royal tradition that it is only given to male descendants.
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Will Camilla ever be queen?

Camilla will become queen consort

In February, during a message to mark the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne, Queen Elizabeth determined that Camilla will be a queen consort when Charles takes the throne.
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What does er stand for queen?

Elizabeth Regina (ER), the royal cypher of Elizabeth I. Elizabeth II Regina (EIIR), the royal cypher of Elizabeth II.
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Who will be the next queen of England?

The oldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, will take the throne when the Queen passes away. This means Prince Charles will be the next King and Camilla will be the next Queen Consort. The next official Queen in the British line of succession is Princess Charlotte.
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What is a retired queen called?

A queen dowager or dowager queen (compare: princess dowager or dowager princess) is a title or status generally held by the widow of a king.
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What is the highest royal title?

What Do The Main Titles of The Royal Family Mean?
  1. 1 - King / Queen. They correspond to the heads of state of the monarchy. ...
  2. 2 - Queen consort. ...
  3. 3 - Prince / Princess of Wales. ...
  4. 4 - Prince / Princess. ...
  5. 5 - Duke / Duchess. ...
  6. 6 - Count / Countess. ...
  7. 7 - Viscount / Viscountess.
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Is sultan higher than king?

Sultan is a title that was assumed by kings who controlled large kingdoms in Muslim world and were free from dependence upon any higher authority. King rules a kingdom, while a sultan rules or controls a sultanate.
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