Imperial and Royal Highness
Imperial and Royal Highness (
style possessed by someone who either through birth or marriage holds two individual styles, Imperial Highness and Royal Highness. His/Her Imperial Highness is a style used by members of an imperial family to denote imperial – as opposed to royal – status to show that the holder is descended from an emperor rather than a king or queen. Holders of the style Imperial Highness generally rank above holders of the style Royal Highness
.
A primary example of the contemporary usage of this style is the
Belgian royal family by marriage. As such, their children currently use the styles HI&RH as members of both the royal family of Belgium and the Imperial House of Habsburg-Lorraine
.
Brazilian use
In 1909, the members of the
Prince/Princess of Orléans-Braganza) uses the style Royal Highness, and the members of the Saxe-Coburg-Braganza branch (Prince/Princess of Saxe-Coburg-Braganza) kept the style Highness
.
German use
The style was also used by the eldest son of the German Emperor who was the German Crown Prince and Crown Prince of Prussia, and also by his wife who was crown princess. It may be used for the head of the House of Hohenzollern out of respect; however, like all members of former German noble families, in law he is considered to be an ordinary citizen of Germany, and as such holds no title officially.
Habsburg use
The style is used by members of the
Belgian royal family by marriage. The Habsburgs, who have held the elective Crown of the Holy Roman Empire for centuries, only began to use the style Imperial and Royal Highness with the establishment of the hereditary Austrian Empire in 1804; prior to this, non-reigning members of the dynasty were styled as Royal Highnesses
.
Portuguese use
During the reign of Emperor
Emperor of Brazil by a provision of the Treaty on the recognition of the independence of Brazil
, that was ratified and entered into force on 15 November 1825. On the same date, King John VI issued a Charter of Law to change his royal titles, so as to include his courtesy title of Emperor among them. King John VI would use the style Imperial and Royal Highness until his death on 10 March 1826.
King
Emperor of Brazil
as Pedro I.
Personal use
Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia, upon her marriage to Prince Nicholas of Greece, was styled Her Imperial and Royal Highness.
Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second son of Queen Victoria
.