Style of the British sovereign
The precise
Style of the sovereign
The
In Scotland the preferred title of the monarch was "King/Queen of Scots" rather than "of Scotland" (although the latter was by no means unknown).
"King of the English", "Duke of the Normans", "Duke of the Aquitanians" and "Count of the Angevins" remained in use until
In 1204 England lost both Normandy and Anjou. Nevertheless, they did not renounce the associated titles until 1259. French territory once again became the subject of dispute after the death of the French King Charles IV in 1328. Edward III claimed the French throne, arguing that it was to pass to him through his mother Isabella, Charles IV's sister. In France, however, it was asserted that the throne could not pass to or through a woman. Edward III began to use the title "King of France" (dropping "Duke of Aquitaine") after 1337. In 1340 he entered France, where he was publicly proclaimed King. In 1360, however, he agreed to relinquish his title to the French claimant. Though he stopped using the title in legal documents, he did not formally exchange letters confirming the renunciation with the French King. In 1369 Edward III resumed the title, claiming that the French had breached their treaty.
After 1422, the royal style remained unchanged for almost a century. Numerous amendments, however, were effected during
When the Protestant
After
The kingdoms of England and Scotland were formally united into a single
The style used by Victoria in her proclamation to "the Princes, Chiefs and People of India" in 1858 was: "Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the Colonies and Dependencies thereof in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Australasia, Queen, Defender of the Faith".[6]
In 1876 "
In 1922 the Irish Free State gained independence. In 1927 the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 changed the description "of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas" to "of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas". The 1927 Act was also significant for opening the door to dominions (later Commonwealth realms) having the right to determine their own style and title for the sovereign, a right which was first exercised in 1953.
The designation "Emperor of India" was dropped from the royal style in 1948 after the independence of India and Pakistan a year earlier,[7] even though King George VI remained king of the dominion of India until 1950, when it became a republic within the Commonwealth. The dominion of Pakistan existed between 1947 and 1956, when it too became a republic within the Commonwealth. Similarly, although the republic of Ireland was constituted in 1949, "Great Britain and Ireland" was not replaced with "Great Britain and Northern Ireland" until 1953. In the same year the phrase "Head of the Commonwealth" was also added, and "British Dominions beyond the Seas" was replaced with "other Realms and Territories". Thus, the style of the present sovereign is "By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of His other Realms and Territories King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith".
Also in 1953, separate styles were adopted for each of the realms over which the sovereign reigned. Most realms used the form, "Queen of … and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth", omitting the title "Defender of the Faith". Australia, New Zealand and Canada all included a reference to the United Kingdom as well as "Defender of the Faith", but only Canada still uses this form. (Australia dropped both the reference to the United Kingdom and "Defender of the Faith" in 1973; New Zealand dropped the former in 1974.) Canada also publishes an official style in the French language.
List of changes to the royal style
The proclamation of Elizabeth II, in 1953, was made in English and in Latin.[8]
- in English:
Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith
- in Latin:
Elizabeth II, Dei Gratia Britanniarum Regnorumque Suorum Ceterorum Regina, Consortionis Populorum Princeps, Fidei Defensor
Official styles of previous sovereigns are shown below. Heads of state who did not rule as king or as queen are shown in italics.
English sovereigns
Period | Style | User |
---|---|---|
1066–1087 | Rex Anglorum (King of the English) |
William I
|
1087–1121 | Dei Gratia Rex Anglorum (By the Grace of God, King of the English) |
William II, Henry I |
1121–1154 | Rex Anglorum, Dux Normannorum (King of the English, Duke of the Normans) |
Stephen
|
1141 | Anglorum Domina (Lady of the English) |
Matilda |
1154–1199 | Rex Angliae (King of England) Rex Anglorum (King of the English) |
Henry II, Henry the Young King, Richard I |
1199–1259 | Dei gratia Rex Anglie, Dominus Hibernie, Dux Normannie et Aquitannie, Comes Andegavie (By the Grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, Count of the Angevins) |
John, Henry III |
1259–1340 | Rex Angliae, Dominus Hiberniae et Dux Aquitaniae (King of England, Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine) |
Henry III, Edward I, Edward II, Edward III |
1340–1397 | Rex Angliae et Franciae et Dominus Hiberniae (King of England and of France and Lord of Ireland) |
Edward III, Richard II |
1397–1399 | Rex Angliae et Franciae, Dominus Hiberniae et Princeps Cestriæ (King of England and of France, Lord of Ireland, and Prince of Chester)[9] |
Richard II |
1399–1420 | Rex Angliae et Franciae et Dominus Hiberniae (King of England and of France and Lord of Ireland) |
Henry IV, Henry V |
1420–1422 | Rex Angliae, Haeres et Regens Franciae, et Dominus Hiberniae (King of England, Heir and Regent of France and Lord of Ireland) |
Henry V, Henry VI |
1422–1521a | Rex Angliae et Franciae et Dominus Hiberniae (King of England and of France and Lord of Ireland) |
|
1521a–1535 | Dei gratia Rex Anglie et Francie, Fidei Defensor et Dominus Hibernie By the Grace of God, King of England and France, Defender of the Faith and Lord of Ireland |
Henry VIII (language change only) |
1535–1536 | Dei gratia Rex Anglie et Francie, Fidei Defensor, Dominus Hibernie, et in terra ecclesie Anglicane supremum caput By the Grace of God, King of England and France, Defender of the Faith, Lord of Ireland, and of the Church of England in Earth Supreme Head[10] | |
1536–1542 | Dei gratia Rex Anglie et Francie, Fidei Defensor, Dominus Hibernie, et in terra ecclesiae Anglicane et Hibernice supremum caput By the Grace of God, King of England and France, Defender of the Faith, Lord of Ireland, and of the Church of England and of Ireland on Earth Supreme Head[10] | |
1542–1553 | Dei gratia Anglie Francie et Hibernie Rex, Fidei Defensor, et in terra ecclesie Anglicane et Hibernice supremum caput By the Grace of God, King of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and of the Church of England and also of Ireland on Earth Supreme Headb[10] |
Henry VIII, Edward VI |
1553–1554 | Dei gratia Anglie Francie et Hibernie Rex, Fidei Defensor, et in terra ecclesie Anglicane et Hibernice supremum caput By the Grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and of the Church of England and also of Ireland on Earth Supreme Headb[10] |
Lady Jane Grey (disputed), Mary I |
1554–1556[11] | Dei Gratia Rex et Regina Anglie, Francie, Neapolis, Ierusalem, et Hibernie; Fidei Defensores; Principes Hispanie et Sicilie; Archiduces Austrie; Duces Mediolani, Burgundie, et Brabancie; Comites Haspurgi, Flandrie, et Tirolis By the Grace of God, King and Queen of England and France, Naples, Jerusalem and Ireland, Defenders of the Faith, Princes of Spain and Sicily, Archdukes of Austria, Dukes of Milan, Burgundy, and Brabant, Count and Countess of Habsburg, Flanders, and Tyrol[10][12] |
Mary I and Philip |
1556–1558 | Dei gracia rex et regina Anglie Hispaniarum Francie utriusque Sicilie Ierusalem et Hibernie fidei defensores archiduces Austrie duces Burgundie Mediolani et Brabancie comites Haspurgi Flandrie et Tirolis By the Grace of God, King and Queen of England, Spain, France, Jerusalem, both the Sicilies and Ireland, Defenders of the Faith, Archduke and Archduchess of Austria, Duke and Duchess of Burgundy, Milan and Brabant, Count and Countess of Habsburg, Flanders and Tyrol | |
1558–1603 | Dei gratia Anglie Francie et Hibernie Regina, Fidei Defensor, etc. By the Grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. |
Elizabeth I
|
- ^a In 1521 English replaced Latin as the official language of the regnal style.
- ^b ... "and of the Church of England and also of Ireland on Earth Supreme Head" omitted in formal use in early 1554 (omission retroactively approved by an act of Parliament assented to 16 Jan 1555)
Scottish sovereigns
The earliest recorded style of the monarchs of what is now Scotland varies: sometimes it is "King of the Picts", sometimes "King of Fortriu", and sometimes "King of Alba". Only after 900 does the latter title become standard. From the reign of David I, the title became either "rex Scottorum" ("King of Scots") or "rex Scotiae" ("King of Scotland").[citation needed]
The former term was the most common, but the latter was used sometimes. James VI and I proclaimed himself "King of Great Brittaine, France and Ireland” by Royal Proclamation, but this was not accepted by the English Parliament.
English and Scottish sovereigns
Period | Style | User(s) |
---|---|---|
1603–1689 | By the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. | |
1650–1653 | Captain-General and Commander-in-Chief of all the armies and forces raised and to be raised within the Commonwealth of England
|
Oliver Cromwell |
1653–1659 | By the Grace of God and of the Republic, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, et cetera, and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging | Oliver Cromwell, Richard Cromwell |
1689–1694 | By the Grace of God, King and Queen of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Stadtholder of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau, Defenders of the Faith, etc. | Mary II
|
1694–1702 | By the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Stadtholder of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau, Defender of the Faith, etc. | William III |
1702–1707 | By the Grace of God, Queen of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. | Anne |
British sovereigns
Period | Style | Sovereign(s) |
---|---|---|
1707–1714 | by the Grace of God Queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. | Anne |
1714–1801 | by the Grace of God King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg
|
George I, George II, George III |
1801–1814 | by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, Arch-treasurer and Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg[b] | George III |
1814–1837 | by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, King of Hanover, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg | William IV
|
1837–1876 | by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith | Victoria |
1876–1901 | by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India | |
1901 | Dei Gratia Britanniarum Rex, Fidei Defensor, Indiae Imperator by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India[15] |
Edward VII |
1901–1927 | Dei Gratia Britanniarum et terrarum transmarinarum quae in ditione sunt Britannica Rex, Fidei Defensor, Indiae Imperator by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India[15][16] |
Edward VII, George V |
1927–1948 | Dei Gratia Magnae Britanniae, Hiberniae et terrarum transmarinarum quae in ditione sunt Britannica Rex, Fidei Defensor, Indiae Imperator by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India[7] |
George V, Edward VIII, George VI |
1948–1952 | Dei Gratia Magnae Britanniae, Hiberniae et terrarum transmarinarum quae in ditione sunt Britannica Rex, Fidei Defensor by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith[7][c] |
George VI |
1952–1953 | Dei Gratia Magnae Britanniae, Hiberniae et terrarum transmarinarum quae in ditione sunt Britannica Regina, Fidei Defensor by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas Queen, Defender of the Faith |
Elizabeth II |
1953–2022 | Dei Gratia Britanniarum Regnorumque Suorum Ceterorum Regina, Consortionis Populorum Princeps, Fidei Defensor by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith[8][d] | |
2022–present | by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of His other Realms and Territories King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith[17][e] | Charles III |
See also
- Style of the Canadian sovereign
Notes
- ^ As of 2024, it remains to be seen whether there will also be a Latin version.
- pretenceto the throne of France
- ^ Recognising that in 1947 British India was partitioned into the two independent dominions of India and Pakistan.
- ^ Following the Royal Titles Act 1953
- ^ Privy Council proclamation. See also Proclamation of accession of Charles III
References
- ^ UK Parliament, Royal Titles Act 1953 (1 & 2 Eliz. 2 c. 9)
- ^ "The London Gazette, Supplement 63812, Page 2". The Gazette. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- ^ Chadwick, H. Munro (1924). The Origin of the English Nation. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. pp. 54.
- ^ Crown of Ireland Act 1542 The Rights of Persons, According to the Text of Blackstone: Incorporating the Alterations Down to the Present Time, Sir William Blackstone and James Stewart, 1839, p.92
- 35 Hen. 8. c. 3) The Rights of Persons, According to the Text of Blackstone:Incorporating the Alterations Down to the Present Time, Sir William Blackstoneand James Stewart, 1839, p.92
- ^ Proclamation by the Queen in Council to the Princes, Chiefs and People of India
- ^ a b c "No. 38330". The London Gazette. 22 June 1948. p. 3647. Royal Proclamation of 22 June 1948, made in accordance with the Indian Independence Act 1947, 10 & 11 GEO. 6. CH. 30.('Section 7: …(2)The assent of the Parliament of the United Kingdom is hereby given to the omission from the Royal Style and Titles of the words " Indiae Imperator " and the words " Emperor of India " and to the issue by His Majesty for that purpose of His Royal Proclamation under the Great Seal of the Realm.'). According to this Royal Proclamation, the King retained the Style and Titles 'George VI by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith', and he thus remained King of the various Dominions, including India and Pakistan, though these two (and others) eventually chose to abandon their monarchies and became republics.
- ^ a b "No. 39873". The London Gazette (11th supplement). 26 May 1953. p. 3023. Proclamation of 28 May 1953 made in accordance with the Royal Titles Act 1953.
- ^ "Richard himself was stiled Princeps Cestriæ, Prince of Chester. But this title was but of small duration: no longer, than till Henry the fourth repeal'd the Laws of the said Parliament; for then it became a County Palatine again, and retains that Prerogative to this day..." Cheshire – Britannia. Written by William Camden.
- ^ a b c d e England: Kings and Queens: 1066–1649. Retrieved 11-03-2010.
- ^ England: Royal Styles: 1553–1558. Retrieved 11-03-2010.
- ISBN 0-220-66222-3.
- ^ "British Library".
- ^ Where there are both Latin and English wersions, they are published as mutually equivalent; neither of them functions as a translation of the other.
- ^ a b "No. 27372". The London Gazette. 5 November 1901. p. 7137.
- ^ "No. 33274". The London Gazette. 13 May 1927. p. 3111.
- ^ "The London Gazette, Supplement 63812, Page 2". The Gazette. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.