Excellency
Excellency is an
Generally people addressed as Excellency are heads of state, heads of government, governors, ambassadors, Roman Catholic bishops, high-ranking ecclesiastics and others holding equivalent rank, such as heads of international organizations.[3] Members of royal families generally have distinct addresses such as Majesty, Highness, etc.
While not a title of office itself, the honorific Excellency precedes various titles held by the holder, both in speech and in writing. In reference to such an official, it takes the form His or Her Excellency; in direct address, Your Excellency, or, less formally, simply Excellency.
The abbreviation HE is often used instead of His/Her Excellency; alternatively it may stand for
Government
Heads of state and government
In most republican nation states, the head of state is formally referred to as His or Her Excellency.[4]
If a republic has a separate head of government, that official is almost always addressed as Excellency as well. If the nation is a monarchy, however, the customs may vary. For example, in the case of Australia, all ambassadors, high commissioners, state governors and the governor-general and their spouses are entitled to the use of Excellency.
Governors of colonies in the British Empire were entitled to be addressed as Excellency and this remains the position for the governors of what are now known as British Overseas Territories.[5]
International diplomacy
In various
This section may contain information not important or relevant to the article's subject. (January 2023) |
In recent years, some international organizations, such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, or the European Union, have designated their permanent representatives in third countries as ambassadors, although they do not represent sovereign entities. This is now largely accepted, and because these ambassadors rank after the UN representative in the orders of precedence of representatives of international organizations, the UN coming naturally first as pre-eminent, the UN Resident Coordinators are now also commonly but informally referred to in diplomatic circles as ambassadors, although the UN itself does not refer to them in this way.
International judiciary
Judges of the International Court of Justice also enjoy the style of Excellency.
Monarchy
Royalty
In some monarchies the
Former members of a royal house or family, who have forfeited a royal title, may be awarded the style afterwards. Examples are former husbands or wives of a royal prince or princess, including
In some emirates, such as Kuwait and Qatar, the Emir, heir apparent and prime minister are called His Highness. Their children are styled with His/Her Excellency unless they possess a higher honorific.
Nobility
In Spain members of the high nobility, holding the dignity of grandee, are addressed as The Most Excellent Lord/Lady.
In Denmark, some
In the Sultanate of Sulu, senior nobility and holders of royal offices that are granted the title of Datu Sadja are addressed as His/Her Excellency.[6]
Knights
Excellency can also attach to a prestigious quality, notably in an order of knighthood. For example, in the Empire of Brazil, it was attached to the highest classes, each time called Grand Cross, of all three imperial orders: Imperial Order of Pedro I, Imperial Order of the Southern Cross with the military honours of a Lieutenant general and Order of the Rose.
Knights of the Collar and Knights Grand Cross of the Spanish Orders of Chivalry, such as the
Ecclesiastical use
By a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Ceremonial of 31 December 1930
The instruction Ut sive sollicite of the Holy See's Secretariat of State, dated 28 March 1969, made the addition of Most Reverend optional,[9] sanctioning what had always been the practice, except possibly for the beginnings of letters and the like.
According to the letter of the decree of 31 December 1930, titular patriarchs too were to be addressed with the title of (Most Reverend) Excellency, but in practice the Holy See continued to address them with the title of Beatitude, which was formally sanctioned for them with the motu proprio Cleri sanctitati of 2 June 1957.
In some English-speaking countries, the honorific of Excellency does not apply to bishops other than the nuncio. In English law,
By country
Afghanistan
In Afghanistan the title Jalalat Mahab is used for Sardars, or Princes of the former Muhammadzai Dynasty, who are descendants of the Afghan King Sultan Mohammed Khan Telai. Although Jalalat Mahab is derived from the Arabic term Jalalat literally meaning His Majesty, it is regarded as equal to His Excellency or His Royal Highness internationally.
The descendants of
Albania
The
Armenia
The
Bangladesh
In
Barbados
The president, is styled with His/Her Excellency formally while their informal title is "Mr./ Madam President".
Belgium
Members of the
The style is also used for the
Moreover, within the Catholic Church in Belgium, the (arch-)bishops and (pro-)nuntia are addressed as His Excellency Monsignor or Zijne Excellentie Monseigneur in Dutch, Son Excellence Monseigneur in French and Seine Exzellenz Monsignore in German .
Brazil
In 1991, the
Cambodia
In the
Commonwealth of Nations
Within the Commonwealth of Nations, the following officials usually use the style His or Her Excellency:
- The Commonwealth secretary-general;
- Presidents of Commonwealth republics;
- Governors and governors-general, and the spouses of governors-general;[11]
- Commonwealth high commissioners (but not their spouses);
- Foreign ambassadors (but not their spouses);
- Foreign dignitaries who are entitled to the style in their own countries.
While reference may be made to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, the style Excellency is not used with reference to the King.
Chile
The president of Chile and the president of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile are addressed by the style "His/Her Excellency".
Germany
The president of Germany and chancellor of Germany are both addressed by the style "Excellency" in international diplomacy, albeit not domestically.
India
The president of India and governors of Indian states are addressed as Rāshtrapati Mahoday (राष्ट्रपति महोदय/ महोदया, Honourable President) and Rājyapāl Mahoday or Rājyapāl Mahodaya (if lady) (राज्यपाल महोदय/Honourable Governor) respectively.
His/Her Excellency, a custom dating from the ancient times wherein the Samrāt and Sāmrājñi (सम्राट, साम्राज्ञी/Emperor, Empress), Generals, Kings, Ambassadors were addressed. A classic example is addressing Devvrat (Bhishma) as महामहिम भीष्म (His/Your Excellency Bhishma) in Mahabharat.
However the Constitution makers[clarification needed] approved will discontinue "ancient era" styles of Mahāmahim. The same release states that in English (which is the other language in which subsidiary official communications are released in the Central Government of India in its capacity of Sahāyak Rājabhāśhā: Subsidiary Officiating language) the style Honourable shall replace the erstwhile His/Her/Your Excellency. The newer style will be Honourable.
The corresponding changes in releases from the President's Secretariat shall be from Mahāmahim to Rāshtrapatiji.
However, "Excellency" will continue to be used, only for interaction of leaders with foreign dignitaries and foreign dignitaries with Indian leaders as is customary international practice.
Ireland
The president of Ireland is addressed as Your Excellency or in the Irish language, a Shoilse (literally, "brightness (VOC)".[13] Alternatively, one may address the president simply as President or in the Irish language a Uachtaráin.
Italy
The
Jordan
Like many countries that once formed part of the Ottoman Empire, His/Her Excellency is used as the style for those with the title of Bey or Pasha. In Arabic the latter titles are often included between the first and last names of the holder, while in English the titles are not usually included and the style of His/Her Excellency is used on its own. Those styled this way include government ministers, senior military officers, and the husbands and children of Princesses.
Kenya
The president of Kenya is addressed as "His/Her Excellency".
The governors of the counties and diplomats are also addressed as "His/Her Excellency".
Malaysia
The
are addressed as "His Excellency" (Tuan Yang Terutama). High commissioners and ambassadors are also addressed as "His/Her Excellency" (Tuan/Puan Yang Terutama).Myanmar
The
The Netherlands
Members of the cabinet of the Netherlands (prime minister, deputy prime minister(s), other ministers, and state secretaries), but also honorary ministers of state, are entitled to the style of "His/Her Excellency".[14]
The style is also used for the executive officers of the Dutch royal court (great officers of the Royal House,
Moreover, within the Catholic Church in the Netherlands, the (arch-)bishops and (pro-)nuntia are addressed as "His Most Reverend Excellency" (i.e. in Dutch as Zijne Hoogwaardige Excellentie).
Nigeria
The
Pakistan
The prime minister of Pakistan and the president of Pakistan, are both addressed as "His/Her Excellency".
Peru
The president of Peru is addressed as "His/Her Excellency" (In Spanish: Su Excelencia) if in diplomatic context.
Philippines
The
All other local and national government officials are styled "
Portugal
In Portugal, the proper style of the president is "His/Her Excellency" (Portuguese: Sua Excelência).
Somalia
The president of Somalia is addressed as "His/Her Excellency" or "Jaale". Jaale was also a title used by armed forces staff officers of all branches, especially in the Aden Adde-Shermarke Era, and the Barre Era but has now is rare and has become a title for civil servants and senior government secretaries.
South Africa
The president of South Africa (and historically the state president of the South African Republic), is (and was) addressed as "His/Her Excellency" if in a formal context.
South Korea
The president of South Korea is addressed as "His/Her Excellency" (Korean: 각하, romanized: gagha) if in a formal context both inside and outside of South Korea.
Spain
Spain uses the title "The Most Excellent" extensively as a formal address to high officers of the state. The following officials receive the treatment:
- The prime minister[16] and former prime ministers,[17] current and former deputy prime ministers of the central government, current and former government ministers,[18] current junior ministers (secretaries of state) and the undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry.
- Government delegates.[19]
- Ambassadors and ministers plenipotentiaries of first and second rank.[20]
- Captain generals, generals of the army, admiral generals, generals of the Air, lieutenant generals, admirals, divisional generals, vice-admirals, brigadier generals, and counter admirals.[21]
- The president, councillors, and secretary general of the Council of State, as well as the chief counsels of the Council of State.[22]
- The president and former presidents of each of the autonomous communities, as well as the sitting councillors (regional ministers).
- The president of the Congress of Deputies, the president of the Senate, all members of the Cortes Generales (although the later are usually addressed as "His/Her Lordship" (sp. Su señoría).
- The members of the Spanish Constitutional Court.
- The presidents and numeraries of the eight Royal Academies.
- The governor of the Bank of Spain.
- The presidents of the three Foral Deputation (provincial governments) of the Basque Country, and the president of the Deputation of Barcelona.
- The rectors of the Universities (usually addressed as His/Her Excellency and Magnificence).
- Grandees of Spainand their consort, as well the Heirs of Grandees and their consort
- Knights/Dames of the Collar and Knights/Dames Grand Cross of the Spanish military and civilian orders
The style "
Sri Lanka
The president of Sri Lanka was addressed as His/Her Excellency. This was until 2022, when President Ranil Wickremesinghe banned the use. However, it is still used diplomatically.
Sweden
The Swedish language title and forms of address are Hans/Hennes Excellens (His/Her Excellency) and Ers Excellens (Your Excellency).
During most of the 20th century in Sweden, only three officials (other than foreign ambassadors accredited in Sweden and Swedish ambassadors at their post) were granted to the style of Excellency: the prime minister, the minister for foreign affairs and the marshal of the realm (the highest ranking courtier). They were indeed collectively referred to as "the three excellencies" (Swedish: de tre excellenserna)[24][25] In the 1970s it fell out of custom in Sweden to address the prime minister and the minister of foreign affairs as such, although they continue to be addressed as such in United Nations protocol and in other diplomatic writing.[26]
Prior to the 19th century, a Lord of the Realm (Swedish: En af Rikets Herrar) and a member of the Council of the Realm were also entitled to the style as Excellency.
Thailand
The prime Minister of Thailand, deputy prime ministers, other cabinet members, governors and ambassadors are addressed as "His/Her Excellency".[27]
Turkey
In the English language, the president and the vice-president, cabinet ministers, ambassadors, and some other high-ranking bureaucrats are addressed as Excellency.
In the Turkish language, honorific titles are no longer used since the 1923 modernisation of the language; under Atatürk's Reforms. Instead of Excellency, dignitaries are addressed using the Turkish word for Honorable (Turkish: Sayın) followed by their office.[28] For example, an ambassador of Turkey would be addressed simply as Honorable Ambassador (Turkish: Sayın Büyükelçi). It is important to emphasise that this distinction only applies when speaking in the Turkish language, not in English. Additionally, in very rare ceremonial circumstances, the word Excellency is used in Turkish. An example would be the formal accreditation of a Turkish ambassador, wherein the letter of confidence authored by the Turkish president would address the ambassador as Excellency (Turkish: Ekselansları).
United States
In the
Nevertheless, in the protocol of many foreign countries and United Nations, the president and the secretary of state are usually referred to as Excellency. Diplomatic correspondence to President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War, as during the Trent Affair, for instance, frequently addressed him as Your Excellency.
The form Excellency was used for the governors of most of the original Thirteen Colonies, and the practice formally continued after independence. For example, the term was formerly used in Georgia on the state governor's letterhead, the text of executive orders, any document that required the governor's signature, and informal settings. However, in most states the practice fell out of use (or was never introduced) and the title Honorable is now used instead.[29]
Though the U.S. president and U.S. ambassadors are traditionally accorded the style elsewhere, the U.S. government does not usually use Excellency for its own chiefs of missions, preferring Honorable instead.
See also
- Canadian honorifics
- Ecclesiastical titles and styles
- His Excellency (opera)
- Style (manner of address)
Notes
- Christ (e.g., Ang Mahál na Poóng Nazareno).
References
- ^ "Forms of Address". Garza Protocol Associates. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ISBN 0-941402-04-5
- ^ "Heads of state, heads of government, ministers for foreign affairs" (PDF). Protocol and Liaison Service. United Nations. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ Сергій Лещенко (5 September 2012). "Три привітання для Януковича" [Three greetings for Yanukovych]. Blogs.pravda.com.ua. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-670-91804-1.
- ^ "Nobility of Sulu". ROYAL AND HASHEMITE ORDER OF THE PEARL. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
- ^ "Satow, Ernest Mason, Sir - A Guide to Diplomatic Practice". 10 March 2001. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
- ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis 1931, p. 22; L'Osservatore Romano 24 January 1931.
- ^ Ut sive sollicite, 22
- ^ Manual de Redação da Presidência da República (in Portuguese)
- ^ "General examples of addressing or referring in speech to titled and official persons". Victoria State Government, Department of Premier and Cabinet. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ President's Secretariat (3 October 2012). "President Approves New Protocol Practice". Press Information Bureau, Government or India. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ISBN 9781527539907– via Google Books.
- ^ "Titels en titulatuur in Nederland (algemeen)" [Titles in The Netherlands]. taaladvies.net. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ Salaverria, Leila B. (22 July 2016). "Don't call me 'Your Excellency'". The Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
- ^ Arts. 3 y 13 del RD 1051/2002
- ^ Real Decreto 405/1992
- ^ Real Decreto 5 de enero de 1786, estableciendo el tratamiento de Excelentísimo Señor en la correspondencia de oficio a los Secretarios del despacho universal (Novísima Recopilación, l. 2, t. 12, l. 6); Real Decreto de 16 de mayo de 1788:
Por su parte, el Decreto de las Cortes de Cádiz de 8 de junio de 1812 establece que los Secretarios de Estado y del Despacho, que lo fueren en propiedad, y mientras permanecieren en el empleo, tendrán el mismo tratamiento que los consejeros de Estado. Mediante Real Decreto de 19 de noviembre de 1823, se creó el Consejo de Ministros, formado por los Secretarios de Estado y del Despacho."Para evitar la variedad con que se ha procedido por diversas personas y secretarías en quanto (sic) a tratamientos, después de vista y examinada la materia en mi Suprema Junta de Estado, he venido en declarar que el tratamiento de excelencia se dé enteramente poniendo encima de los escritos excelentísimo señor a los grandes y consejeros de Estado, o que tienen honores de tales, como hasta aquí se ha hecho [...]"
- ^ Artículo quinto del Real Decreto 3117/1980
- ^ Art. 38 del Reglamento Orgánico de la Carrera Diplomática de 15 de julio de 1955. No obstante, conforme a dicho precepto, a todos los Ministros Plenipotenciarios Jefes de Misión Diplomática (es decir, también a los que no sean de primera y segunda clase), mientras ejerzan sus funciones en el extranjero, se lea dará el tratamiento de Excelencia.
- ^ Art. 302 de las Reales Ordenanzas del Ejército de Tierra, art. 491 de las Reales Ordenanzas de la Armada y art. 341 de las Reales Ordenanzas del Ejército del Aire.
- ^ Arts. 14, 23 y 56 del Real Decreto 1674/1980
- ^ Royal Decree 1368/1987, dated 6 November, regulating titles, forms of address and honours pertaining to the Royal Family and to the Regents Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE)
- runeberg.org. Retrieved on 8 June 2013. (in Swedish)
- runeberg.org. Retrieved on 8 June 2013. (in Swedish)
- ^ Heads of state, heads of government, ministers for foreign affairs Archived 27 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Protocol and Liaison Service, United Nations. Retrieved on 8 June 2013.
- ^ "His Excellency Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand congratulated His Excellency Mr. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia on his reelection victory on 17 April 2019". สถานเอกอัครราชทูต ณ กรุงจาการ์ตา. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ "Unvanlar / T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı". www.mfa.gov.tr. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- ^ Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). "Georgia Protocol Guide" (PDF). Georgia Department of Economic Development (Georgia.org).
Further reading
- Phillips, Walter Alison (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). pp. 49–50.
Catholic Church | Style |
---|---|
Pope | His Holiness |
Cardinal | His Eminence |
Bishop | His Excellency |