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1 History

Prior to 1714, the title of prince and the style of HRH was not in common or customary usage. Sons and daughters of the sovereign were not automatically or traditionally called a prince or princess. An exception was the Prince of Wales, a title conferred on the eldest son of the sovereign since the reign of Edward I of England. Some others include John, brother of Richard the Lionheart and later John I of England who is sometimes called Prince John.

After the accession of King George I, it became customary for the sons of the sovereign and grandsons of the sovereign in the male line to be titled Prince, and styled HRH. Great grandsons of the sovereign were princes styled HH. This was not a legal creation, but more customary, and in line with George I’s Hanoverian background. It also allowed the creation of royal family of those in immediate line of succession to the throne, with royal titles and living in close proximately.

The styling of prince and princess on members of the royal family continued until Queen Victoria issued a letters patent in 1864 which confirmed the practice. Subsequently some amendments were made, with the issue of specific letters patents changing the title and style of the following groups:

• In 1898Events January 1 New York City annexes land from surrounding counties, creating the City of Greater New York. The city is geographically divided into five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. January 13 Emile Zola's J'accus, the children of HRH Prince George, Duke of YorkGeorge V (George Frederick Ernest Albert) ( 3 June 1865- 20 January 1936) was the last British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, changing the name to the House of Windsor in 1917. As well as being King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and I, the eldest living son of HRH The Prince of WalesEdward VII Albert Edward ( 9 November 1841 6 May 1910) was the first British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. As well as being the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the British dominions beyond the Sea, Edward was also were styled princes, with the style of HH, as great grandchildren of Queen Victoria in the male line. A letters patent, allowed the children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales to be styled HRH.
• In 1914Events January 4 77 seal hunters freeze to death on ice near Labrador January 5 Ford Motor Company announces an eight-hour workday and a minimum wage of $5 for a day's labor February 13 Copyright: In New York City the ASCAP (for American Society of Compos, the children of the Prince Ernst August III of Hanover, Duke of BrunswickPrince Ernst August III of Hanover ( 17 November 1887- 30 January 1953), reigning Duke of Brunswick and Luneburg ( 2 November 1913- 8 November 1918), was a grandson of King George V of Hanover, whom the Prussians deposed in 1866. His great-grandfather, Pr, a great great grandchild of George III were granted the title of prince, and the style HH by George V in 1914.

In 1917, King George V issued a royal proclamation, altering the name of the Royal House from the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to the House of Windsor. A few months later in that year, a new letters patent altered the entitlement to the title prince, and the style HRH. The letter patent stated that “the children of any Sovereign of the United Kingdom and the children of the sons of any such Sovereign (as per the Letters Patent of 1864) and the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales (a modification of the Letters Patent of 1898) shall have and at all times hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of Royal Highness with their titular dignity of Prince or Princess prefixed to their respective Christian names or with their other titles of honour”. The effect of this was that great grandchildren of the sovereign were no longer titled prince or princess, and were instead styled as the children of a duke. Also the Duke of Brunswick and his children were denied the title of prince. The 1917 letters patent remain in force today, excepting a few amendments and creations noted.

• After the abdication crisis in 1936, King George VI issued letter patent denying the title of prince and style HRH to the wife and descendants of HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor. However the marriage had no issue.

• In 1948 King George VI, issued letters patent allowing the children of his son-in-law and daughter, TRH The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to assume princely titles and the style HRH; they would not have been entitled to them ordinarily, as grandchildren in the female line, until their mother ascended the throne as Elizabeth II. Thus Prince Charles was styled HRH Prince Charles of Edinburgh until his mother’s accession.

• Elizabeth II issued letters patent in 1956, creating HRH The Duke of Edinburgh a Prince of the United Kingdom. He was granted the HRH style in 1948 prior to his wedding to Princess Elizabeth by George VI.

• Elizabeth II issued a letters patent in 1997, denying the style of HRH to wives of divorced Princes, thus HRH The Princess of Wales, wife of HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales was denied the style on her divorce and became styled "Diana, Princess of Wales"; Sarah, Duchess of York was similarly affected.