Imperial and Royal Highness
Encyclopedia
Imperial and Royal Highness (in German
: Kaiserliche und königliche Hoheit) is a style
possessed by someone who either through birth or marriage holds two individual styles, Imperial Highness
and Royal Highness
.
The style is used by members of the Habsburg
dynasty who use the titles Prince Imperial and Archduke of Austria and Prince Royal of Bohemia and Hungary. One contemporary example of this is Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este and his children who are members of the Belgian, Hungarian, and Bohemian Royal Families and of the Austrian Imperial Family at the same time.
The style was also used by the eldest son of the German Emperor
who was Crown Prince of the German Empire 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
, as a sign of respect, however, like all members of former German noble families, in law he is considered to be just another citizen of Germany, and as such holds no title officially.
Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia
, upon her marriage to Prince Nicholas of Greece
, was styled Her Imperial and Royal Highness. Her aunt, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia was alternately styled Her Imperial and Royal Highness and Her Royal and Imperial Highness upon her marriage to Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second son of Queen Victoria. Use of both styles upon marriage was not universal. Grand Duchess Elena's cousin, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna
, ceased use of her Imperial style upon her marriage to Prince Vilhelm of Sweden and Norway, Duke of Södermanland.
In 1909, the members of the Orléans-Braganza Branch of the former Brazilian Imperial Family signed an agreement with Prince Philippe, Duke of Orléans (1869–1926), the Head of the House of Orléans
(the former Royal Family of France), called the "family pact". By this agreement, all of them were counted in the French line of succession
, being properly styled "Royal Highness". Combined with the earlier style "Imperial Highness", determined in the Imperial Constitution of 1824, since then on the Head of the family (named The Prince of Brazil
), the Heir to the Headship (named Imperial Prince
), and the eldest son of the Imperial Prince (Prince of Grão-Pará
) uses the style "Imperial and Royal Highness". Other princes/princesses of the Orléans-Braganza branch (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 language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Kaiserliche und königliche Hoheit) is a style
Style (manner of address)
A style of office, or honorific, is a legal, official, or recognized title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal...
possessed by someone who either through birth or marriage holds two individual styles, Imperial Highness
Imperial 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 in question is descended from an Emperor rather than a King .Today the style has mainly fallen from use with the exception of the Imperial Family of...
and Royal Highness
Royal Highness
Royal Highness is a style ; plural Royal Highnesses...
.
The style is used by members of the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
dynasty who use the titles Prince Imperial and Archduke of Austria and Prince Royal of Bohemia and Hungary. One contemporary example of this is Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este and his children who are members of the Belgian, Hungarian, and Bohemian Royal Families and of the Austrian Imperial Family at the same time.
The style was also used by the eldest son of the German Emperor
German Emperor
This article is about the emperors of the German Empire. For full list of German monarchs before 1871, see List of German monarchs.The German Emperor was the official title of the Head of State and ruler of the German Empire, beginning with the proclamation of Wilhelm I as emperor during the...
who was Crown Prince of the German Empire 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
House of Hohenzollern
The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...
, as a sign of respect, however, like all members of former German noble families, in law he is considered to be just another citizen of Germany, and as such holds no title officially.
Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia
Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia
Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia 17 January 1882 – 13 March 1957, sometimes known as Helen, Helena, Helene, Ellen, Yelena, Hélène, or Eleni, was a Russian grand duchess as the daughter of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia and Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin...
, upon her marriage to Prince Nicholas of Greece
Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark
Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark , of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, was the fourth child and third son of George I, King of the Hellenes, and of Queen Olga. He was known as "Greek Nicky" in the family to distinguish him from his cousin Czar Nicholas II of Russia...
, was styled Her Imperial and Royal Highness. Her aunt, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia was alternately styled Her Imperial and Royal Highness and Her Royal and Imperial Highness upon her marriage to Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second son of Queen Victoria. Use of both styles upon marriage was not universal. Grand Duchess Elena's cousin, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna
Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia (1890-1958)
Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia, known as "Maria Pavlovna the Younger" was the daughter of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich and Alexandra Georgievna of Greece by marriage Princess of Sweden...
, ceased use of her Imperial style upon her marriage to Prince Vilhelm of Sweden and Norway, Duke of Södermanland.
In 1909, the members of the Orléans-Braganza Branch of the former Brazilian Imperial Family signed an agreement with Prince Philippe, Duke of Orléans (1869–1926), the Head of the House of Orléans
House of Orleans
Orléans is the name used by several branches of the Royal House of France, all descended in the legitimate male line from the dynasty's founder, Hugh Capet. It became a tradition during France's ancien régime for the duchy of Orléans to be granted as an appanage to a younger son of the king...
(the former Royal Family of France), called the "family pact". By this agreement, all of them were counted in the French line of succession
Line of succession to the French throne (Orléanist)
The Orléanist claimant to the throne of France is Prince Henri, Count of Paris, Duke of France. He is the uncontested heir to the Orléanist position of "King of the French" held by Louis-Philippe, and is also King Charles X's heir as "King of France" if the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht is...
, being properly styled "Royal Highness". Combined with the earlier style "Imperial Highness", determined in the Imperial Constitution of 1824, since then on the Head of the family (named The Prince of Brazil
Prince of Brazil
Prince of Brazil was a title used in the Kingdom of Portugal, for the heir of the royal House of Braganza.The title was created by King John IV of Portugal on 27 October 1645 in favor of his eldest son and heir prince Teodósio, soon after Portugal had got rid of its Spanish rulers...
), the Heir to the Headship (named Imperial Prince
Prince Imperial of Brazil
Prince Imperial of Brazil is the title created after the proclamation of independence of the Empire of Brazil, in 1822, to designate the heir apparent to the Brazilian imperial throne...
), and the eldest son of the Imperial Prince (Prince of Grão-Pará
Prince of Grão-Pará
The Prince of Grão-Pará was the title bestowed on the eldest son of the Prince Imperial of Brazil. The title holder was the second in the line of succession to the throne of the Empire of Brazil, after the Prince Imperial...
) uses the style "Imperial and Royal Highness". Other princes/princesses of the Orléans-Braganza branch (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
Highness
Highness, often used with a possessive adjective , is an attribute referring to the rank of the dynasty in an address...
.
See also
- Imperial and Royal MajestyImperial and Royal MajestyImperial and Royal Majesty was the style used by King-Emperors and their consorts as heads of imperial dynasties that were simultaneously royal. The style was used by the Emperor of Austria, who was also the King of Hungary and Bohemia and also by the German Emperor, who was also the King of Prussia...
- Use of courtesy titles and honorifics in professional writingUse of courtesy titles and honorifics in professional writingThe use of honorifics and styles differs greatly among publications in both journalism and academia. The differences are based on tradition, practical concerns , and cultural norms...