forum Roles in a Monarchy/ Royal Family

Started May 11, 2020 by @kiley_arrants Premium Supporter

tune

could someone please help me with explaining the roles in a monarchy and a royal family as well as roles in a palace. Thank youu

I know that princes were often given land so they would be the lord of an estate or more than one estate and it was practice for ruling a country. My knowledge ends there though sorry.

I can give you info on the monarchy and royal family of Britain if that would help??

So I’m basing my knowledge off the English Royal Hierarchy because that’s the only one I’m familiar with (I’m from the UK).
In order of importance going Male, Female:

• King, Queen
• Prince, Princess
• Duke, Duchess
• Marquess, Marchioness
• Earl, Countess
• Viscount, Viscountess
• Baron, Baroness
• Knight, Dame

Duke: A duke is the member of nobility that ranks just below the monarch. A duke is a ruler of a ‘duchy’ (county, territory or domain).
It's also tradition for men of the royal family to get a new title when they marry - often taking on duke status.
For example, in the UK. Prince William became the Duke of Cambridge when he married Kate Middleton (and she the Duchess of Cambridge because of his assent). Meanwhile Prince Harry became the Duke of Sussex on marrying Meghan Markle, making her his duchess.
To become a duke of a particular duchy, the title must be available - which happens when the last person who held the title died without legitimate heirs to take the title for themselves.
When this happens, the title is bestowed back to the Queen.
Dukes and Duchesses should be addressed with “Your Grace”.

Marquess: A marquess is the second most senior rank in the peerage, beneath dukes.
The marquess stands above the ranks of earl, viscount and baron. The dignity of amarquess is referred to as a marquessate. A Marquess should be addressed “My Lord”.

Below a marquess comes an earl.
Members of the Royal Family further away from the crown such as Prince Edward (Earl of Wessex) are given the title. As with a marquess, an earl should be addressed as “My Lord” or “Your Lordship”.

Viscount: A viscount is the fourth rank in the British peerage system, standing below an earl and above a baron. There are approximately 270 viscountcies in the Uk, most of whom have inherited the title.
In British practice, the title of a viscount may be either a place name, a surname, or a combination of the two, such as the Viscount Falmouth or the Viscount Colville of Culross. Again, though, it’s correct to address viscounts with the title ‘lord’.

Last but not least comes the barons - who are theoretically rulers of a barony (an administrative division of a country, of lower rank than a county). Barons can either be addressed as “My Lord” or “The Right Honourable”. The children of barons can continue to use the title, but the wife of a baron in her own right gains no title.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask

@Coffee Thank you this was really helpful & exactly what I was looking for

You’re very welcome!