Saturday, August 3, 2013

When the Queen Mum was a Princess



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All this fuss over a title.  So many people cannot grasp that HRH The Duchess of Cambridge is a British princess by marriage.

There were a few cardiac arrests yesterday and the need for smelling salts when the Duchess' occupation was listed as Princess of the United Kingdom.

Made sense to me.  The Duke of Cambridge's occupation was listed as Prince of the United Kingdom.  Not RAF pilot. 

It has been the norm to put Prince as the occupation of a royal father.  Adding the mother's occupation is relatively new.  The line did not exist on birth registrations when William was born.

In Britain, a wife takes her husband's rank and title, unless her rank is higher.   In 1923, after the wedding of the Duke of York to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, an official statement was released by the palace:

"In accordance with the settled general rule that a wife takes the status of her husband Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon on her marriage has become Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York with the status of a Princess."

http://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/419749/Palace-inquest-after-Prince-William-names-Kate-as-his-Princess

5 comments:

Matthew Plooster said...

I always assumed that they listed their occupation as "Prince" or "Princess" because a royals "belong" to the nation and could be called upon to act on behalf of the state whenever needed (kind of similar to how many people view public service/elected officials in the US). Would you agree?

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

The job was being a prince or princess - carrying out duties, engagements on behalf of the sovereign.

Laura said...

I just can't understand why this is so hard for people to grasp. It's very simple, really.

Little Sis said...

You were quoted here.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/419749/Palace-inquest-after-Prince-William-names-Kate-as-his-Princess

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

thanks .. woke up to an email from a friend in the UK with the linked. Rather surprised ...