Can someone completely explain how the British Royal Family works. e.x. Dukes, Blue Bloods...so on?

Question

Just Curious

Answer 1

The current British monarch is Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, her husband is HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He is not titled and styled as "His Majesty the King" simple because he is only the husband of the Queen (traditionally the rank of king normally outranks that of queen, in most monarchies the queen's husband is given the title of prince or prince consort instead). Together they had four children and seven grandchildren.

Prince Charles of Wales - heir apparent

Prince Andrew, Duke of York - fourth in line

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex - seventh in line

The Princess Anne, Princess Royal - ninth in line

All royal legitimate offspring of a monarch is titled and styled as "HRH Prince/Princess. All grandchildren from the male-line of a monarch is titled and styled as "HRH Prince/Princess."

Any lady marrying a Prince will have the courtesy title and style of "HRH Princess." However, if a royal Princess who marries a commoner, she is allowed to keep her full title and style, however, her husband and children will not inherit any royal titles and styles. If the princess marries an aristocrat, she is allowed to keep her title and style, and the title of her husband (if he was a Duke, she will be HRH Princess and Duchess, if he was an Earl, she will be HRH Princess and Countess etc). However, these restrictions are not absolute since the monarch has the power to give these titles at their own discreet.

A duke is a nobleman, historically of highest rank below the King or Queen, and usually controls a duchy or a Dukedom. A Royal Duke is a duke who is a member of the British Royal Family, entitled to the style of "His Royal Highness", and the eldest son inherits the title. A lady who marries the duke will have the courtesy title of "Duchess" and their children will have the titles "Lords and Ladies."

Blueblood refers to the "aristocrat class" who are also very rare noble families. Members from these noble families are usually directly related to the royal family through birth or marriage from other royal houses around Europe. Noble families all have peerage titles such as Dukes, Earls, Lords, Marquess, Viscount, and Baron, and a very long family lineage that could be traced to at least one if not more royal houses around Europe.

Answer 2

Wouldn't it be easier if you simply searched on-line? You seem to want a combination civics course and history of government.

To understand rankings and lineage, go to Debretts. To learn more about the British Royal Family, go to their website.

Answer 3

For a complete run-down on the British Royals,use this link:

http://www.royal.gov/uk

This is the official site of Buckingham Palace and will give you the background on the current family as well as a history of previous monarchies;it also gives a complete explanation on what the family does--The Queen is an advisor to the government, Charles runs the Duchy of Cornwall,Andrew represents UK Technological works...

Titles work this way:

The Regent,or monarch is either a King or Queen.The current monarch is Queen Elizabeth II.

The spouse of the monarch is Queen Consort,or Prince Consort.The Current queen has a Prince Consort,Philip,Duke of Edinburgh.(Queen Regent is the highest title any one can hold when a queen is monarch;that's why there is no king,because the title king implies the monarch.)

Next,in order of precedence come prince/princess.A prince and princess,a king and a queen,can often hold other titles as well.They can be Royal Dukes,Marquesses,Earls and Barons as well. A good example of this is Prince Charles,Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick and Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.

Then come the non-Royal aristocracy;these titles were given as rewards for duty to the crown and many have been passed down for generations:

duke/duchess

marquess/marchioness

earl/countess

baron/baroness

various knighthoods

The website listed above also has a link to where you can read about investitures-the honor titles given by the monarch-they explain the various titles and history of each.