Is the Queen also the Duchess of Edinburgh?

Question

Is the Queen also the Duchess of Edinburgh?

Answer 1

The Queen was formerly "Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh," after her marriage to Prince Philip, but before her accession. However, after her coronation, she is now legally,"Her Majesty, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom." Although she does not use of any her former royal titles and styles, she is still legally the holder of these styles and titles including:

HRH The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh

HRH The Princess Elizabeth

HRH Princess Elizabeth of York

Answer 2

Rachelle is WRONG, the Queen is not HRH The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh; HRH The Princess Elizabeth OR HRH Princess Elizabeth of York.

She ceased to be HRH Princess Elizabeth of York when her father became King because he was no longer Duke of York (his title merged to the crown) and she ceased to be HRH The Princess Elizabeth when she became Queen herself in 1952.

As such, she is not HRH or Princess of the United Kingdom. She is, however, still technically Duchess of Edinburgh because she does not hold that title in her own right so it cannot merge to the crown. It is never, ever used, however. *Some* people argue that the Queen has other titles which she has never used... Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Duchess in Saxony; Princess of Greece and Denmark; Princess of Schleswig-Holstein (-Sonderburg-Glücksburg); Duchess of Schleswig, of Holstein, of Stormarn, and of Dithmarschen; Countess of OIdenburg and Delmenhorst.

These are the dynastic titles of her paternal family (Wettin) and those of her husband (Oldenburg-Greece). This is theoretical though; although no renunciation has been produced for Philip's paternal titles, they have never been used for Elizabeth. Also for her Wettin titles, they have never been used abroad (their use in the UK was restricted in 1917).

Answer 3

The Queen is also "Duke of Normandy" - but the only bits of Normandy she still owns are the Channel Islands. The Channel islands aren't part of the UK or Britain; they only owe allegiance to their Duke.

Answer 4

No, she's not.

The Duke of Edinburgh is so called by virtue of not being the King.

The Queen doesn't need a title deriving from that.

Answer 5

Yes. As her husband is the Duke of Edinburgh she technically is the Duchess of Edinburgh, however, it is customary to only use your highest title and therefore her title of "HM Queen Elizabeth II" outranks a duchess.. Before she ascended the throne she was known as HRH The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh. Her children were known as Prince Charles of Edinburgh and Princess Anne of Edinburgh.

Answer 6

She is not currently Duchess of Edinburgh, but held that title when she married her husband, but before her accession as Queen.

Philip Mountbatten was born a Prince of Greece and Denmark, but renounced these titles becoming plain Philip Mountbatten. Before his marriage, the Queen's father King George VI created him Duke of Edinburgh with the style Royal Highness. Thus when the Queen (at that time Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth) married the Duke of Edinburgh she became the Duchess of Edinburgh, styling herself Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh.

When she ascended the throne, all her previous titles merged into the Crown. That means they no longer exist as the Queen is the font of honour who gives out titles such as Duke and Duchess, and so cannot hold one herself.

Sometimes, the Queen is styled "Duke of Lancaster" as the British monarch holds the Duchy of Lancaster.