What rank of European nobility would a man be if his father was a prince, but didn't become the king?

Question

What rank of European nobility would a man be if his father was a prince, but didn't become the king?

Answer 1

There's no such thing as "European Royalty" per se.  Each country has it's own traditions and styles.  The ruler of Monaco for example is a Prince because that country is a Principality (like Wales) rather than a Kingdom like Britain or Sweden.  Another example is that there is no rank of Baron in the British nobility, but it is common in other European countries.

In the UK, it really depends on what the parents want.  Prince Michael of Kent is the son of Prince George, Duke of Kent who was a younger son of King George V.  Prince George's older brother, was the present Queen's father King George VI.

The present Queen's younger sons have made different choices.  Prince Andrew's daughters (he has no sons) are both Princesses whilst Prince Edward wanted his children to be given lesser tiles of Lady Louise and his new son James is likely to be styled Viscount Severn (Edward will inherit his father's title Duke of Edinburgh upon his death, which James will eventually inherit himself).  The Queen's daughter, Princess Anne The Princess Royal, did not want any titles at all for her children and they are therefore just Miss Zara Phillips and Mr Peter Phillips.

Answer 2

If his father was a Prince, and was also the son of a monarch, his children will also be titled as "Prince X" or "Princess X" and enjoy the style of His/Her Royal Highness. As grandchildren in the male-line of the monarch, regardless of gender, they will all enjoy royal titles. However, if his father was a Prince, and was a nephew of a monarch, then his children will receive a lesser title such as "Lord", "Earl", "Viscount." Usually a Prince wil have subsidiary titles such as Duke, Earl, Viscount and only his eldest born son will inherit that title, while the rest will remain as Lords and Ladies.

Answer 3

Rachelle, again, is speaking as if all royalty is British royalty and that is wrong. One cannot apply the British system to all royalty. For instance, there are princes of Denmark beyond that of grandchildren of a king of Denmark who are not titled "lord" or "lady".

In the continental systems (there are nobles and royals beyond the UK), a child has the titles and styles of his or her father unless the father has a higher reigning title. The children of princes, are for the most part, princes and princesses. Same goes for counts (children are counts and countesses), dukes and so on.

Titles, in most monarchies, are born by all male-line descendants of a monarch.

Answer 4

I believe that the man would be a prince also, and a daughter would be a princess. The title would carry on even if he never became king.