Why, if the British King or Queen ruled over an empire, were they never styled as Emperors or Empresses?

Question

Why, if the British King or Queen ruled over an empire, were they never styled as Emperors or Empresses?

Answer 1

I thought the British Empire was only undeclared in, like the last twenty years or so, as the colonies have been becoming independant.  I was under the impression that Elizabeth II was crowned an Empress, but has eschewed the title in more recent years.

And, no, the difference has nothing to do with whether the title is passed down through lineage or other means.  The emperors of the Holy Roman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were decided by birth lineage, and the Kings of ancient Israel were chosen by the previous King, so...that ain't the difference.  It has to do with the size of the reign.

Answer 2

During the rule of the British Indian Empire on the Indian subcontinent from the period of 1858 to 1947,

Emperor/Empress of India title was used by the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah II and colonial British monarchs. This period was called the British Raj in India or British India.

There were five British monarchs who were named Emperor/Empress of India:

Queen Victoria was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and the first Empress of India from 1 May 1876, until her death on 22 January 1901.

Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death on 6 May 1910.

George V was King of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth Realms, and Emperor of India and the first King of the Irish Free State from 6 May 1910 through World War I (1914–1918) until his death in 1936.

Edward VIII was King of Great Britain, Ireland, the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India from 20 January 1936, until his abdication on 11 December 1936.

George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions from 11 December 1936 until his death. He was the last Emperor of India (until 1947) and the last King of Ireland (until 1949).

Answer 3

They were styled as such! For example Wikipedia says this about George V,the current Queen's grandfather:"George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor, which he created from the British branch of the German House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. As well as being King of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth Realms, George was also the Emperor of India and the first King of the Irish Free State. George reigned from 6 May 1910 through World War I (1914–1918) until his death in 1936."

Queen Victoria was styled the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and the first Empress of India from 1 May 1876, until her death on 22 January 1901.

When the empire diminished,the stylings and titles changed to reflect such.

Answer 4

They weren't until Queen Victoria became empress.  She did this because her daughter married an emperor, and she didn't want to have a lesser title than her own daughter.  The colonization of India and other places gave her the justification for the title.

Answer 5

Not sure what you mean. An Emporor dies not always require a lineage. A king is always descended from royalty.

Answer 6

Yes, Queen Victoria was called Empress.

Answer 7

After the Proclaimation of the Empire in 1877 when the British took over India from the East India Trading co. the title empire was final. Therefore Queen Victoria became Empress of India. This continued until 1947 when George VI was the last emperor.