With the royal engagement of HRH Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, plus the latest season of The Crown now available on Netflix, the royal family is a popular topic of conversation.
We’ve searched this noble kingdom for all the royal terminology you need to know, just in time for the Royal Wedding next spring.
1. Abdicate – ‘If a king or queen abdicates, he or she gives up being king or queen’
Example: Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 in order to marry the American socialite Wallis Simpson.
2. Accession – ‘Accession is the act of taking up a position as the ruler of a country’
Example: The 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne.
3. Blue blood – ‘Royal or aristocratic descent’
Example: Prince Charles married Diana Spencer, a woman of blue blood descended from aristocracy.
4. Commonwealth – ‘an association of sovereign states, almost all of which were at some time dependencies of the UK’
Example: Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh embarked on a tour of the Commonwealth.
5. Consort – ‘the husband or wife of a reigning monarch’
Example: The Duke of Edinburgh is the consort of Elizabeth II.
6. Crown prince/princess – ‘the male or female heir to a sovereign throne’
Example: The Prince of Wales is the crown prince of the United Kingdom.
7. Dowager – ‘a widow possessing property or a title obtained from her husband’
Example: Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was the dowager queen of George VI.
8. Hereditary – ‘Descending or capable of descending to succeeding generations by inheritance’
Example: The position of King or Queen of the United Kingdom is hereditary.
9. HRH – ‘His (or Her) Royal Highness’
Example: Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal is in residence at Gatcombe Park.
10. Monarchist – ‘If someone has monarchist views, they believe that their country should have a monarch, such as a king or queen’
Example: Monarchists are excited to hear the news of Prince Harry’s engagement to Meghan Markle.
11. Titled – ‘Someone who is titled has a title such as ‘Lord’, ‘Lady’, ‘Sir’, or ‘Princess’ before their name, showing that they have a high rank in society‘
Example: Prince Harry could be given a title in recognition of his marriage.
12. Sovereign – ‘a person exercising supreme authority, esp a monarch’
Example: Queen Elizabeth II is the sovereign.
By Rachel Quin
Collins Dictionaries
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