Letters Patent - Declaring that a Prince's Former Wife Loses the Style of Royal Highness [1996-08-21]

Letters Patent - Declaring that a Prince's Former Wife Loses the Style of Royal Highness [1996-08-21]

Royal Family

Letters Patent of Queen Elizabeth II declaring that the former wife of a prince is not entitled to the style of Royal Highness.

Queen Elizabeth II

College of Arms record MS I. 85, p. 61 and the College of Arms' website

1996-08-21

Jason Loch

Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting Whereas Her late Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters Patent dated the thirtieth day of January in the twenty-seventh year of Her Reign did in exercise of Her Royal Prerogative establish define and limit entitlement to the style “Royal Highness” and did declare Her Royal Will and Pleasure that certain members of The Royal Family namely the children of a Sovereign of these Realms and the children of the sons of a Sovereign should have the style title or attribute of Royal Highness: And Whereas Her late Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters Patent dated the twenty-seventh day of May in the Sixty-first year of Her reign did extend & amend the said Letters Patent by declaring that as well as hereinbefore mentioned the children of the eldest son of The Prince of Wales should have the style title or attribute of Royal Highness And Whereas His late Majesty King George V by his Letters Patent dated the thirtieth day of November in the eighth year of His reign did amend the said Letters Patent by declaring that of the children of the eldest son of The Prince of Wales only the eldest living son of the eldest son of The Prince of Wales should have the style title or attribute of Royal Highness: And Whereas His late Majesty King George VI by His Letters Patent dated the twenty-seventh day of May in the first year of His reign did declare that despite his exclusion from the succession The Duke of Windsor should continue to hold and enjoy the style title or attribute of Royal Highness but that his wife and children if any and the children of his sons if any should not be so entitled: And Whereas by convention the wife of the son of a Sovereign of these Realms the wife of a son of a son of a Sovereign and the wife of the eldest living son of the eldest son of The Prince of Wales is entitled to the style title or attribute of Royal Highness: And Whereas We deem it expedient to declare and define by due Authority the entitlement of a former wife (other than a widow until she remarry) of a son of a Sovereign of these Realms of a son of a son of a Sovereign and of the eldest living son of the eldest son of The Prince of Wales to the style title or attribute of Royal Highness: Now Know Ye that We of Our especial Grace certain knowledge and mere motion do hereby declare Our Royal Will and Pleasure that a former wife (other than a widow until she remarry) of a son of a Sovereign of these Realms of a son of a son of a Sovereign and of the eldest living son of the eldest son of The Prince of Wales shall not be entitled to hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of Royal Highness In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent Witness Ourself at Westminster the twenty-first day of August in the forty-fifth year of Our Reign

Sign Manual Warrant

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