Etiquette of Foreign Titles

In the United States, where everybody possesses one and the same title, that of a citizen of this Republic. Royal titles hold no real power, precedence, nor importance in the United States, other than in society papers and glossy, gossip magazines.

IN this country, where everybody possesses one and the same title, that of a citizen of this Republic, no one can claim a superiority of rank and title. Not so in European countries, where the right of birth entitles a person to honor, rank and title. And as our citizens are constantly visiting foreign countries, it is well to understand something of titles and ranks and their order of precedence.

ROYALTY
In England, the King and Queen are placed at the top of the social structure. The mode by which they are addressed is in the form “Your Majesty.”

The Prince of Wales, the heir-apparent to the throne, stands second in dignity. The other children are all known during their minority as Princes and Princesses. The eldest Princess is called the Crown Princess. Upon their majority the younger sons have the title of Duke bestowed upon them, and the daughters retain that of Princesses, adding to it the title of their husbands. They are all designated as “Their Royal Highnesses.”

THE NOBILITY
A Duke who inherits the title from his father, stands one grade below a Royal Duke. The wife of a Duke is known as a Duchess. They are both addressed as “Your Grace.” The eldest son is a Marquis until he inherits the higher title of his father. His wife is a Marchioness. The younger sons are Lords by courtesy, and the daughters are distinguished by having “Lady” prefixed to their Christian names. “Earls” and “Barons” are both spoken of as “Lords” and their wives as “Ladies,” though the latter are by right respectively “Countesses” and “Baronesses.” The daughters of the former are “Ladies,” the younger sons of both "honorables." The “Earl” occupies the higher position of the two in the Peerage.

These complete the list of Nobility, unless we include Bishops, who are “Lords” in right of their ecclesiastical office, but whose title is not hereditary.
All these are entitled to seats in the upper House of Parliament.

THE GENTRY
“Baronets” are known as "Sirs," and their wives receive the title of "Lady;" but they are only commoners of a higher degree, though there are families who have borne their title for many successive generations who would not exchange it for a recently created peerage. — From the book, “Our Deportment,” 1882

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