English : British, American and otherwise

***Rían*** · 12-02-2011, 02:45 AM

I had a question for the Brits here - with Prince William marrying Katherine/Catherine (I forget which spelling - she's no Diana!) and the Queen giving her the title of Dutchess, the papers here in America are calling her "Dutchess Kate" (in the manner of "Prince William" - title then name). However, from what I know of titles, that isn't correct, is it? Isn't it Kate, Dutchess of Cambridge (or whatever area it was)?

Which titles work how? Is there something that goes in front of her name? Or is she just Mrs. Wales or whatever name William uses?

And speaking of Kate, how do you guys feel about her - especially the men guys? To me, she seems rather, er, controlling. She's just not attractive in the way that Diana was, IMO. I would think she'd send some men running.

The Gaffer · 12-02-2011, 07:43 AM

HI Rian, hope you and yours are well.

You won't be surprised to learn that there are few things I care less about than her personality or the correct form of address.

In my house she is "Princess Katie" because that's my daughter's name.

They seem OK to me, possibly an improvement on the previous generation, although that is probably down to better PR. She needs to eat more though.

GrayMouser · 12-05-2011, 12:42 AM

Yes, should be be Katherine, Duchess of Cambridge- apparently Royal Dukes and Duchesses are too high-falutin' to even be referred to as "Lord" or "Lady".

Good to see that they've changed some of the rules. British sovereigns can now marry Catholics- before they could marry anyone from atheists to Zoroastrians, except Catholics.

And now inheritance is stictly birth order- a girl will be in line for the throne over her younger brother.

Which leads to the interesting point that if this law had been in place earlier, at the outbreak of WWI the British monarch would have been Kaiser Wilhelm.

(Of course that wouldn't have happened; Victoria's oldest daughter- also Vicky- would have been married to some minor princeling instead.)

The Gaffer · 12-05-2011, 05:24 AM

Good points. A major step into the 20th Century for the British Establishment.

***Varnafindë*** · 12-05-2011, 08:39 AM

I also found somewhere that although she's not a Princess, she can still use her husband's princely title.
When her husband becomes the Heir Apparent, he will be William, Prince of Wales.
Until then he is Prince William of Wales.
And so she is allowed to use the title Princess William of Wales.
But she's not Princess Katherine ...

**Mari** · 12-05-2011, 12:02 PM

If you ask me, it's ridiculous that she can't keep her own name. If I married someone royal, I wouldn't want to be called by my full name either!

***Varnafindë*** · 12-05-2011, 04:15 PM

When he becomes William, Prince of Wales, she will be Katherine, Princess of Wales.
But until then she's Katherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

Midge · 12-06-2011, 12:49 AM

Still, Duchess is a mite better than nothing.

GrayMouser · 12-06-2011, 04:29 AM

Yea, there's Princess Michael of Kent, wife of Prince Michael of Kent ,nee Baroness Marie Christine Anna Agnes Hedwig Ida von Reibnitz, which must have been a pain when the teacher said "Now make sure you write your full name on the form..."

***Rían*** · 12-06-2011, 10:08 AM

Thanks for the input - I was just curious. It's kind of a fun thing to read about sometimes.

12-02-2011, 02:45 AM	#1
*Rían* Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!) Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Not where I want to be ... Posts: 15,254	English : British, American and otherwise I had a question for the Brits here - with Prince William marrying Katherine/Catherine (I forget which spelling - she's no Diana!) and the Queen giving her the title of Dutchess, the papers here in America are calling her "Dutchess Kate" (in the manner of "Prince William" - title then name). However, from what I know of titles, that isn't correct, is it? Isn't it Kate, Dutchess of Cambridge (or whatever area it was)? Which titles work how? Is there something that goes in front of her name? Or is she just Mrs. Wales or whatever name William uses? And speaking of Kate, how do you guys feel about her - especially the men guys? To me, she seems rather, er, controlling. She's just not attractive in the way that Diana was, IMO. I would think she'd send some men running. __________________ . I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ñá ë?* óú éä ïöü Öñ É Þ ð ß ® ç å ™ æ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva! Last edited by Rían : 12-02-2011 at 02:47 AM.

12-05-2011, 12:42 AM	#3
GrayMouser Elf Lord Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ilha Formosa Posts: 2,068	Yes, should be be Katherine, Duchess of Cambridge- apparently Royal Dukes and Duchesses are too high-falutin' to even be referred to as "Lord" or "Lady". Good to see that they've changed some of the rules. British sovereigns can now marry Catholics- before they could marry anyone from atheists to Zoroastrians, except Catholics. And now inheritance is stictly birth order- a girl will be in line for the throne over her younger brother. Which leads to the interesting point that if this law had been in place earlier, at the outbreak of WWI the British monarch would have been Kaiser Wilhelm. (Of course that wouldn't have happened; Victoria's oldest daughter- also Vicky- would have been married to some minor princeling instead.) __________________ Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you do call for them? "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us, cats look down on us, but pigs treat us as equals."- Winston Churchill

12-05-2011, 08:39 AM	#5
*Varnafindë* Princess of the Noldor (and Administrative Empress of the Lone Islands) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Imladris (and sometimes Norway) Posts: 3,304	I also found somewhere that although she's not a Princess, she can still use her husband's princely title. When her husband becomes the Heir Apparent, he will be William, Prince of Wales. Until then he is Prince William of Wales. And so she is allowed to use the title Princess William of Wales. But she's not Princess Katherine ... __________________ Signature picture art - Bard the Bowman - by vigshane Avatar art - Footsteps of Spring (a young Luthien) - by Henning Janssen

12-05-2011, 12:02 PM	#6
Mari Elf Lady Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In the lands where mountains are but a fairytale Posts: 8,588	If you ask me, it's ridiculous that she can't keep her own name. If I married someone royal, I wouldn't want to be called by my full name either! __________________ Love always, deeply and true ★ Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer. ★ Friendship is sharing openly, laughing often, trusting always, caring deeply. ...The Earth laughs in flowers ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"...

12-05-2011, 04:15 PM	#7
*Varnafindë* Princess of the Noldor (and Administrative Empress of the Lone Islands) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Imladris (and sometimes Norway) Posts: 3,304	When he becomes William, Prince of Wales, she will be Katherine, Princess of Wales. But until then she's Katherine, Duchess of Cambridge. __________________ Signature picture art - Bard the Bowman - by vigshane Avatar art - Footsteps of Spring (a young Luthien) - by Henning Janssen

12-02-2011, 07:43 AM	#2
The Gaffer Elf Lord Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In me taters Posts: 3,288	HI Rian, hope you and yours are well. You won't be surprised to learn that there are few things I care less about than her personality or the correct form of address. In my house she is "Princess Katie" because that's my daughter's name. They seem OK to me, possibly an improvement on the previous generation, although that is probably down to better PR. She needs to eat more though.

12-05-2011, 05:24 AM	#4
The Gaffer Elf Lord Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In me taters Posts: 3,288	Good points. A major step into the 20th Century for the British Establishment.

12-06-2011, 12:49 AM	#8
Midge Faithful Gardener Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: I walk here and there, they say... Posts: 3,603	Still, Duchess is a mite better than nothing. __________________ In God I trust, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11 "Starbuck, what do you hear?" "Nothin' but the rain, sir!" "Then grab your gun and bring in the cat." Make sure to check out the C.S. Lewis forum. Game threads, movie and book discussions and more!

12-06-2011, 04:29 AM	#9
GrayMouser Elf Lord Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ilha Formosa Posts: 2,068	Yea, there's Princess Michael of Kent, wife of Prince Michael of Kent ,nee Baroness Marie Christine Anna Agnes Hedwig Ida von Reibnitz, which must have been a pain when the teacher said "Now make sure you write your full name on the form..." __________________ Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you do call for them? "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us, cats look down on us, but pigs treat us as equals."- Winston Churchill

12-06-2011, 10:08 AM	#10
*Rían* Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!) Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Not where I want to be ... Posts: 15,254	Thanks for the input - I was just curious. It's kind of a fun thing to read about sometimes. __________________ . I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ñá ë?* óú éä ïöü Öñ É Þ ð ß ® ç å ™ æ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva!