Duke

The term duke is a title of nobility which refers to the sovereign male ruler of a Continental European duchy, to a nobleman of the highest grade of the British peerage, or to the highest rank of nobility in various other European countries, including Portugal, Spain and France (in Italy, principe is held to be the highest grade). The wife of a duke, or a woman who rules a duchy, is known as a duchess.

Royal dukes

Four reigning European royal houses traditionally awarded dukedoms to the sons and in some cases, the daughters, of their respective Sovereigns.

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The heir apparent to the Belgian throne is styled Duke of Brabant.

Related Topics:
Heir apparent - Duke of Brabant

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United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, a royal duke is a duke who is a member of the British Royal Family, entitled to the style of Royal Highness. In the United Kingdom, the current royal dukes are HRH The Prince of Wales, who is Duke of Cornwall and Duke of Rothesay; HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (The Prince Philip), HRH The Duke of York (The Prince Andrew), HRH The Duke of Gloucester (Prince Richard), and HRH The Duke of Kent (Prince Edward). The former king Edward VIII was created Duke of Windsor after his abdication. With the exceptions of the dukedoms of Cornwall and Rothesay (which can only be held by the eldest son of the Sovereign), these dukedoms are hereditary according to the Letters Patent that created them, which contain the standard remainder "heirs male of his body." Other dukedoms that have been awarded to members of the British royal family in the past include those of Albany, Avondale, Cambridge, Clarence, Connaught, Cumberland, Kendal, Strathearn, and Sussex. In the past, British sovereigns have combined several territorial designations into a single dukedom. For example, King George III created his second son, Prince Frederick Augustus, Duke of York and Albany, and Queen Victoria bestowed the dukedom of Clarence and Avondale on her grandson, Prince Albert Victor of Wales. To date, Avondale, Stathearn, and St. Andrews have not been granted as separate dukedoms. Once a particular peerage is granted to a member of the British royal family, it is not subsequently granted to anyone outside the royal family.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - British Royal Family - Style - HRH The Prince of Wales - Duke of Cornwall - Duke of Rothesay - HRH The Duke of Edinburgh - HRH The Duke of York - HRH The Duke of Gloucester - HRH The Duke of Kent - Edward VIII - Letters Patent - Albany - Avondale - Cambridge - Connaught - Cumberland - Kendal - Sussex - George III - Victoria

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In the United Kingdom, there is nothing about the particular dukedom that makes it "royal." Rather, these peerages are called "royal dukedoms" because they are held by a member of the royal family who is entitled to the style Royal Highness. Under the November 20, 1917, Letters Patent of King George V, the titular dignity of Prince/Princess and the style Royal Highness are restricted to the sons of a Sovereign, the sons of a Sovereign's sons, and the eldest living son of the eldest son of a Prince of Wales. For example, when the current Duke of Gloucester and Duke of Kent are succeeded by their eldest sons, the Earl of Ulster and the Earl of St. Andrews, respectively, those peerages (or rather, the 1928 and 1934 creations of them) will cease to be royal dukedoms, instead the title holders will become Dukes of Blood Royal. The third dukes of Gloucester and Kent will each be styled "His Grace" because as great grandsons of George V, they are not Princes and are not styled HRH. Similarly, upon the death of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught (1850-1942), the third son of Queen Victoria, his only male-line grandson, Alastair Arthur Windsor, Earl of MacDuff (1914-1942), briefly succeeded to his peerages. However, as a duke, the second Duke of Connaught, a male-line great grandson of Queen Victoria, was simply styled "His Grace."

Related Topics:
November 20 - 1917 - George V - 1928 - 1934 - Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught - 1850 - 1942 - Victoria - Alastair Arthur Windsor, Earl of MacDuff - 1914

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France

See appanage and the list in the geographical section below

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Elsewhere

In Belgium, the title of Duke of Brabant (historically the most prestigious in the Low Countries, and containing the federal capital Brussels), if still vacant, has been given to the oldest son and presumptive heir of the King, other throne candidates usually get lower titles, such as Count of Flanders (king Leopold III's brother became head of state as Prince-regent) and Prince of Liège (e.g. the present king Albert II before he succeeded his older brother Baudouin=Boudewijn I)

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For Portugal, see below

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Nowadays, Spanish infantes and infantas are usually given a dukedom upon marriage. This title is not hereditary. The current royal duchesses are: HRH the Duchess of Badajoz (Infanta Maria del Pilar), HRH the Duchess of Soria (Infanta Margarita), HRH the Duchess of Lugo (Infanta Elena) and HRH the Duchess of Palma de Mallorca (Infanta Cristina).

Related Topics:
Infantes - Infantas - HRH the Duchess of Badajoz - HRH the Duchess of Soria - HRH the Duchess of Lugo - HRH the Duchess of Palma de Mallorca

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:Main article: Dukes of Swedish Provinces.

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Sweden had a history of making sons of its Kings real ruling princes of vast duchies, but this ceased in 1622. Title-wise, however, all Swedish princes since 1772, and princesses since 1980, are given a dukedom for life. Currently, there are one duke and two duchesses. The territorial designations of these dukedoms refer to four of the Provinces of Sweden.

Related Topics:
Duchies - 1622 - 1772 - 1980 - Provinces of Sweden

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