List of current British princes and princesses

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of living British royal family members who, through royal descent or marriage, currently hold the rank of Prince or Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. There are 18 living princes and princesses by birthright, and a further 6 women who are princesses by marriage.

By descent[edit]

Place in line
of succession
Image Name Age Royal lineage Spouse
Descendant of Charles III
1 William, Prince of Wales 41 Son Catherine Middleton
2 Prince George of Wales 10 Grandchild
3 Princess Charlotte of Wales 8
4 Prince Louis of Wales 5
5 Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex 39 Son Meghan Markle
6 Prince Archie of Sussex 4 Grandchild
7 Princess Lilibet of Sussex 2
Descendant of Elizabeth II
8 Prince Andrew, Duke of York 64 Son Sarah Ferguson (divorced 1996)
9 Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi 35 Grandchild Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
11 Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank 34 Jack Brooksbank
14 Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh 60 Son Sophie Rhys-Jones
15 James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex[a] 16 Grandchild
16 Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor[b] 20
17 Anne, Princess Royal 73 Daughter Sir Timothy Laurence
Descendant of George V
31 Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester 79 Grandchild Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen
41 Prince Edward, Duke of Kent 88 Katharine Worsley
52 Prince Michael of Kent 81 Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz
57 Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy 87
(died 2004)

By marriage[edit]

When a British prince marries, his wife is addressed by the feminine version of the husband's senior title on his behalf, either a princely title or a peerage. Traditionally, all wives of male members of the British royal family, the aristocracy, and members of the public take the style and title of their husbands. For example, the wife of Prince Michael of Kent is known as Princess Michael of Kent.[2]

There is also the case when a princess of blood royal marries a British prince. She also becomes a princess by marriage and will be addressed in the same way. An example of this situation was the late Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife: when she married the cousin of her mother, Prince Arthur of Connaught, she became Princess Arthur of Connaught, Duchess of Fife.

If a British prince has a peerage, then the princess is addressed by the feminine version of her husband's peer title; an example of this case is the wife of Prince William, who was (briefly) officially styled His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge while his wife Catherine became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge, omitting both the 'prince' and 'princess' titles and their first names. When William was then created Prince of Wales, that became the senior title held in his own right, and he and Catherine are styled His/Her Royal Highness The Prince/Princess of Wales.[3]

Year of marriage Image Name Age Spouse
1961 Katharine, Duchess of Kent 91 Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
1972 Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester 77 Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
1978 Princess Michael of Kent 79 Prince Michael of Kent
1999 Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh 59 Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh
2011 Catherine, Princess of Wales 42 William, Prince of Wales
2018 Meghan, Duchess of Sussex 42 Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Although James is a British prince, his parents did not give him the prince title in order for him to avoid some of the burdens of royal titles.[1]
  2. ^ Although Louise is a British princess, her parents did not give her the princess title in order for her to avoid some of the burdens of royal titles.[1]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Royal Family tree and line of succession". BBC. September 4, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  2. ^ Hubbard, Lauren (30 July 2019). "Who Is Princess Michael of Kent". townandcountrymag.com. Town&Country. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  3. ^ Cruse, Beth (31 May 2021). "Why Kate Middleton isn't known as Princess - but Diana was". Bristolpost.co.uk. Bristol Post. Retrieved 6 August 2021.