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EXAMPLES OF STYLES In law courts
In diplomacy
In religion
In monarchies
The English style Serene Highness and even more Illustrious Highness goes back to a wrong translation. These styles originally did not exist in English spoken countries. His/Her Serene Highness = German: Seine/Ihre Durchlaucht; His/Her Illustrious Highness = German: Seine/Ihre Erlaucht; Italian: Sua Illustrissima; Spanish: Su Illustrísima In republics
In the United Kingdom
In legislative bodies
In Canada
In Australia
In the Philippines
Local government
United States governors
Political titles used as styles Commonwealth Prime Ministers are usually addressed just as ''Prime Minister'', but the form of address ''Mr. Prime Minister'' is also often used in certain countries. "Mr. Prime Minister" remains a common form of address in international diplomacy, "Prime Minister" alone remains more common within domestic politics. Irish Taoisigh (prime ministers) are addressed singularly as ''Taoiseach''. Other Irish and Commonwealth politicians tend to be addressed by their titles alone, for example "Thank you, Minister" or "Good afternoon, Senator," though "Mr." or "Madam" may also sometimes be used as a prefix, as in the United States. In the United States and other countries politicians are frequently addressed by their title preceded by ''Mister'' or ''Madam'' depending on the gender of the holder: for example ''Mr. Secretary'', ''Madam Secretary'', ''Mr. Mayor'', etc. This is generally regarded as the most formal form of address, however, and the use of titles alone, such as "Senator," "Governor," etc remains more common for day-to-day address, as is the case in most Commonwealth countries. The only exception is the President of the United States, who is almost never referred to as just "President" (although a fuller form combining title and name, such as "President Bush," is acceptable). In the United States, it is common to refer to British Prime Ministers in this style, such as "Prime Minister Blair", although this usage sounds clumsy to Briton s as it is not used. In general, the manner of addressing titled officials with the style "Mr/Madam (title)" is frequently used by members of the American media who may not be familiar with a politician's more specific honorific title (excellency, your honour, etc), but still want to show respect. Styles existing through marriage Styles can be acquired through marriage, though traditionally this applies more to wives of office-holders than to husbands. Thus, in the United Kingdom , The Princess Royal is styled HRH, her husband, Timothy Laurence , has no style and there would have to be a special arrangement to give him one. In contrast, when Sophie Rhys-Jones married Prince Edward , she became ''Princess Edward, the Countess of Wessex'' and automatically acquired an HRH, by virtue of her marriage to a royal prince. This gender differentiation continues into the next generation in traditional royal families. Thus, while the sons of The Prince Of Wales and the daughters of The Duke Of York have HRH styles, the children of The Princess Royal have no styles. (She requested that they, like her husband, be given no courtesy titles or peerages, though they could have been: the key point is that they did not automatically receive any.) TERMINATION OF STYLES Styles can terminate when a marriage is dissolved. The late was divorced from her husband, HRH The Duke of York, she too lost her HRH style. In 1936, Wallis Simpson was not given the HRH style by King George VI when she married his brother, the former King Edward VIII , by then known as HRH The Duke of Windsor. There was no precedent for a divorced woman marrying a member of the royal family and it was feared that, if the couple divorced (she had already divorced two husbands) she would lose the style but could conceivably still try to use it anyway, undermining its status. FORMER STYLES All former monarchies had styles, some, as in the Bourbon monarchy of France, extremely complicated depending on the status of the office or office-holder. Otto Von Habsburg , who was Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary (1916-1918), had the style 'His Imperial and Royal Highness'. He was last addressed as such by church figures during the funeral of his late mother, Empress-Queen Zita Of Austria-Hungary in 1989, although the use of these styles has been prohibited in Austria since 1920 . {Link without Title} STYLES AND TITLES OF DEPOSED MONARCHS General tradition indicates that where a monarch has been deposed but has not abdicated, they retain the use of their style and title for the duration of their lifetime, but both die with them. Hence Greece's deposed king is still technically ''His Majesty King Constantine II Of The Hellenes '', as a ''personal'' title, not a constitutional office, since the abolition of the monarchy by the Hellenic Republic in 1974. Similarly, until his death the last King of Italy, King Umberto II , was technically entitled to be called ''His Majesty the King of Italy'' or ''Your Majesty''. In contrast, the ''ex-King Michael I Of Romania '', who abdicated his throne in 1947, technically lost the use of his title, though out of politeness, he may still be called ''His Majesty King Michael'' or ''Your Majesty''. While this rule is generally observed, and indeed some exiled monarchs are allowed diplomatic passports by their former state, other states take offence at the use of such titles. The current Hellenic Republic has long challenged King Constantine's right to use his title; in 1981, the then Greek President Constantine Karamanlis declined to attend the wedding of the Prince of Wales when it was revealed that Greece's deposed monarch, a friend of the Prince, had been referred to as 'King' in his invitation. However, King Constanine now travels in and out of Greece without any problems, on a Danish royal passport (as "King Constantine of Greece"), and has done so several times in the past few years. Because of the Schengen Agreements the Greek government cannot refuse him entry. OTHER PARALLEL SYMBOLS Styles were often among the range of symbols that surrounded figures of high office. Everything from the manner of address to the behaviour of a person on meeting that personage was surrounded by traditional symbols. Monarchs were to be bowed to by men and curtsied to by women. Senior clergy, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church, were to have their rings (the symbol of their authority) kissed by lay persons while they were on bended knee, while cardinals in an act of homage at the papal coronation were meant to kiss the feet of the Supreme Pontiff, the Pope . Many of these traditions have lapsed or been partially abandoned. At his inauguration as pope in 1978 (itself the abandonment of the traditional millennium-old papal coronation), Pope John Paul II himself kissed cardinals on the cheeks, rather than follow the traditional method of homage of having his feet kissed. Curtsies have for many years been no longer obligatory when meeting members of the British Royal Family; indeed some royals positively hate being curtsied to. One described the experience of a row of curtsying women, bobbing up and down, as leaving them 'sea-sick'. (Curiously, Americans seem more attached to the curtsying to British royalty than most British people.) Similarly, styles, though still used, are used less often. The current President Of Ireland , Mary McAleese , is usually referred to as ''President Mary McAleese'', not ''President McAleese'', as had been the form used for the first six presidents, from President Hyde to President Hillery. Tony Blair asked initially to be called ''Tony''. In a break with tradition, though as the second in line to the throne and a son of a royal prince, Prince William of Wales formally has a HRH style, he chose while at university not to use it. The United States has become one of the most informal countries in the world, with styles such as ''Excellency'' now largely abandoned or ignored, even by those who legally have them. First names, or even Nicknames , are often widely used among politicians in the US, even in formal situations (as an extreme example, President James Earl "Jimmy" Carter choose to take the Oath of Office using his nickname). One notable exception involves judges: a judge of any court is almost invariably addressed as "Your Honor" while presiding over his or her court, and often at other times as well. However, styles are still widely used in formal documents and correspondence between heads of state, such as in a Letter Of Credence accrediting an ambassador from one head of state to another. SELF-STYLED The term ''self-styled'' roughly means awarding a ''style'' to yourself, often without adequate justification or authority. However, often people style themselves with '' Title s'', rather than true ''styles''. SEE ALSO
EXTERNAL LINKS
FOOTNOTE 1 Though Republic of Ireland does not possess a Privy Council, the style is still used. The Lord Mayor Of Dublin is still styled the Right Honourable, as previous lord mayors of Dublin were ''ex-officio'' members of the former Irish Privy Council until its abolition in 1922. |
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