British princess

A British princess is a princess who has the title of a Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In Britain, the title "Princess" and the use of the style "Royal Highness" can only be used for these persons:^[1]

the legitimate daughters of a British sovereign,
the legitimate male line granddaughters of a British sovereign,
the wife of a British prince.

Queen Elizabeth II issued Letters Patent dated 21 August 1996 stating that any woman divorced from a Prince of the United Kingdom would no longer be entitled to the style "Royal Highness". This has so far applied to Diana, Princess of Wales, and Sarah, Duchess of York.

List of princesses by birth since 1714 change

Full Name	Lifespan	Royal lineage	Right	Notes
Sophia Dorothea	1687–1757	Only daughter of King George I	Created Princess by the sovereign	Gained title in 1714 when her grandfather became King George I. Queen-consort of Prussia 1713–1740.
Anne	1709–1759	1st daughter of King George II	Created Princess by the sovereign	Gained title in 1714 when her grandfather became King George I. Princess of Orange.
Amelia Sophia Eleanor	1711–1786	2nd daughter of King George II	Created Princess by the sovereign	Gained title in 1714 when her grandfather became King George I.
Caroline Elizabeth	1713–1757	3rd daughter of King George II	Created Princess by the sovereign	Gained title in 1714 when her grandfather became King George I.
Mary	1723–1772	4th daughter of King George II	Princess from birth	Landgravine of Hesse-Kassel
Louise	1724–1751	5th daughter of King George II	Princess from birth	Queen consort of Denmark 1746–1751.
Augusta Frederica	1737–1813	1st daughter of Frederick Granddaughter of King George II	Princess from birth	Duchess of Brunswick 1780–1806.
Elizabeth Caroline	1741–1759	2nd daughter of Frederick Granddaughter of King George II	Princess from birth
Louise Anne	1749–1768	3rd daughter of Frederick Granddaughter of King George II	Princess from birth
Caroline Matilda	1751–1775	4th daughter of Frederick Granddaughter of King George II	Princess from birth	Queen consort of Denmark and Norway 1767–1775.
Charlotte Augusta Matilda	1766–1828	1st daughter of King George III	Princess from birth	Held the title 'The Princess Charlotte' from birth and formally styled Princess Royal in 1789. Queen consort of Württemberg 1806–1816.
Augusta Sophia	1768–1840	2nd daughter of King George III	Princess from birth
Elizabeth	1770–1840	3rd daughter of King George III	Princess from birth	Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg
Mary	1776–1857	4th daughter of King George III	Princess from birth	Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh
Sophia Matilda	1777–1848	5th daughter of King George III	Princess from birth
Amelia	1783–1810	6th daughter of King George III	Princess from birth
Sophia Matilda	1773–1844	1st daughter of Prince William Henry Great-Granddaughter of King George II	Princess from birth	Granted style of Royal Highness in 1816.^[2]
Caroline Augusta Maria	1774–1775	2nd daughter of Prince William Henry Great-Granddaughter of King George II	Princess from birth
Charlotte Augusta	1796–1817	Only daughter of King George IV	Princess from birth	Death in childbirth left Kingdom without direct line heir. Princess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.
Charlotte Augusta Louisa	1819–1819	1st daughter of King William IV	Princess from birth
Elizabeth Georgiana Adelaide	1820–1821	2nd daughter of King William IV	Princess from birth
Alexandrina Victoria later, Queen Victoria	1819–1901	Only daughter of Prince Edward Granddaughter of King George III	Princess from birth	Title held until she became Queen Victoria in 1837.
Augusta Caroline Charlotte Elizabeth Mary Sophia Louise	1822–1916	Granddaughter of King George III	Princess from birth	Daughter of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 1860–1904.
Mary Adelaide Wilhemina Elizabeth	1833–1897	Granddaughter of King George III Daughter of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge	Princess from birth	Mother of Queen Mary Duchess of Teck
Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa	1840–1901	1st daughter of Queen Victoria	Princess from birth	Held the title 'The Princess Victoria' from birth and styled 'The Princess Royal' in 1841. German Empress consort and Queen consort of Prussia 1888 Mother of William II, German Emperor and King of Prussia.
Alice Maud Mary	1843–1878	2nd daughter of Queen Victoria	Princess from birth	Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine 1877–1878.
Helena Augusta Victoria	1846–1923	3rd daughter of Queen Victoria	Princess from birth
Frederica Sophie Marie Henrietta Amelia Theresa	1848–1926	Great-granddaughter of King George III	Princess from birth	Title from birth until 30 November 1917,^[1] daughter of George V of Hanover.
Louise Caroline Alberta	1848–1939	4th daughter of Queen Victoria	Princess from birth
Marie Ernestine Josephine Adolphine Henrietta Theresa Elisabeth Alexandrina	1849–1904	Great-granddaughter of King George III	Princess from birth	Daughter of George V of Hanover.
Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore	1857–1944	5th daughter of Queen Victoria	Princess from birth	Princess Henry of Battenberg
Louise Victoria Alexandra Dagmar	1867–1931	1st daughter of King Edward VII	Princess from birth	Held the title 'Princess Louise of Wales' from birth, 'The Princess Louise' from her father's accession in 1901 Styled 'The Princess Royal' in 1905.
Victoria Alexandra Olga Mary	1868–1935	2nd daughter of King Edward VII	Princess from birth	Held the title 'Princess Victoria of Wales' from birth, 'The Princess Victoria' from her father's accession in 1901. Held title until death.
Maud Charlotte Mary Victoria	1869–1938	3rd daughter of King Edward VII	Princess from birth	Queen consort of Norway 1905–1938.
Marie Alexandra Victoria	1875–1938	Granddaughter of Queen Victoria	Princess from birth	Daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh Queen consort of Romania 1914–1927.
Victoria Melita	1876–1936	Granddaughter of Queen Victoria	Princess from birth	Daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine 1894–1901.
Alexandra Louise Olga Victoria	1878–1942	Granddaughter of Queen Victoria	Princess from birth	Daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh.
Marie Louise Victoria Caroline Amelia Alexandra Augusta Frederica	1879–1948	Great-great-granddaughter of King George III	Princess from birth	Title from birth until 30 November 1917 Daughter of Crown Prince Ernest Augustus of Hanover.
Margaret Victoria Charlotte Augusta Norah	1882–1920	Granddaughter of Queen Victoria	Princess from birth	Daughter of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn Crown Princess of Sweden 1907–1920.
Alexandra Marie Louise Olga Elizabeth Theresa Vera	1882–1963	Great-great-granddaughter of King George III Daughter of Crown Prince Ernst Augustus of Hanover.	Princess from birth	Title from birth until 1917
Alice Mary Victoria Augusta Pauline	1883–1981	Granddaughter of Queen Victoria	Princess from birth	Daughter of Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany.
Beatrice Leopoldine Victoria	1884–1966	Granddaughter of Queen Victoria	Princess from birth	Daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh.
Olga Adelaide Louise Marie Alexandrina Agnes	1884–1958	Great-great-granddaughter of King George III Daughter of Crown Prince Ernst Augustus of Hanover.	Princess from birth	Title from birth until 30 November 1917
Victoria Patricia Helena Elizabeth	1886–1974	Granddaughter of Queen Victoria	Princess from birth	Title held from her birth until 1919 when she relinquished her title and style upon marriage,^[3] Daughter of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn.
Alexandra Victoria Alberta Edwina Louise	1891–1959	Granddaughter in female line of King Edward VII	Created Princess by the sovereign	Title granted by Letters Patent of 1905,^[4] Daughter of Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife.
Maud Alexandra Victoria Georgina Bertha	1893–1945	Granddaughter in female line of King Edward VII	Created Princess by the sovereign	Title granted by Letters Patent of 1905,^[4] stopped use of title after her marriage in 1923, although it was never formally relinquished. Daughter of Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife.
Victoria Alexandra Alice Mary	1897–1965	Daughter of King George V	Princess from birth	Held the title 'Princess Mary of York' from birth, 'The Princess Mary' on her father's accession in 1910 Styled 'The Princess Royal' in 1932.
Sibylla Calma Maria Alice Bathildis Feodora	1907–1972	Great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria	Princess from birth	Title from birth until 30 November 1917 Daughter of Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Albany. Duchess of Västerbotten from 1932 to her death Mother of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
Caroline Matilda Helen Louise Augusta Beatrice	1912–1983	Great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria	Princess from birth	Title from birth until 30 November 1917 Daughter of Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Albany.
Frederica Louisa Thyra Victoria Margareta Olga Cécilie Isabella Christa	1917–1981	Great-great-great-granddaughter of King George III	Princess from birth	Title from birth until 30 November 1917 Daughter of Ernest Augustus, Prince of Hanover and Duke of Brunswick.
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary later, Queen Elizabeth II	1926–2022	1st daughter of King George VI	Princess from birth	Held the title 'Princess Elizabeth of York' from birth 'The Princess Elizabeth' from her father's accession in 1936, until her succession in 1952 as Queen Elizabeth II.
Margaret Rose	1930–2002	2nd daughter of King George VI	Princess from birth	Held the title 'Princess Margaret of York' from birth 'The Princess Margaret' from her father's accession in 1936 'The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon' after her marriage in 1960 Held title until death.
Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel	1936–present	Granddaughter of King George V	Princess from birth	Daughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent.
Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise	1950–present	Daughter of Queen Elizabeth II	Princess from birth	Held the title 'Princess Anne of Edinburgh' from birth, 'The Princess Anne' from her mother's accession Styled 'The Princess Royal' in 1987.
Beatrice Elizabeth Mary	1988–present	Granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II	Princess from birth	Daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York. Held the title 'Princess Beatrice of York' from birth, until her marriage in 2020. After her marriage, named Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
Eugenie Victoria Helena	1990–present	Granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II	Princess from birth	Daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York. Held the title 'Princess Eugenie of York' from birth, until her marriage in 2018. After marriage named Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank.
Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary	2003–present	Granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II	Princess from birth	Daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh styled as an earl's daughter per her parents' wishes and the will of the sovereign. (see her titles and styles).
Charlotte Elizabeth Diana	2015–present	Granddaughter of King Charles III	Princess from birth	Daughter of William, Prince of Wales Holds the title 'Princess Charlotte of Wales'.
Lilibet Diana	2021–present	Granddaughter of King Charles III	Princess since the accession of her grandfather	Daughter of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Holds the title 'Princess Lilibet of Sussex'. Under Letters Patent issued by King George V in November 1917, she legally became a British Princess upon the accession of her grandfather, King Charles III on 8 September 2022.

List of princesses by marriage since 1714 change

Unless specified title held from marriage to death or present day
Title of Princess where spouse's title was eliminated by Letters Patent issued 30 November 1917 or Order in Council in 1919


Princess	Birth	Death	Marriage	Husband	Comments
Princess Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach	1683	1737	1705	George of Hanover	Gained title by accession of her father-in-law as King George I in 1714 and held it until her husband's accession as King George II in 1727.
Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha	1719	1772	1736	Frederick, Prince of Wales
Maria Walpole	1736	1807	1766	Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh
Anne Luttrell	1742	1808	1771	Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn	Gained title by her second marriage.
Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia	1767	1820	1791	Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
Duchess Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel	1768	1821	1795	George, Prince of Wales	Held title until her husband's accession as King George IV in 1820.
Duchess Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz	1778	1841	1815	Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale	Gained title by her third marriage. Became Queen of Hanover on her husband's accession as King Ernest Augustus in 1837.
Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel	1797	1889	1818	Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge
Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld	1786	1861	1818	Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn	Gained title by her second marriage.
Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen	1792	1849	1818	Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews	Held title until her husband's accession as King William IV in 1830.
Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg	1818	1907	1843	George, Crown Prince of Hanover	Became Queen of Hanover on her husband's accession as King George V in 1851.
Princess Alexandra of Denmark	1844	1925	1863	Albert Edward, Prince of Wales	Held title until her husband's accession as King Edward VII in 1901.
Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia	1853	1920	1874	Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh	Held title until her husband's accession as Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1893.
Princess Thyra of Denmark	1853	1933	1878	Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover	Husband lost British title of Prince in 1917.
Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia	1860	1917	1879	Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont	1861	1922	1882	Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany
Princess Mary of Teck	1867	1953	1893	Prince George, Duke of York	Held title until her husband's accession as King George V in 1910.
Princess Victoria Adelaide of Schleswig-Holstein	1885	1970	1905	Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Albany	Husband lost British title of prince in 1919.
Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia	1892	1980	1913	Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick	Husband lost British title of Prince in 1917. Princess Viktoria Luise was born Princess of Prussia being the only daughter of the German Emperor Wilhelm II.
Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon	1900	2002	1923	Prince Albert, Duke of York	Held title until her husband's accession as King George VI in 1936.
Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark	1906	1968	1934	Prince George, Duke of Kent	Princess of Greece and Denmark by birth. However, when she was widowed she reverted her title to Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, styling herself as a princess suo jure in the UK.
Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott	1901	2004	1935	Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester	When she was widowed in 1974 she was granted special permission to style herself as a princess suo jure.
Katharine Worsley	1933		1961	Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen	1946		1972	Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz	1945		1978	Prince Michael of Kent	Gained title by her second marriage.
Lady Diana Spencer	1961	1997	1981	Charles, Prince of Wales	On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales. She lost style of Her Royal Highness upon divorce, and was restyled as "Diana, Princess of Wales".^[5]
Sarah Ferguson	1959		1986	Prince Andrew, Duke of York	On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of York. She lost style of Her Royal Highness upon divorce, and was restyled as "Sarah, Duchess of York".^[6]
Sophie Rhys-Jones	1965		1999	Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh	On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex and Viscountess Severn.^[7] On 10 March 2019, the Queen granted the Earldom of Forfar to the Earl of Wessex for use in Scotland. On 10 March 2023, her husband become Duke of Edinburgh, Sophie is thus Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh.
Camilla Shand	1947		2005	Charles, Prince of Wales	By her second marriage she became: Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Rothesay, Countess of Chester etc.^[8] She also held the title of Princess of Wales but did not use it because the title became strongly associated with its previous holder, Diana.^[9] On 9 April 2021, she became Duchess of Edinburgh.^[10] She held the titles until her husband's accession as Charles III on 8 September 2022, when she became Her Majesty The Queen.^[11]
Catherine Middleton	1982		2011	William, Prince of Wales	On marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn and Lady Carrickfergus. On 8 September 2022, she became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge. On 9 September 2022, she became Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales.^[12]^[13]^[14]
Meghan Markle	1981		2018	Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex	By her second marriage she became: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton and Lady Kilkeel. She has elected^[15] not to use the style of Her Royal Highness after spring 2020.

References change

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Velde, François (9 April 2012). "Royal Styles and Titles – 1917 Letters Patent". Heraldica. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
↑ Royal Styles and Titles – 1816 Letters Patent.
↑ Royal Styles and Titles – 1919 Letters Patent.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Royal Styles and Titles – 1905 Letters Patent.
↑ British Monarchy (2009). "Diana, Princess of Wales — Marriage and family". Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
↑ "The Royal Family" (PDF). royal.gov.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
↑ British Monarchy (2009). "The Countess of Wessex – Styles and titles". Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
↑ Jack, Ian (11 March 2005). "Lay of the last duchess". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
↑ "The Royal Title that Camilla and Princess Diana Shared". Harper's Bazaar. 13 November 2018. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019. When she married Prince Charles, "Camilla was not popular or well liked, [though] this has changed a lot since the marriage as Camilla has taken on a lot of patronages and Charles is a lot happier," [Marlene] Koenig says. "Still, [there was] a lot of tension and anger among a certain element of the population—so it was decided that Camilla would be styled as the Duchess of Cornwall, even though, of course, she is the Princess of Wales."
↑ "HRH The Duke of Edinburgh". College of Arms. 9 April 2021. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
↑ House of Commons Hansard (4 April 2005). "Royal Marriage". Retrieved 10 February 2017.
↑ "Styles and titles – The Duchess of Cambridge". The Royal Household. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013. Miss Catherine Middleton became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn and Lady Carrickfergus.
↑ Rayner, Gordon (2 August 2013). "Royal baby: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge register birth of Prince George". The Telegraph. The Duchess is entitled to use the title Princess William of Wales, but has never described herself as such because the couple decided to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after the titles were conferred on them by the Queen on their wedding day.
↑ Rayner, Gordon (2 August 2013). "Duchess Kate: Princess of the United Kingdom (but you can call me mummy)". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Although she has never used the name, the Duchess is entitled to refer to herself as Princess William of Wales, as well as being Countess of Strathearn and Lady Carrickfergus.
↑ "Harry and Meghan drop royal duties and HRH titles". BBC News. 19 January 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.

[LettersPatentNov1917-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Velde, François (9 April 2012). "Royal Styles and Titles – 1917 Letters Patent". Heraldica. Retrieved 6 February 2017.

[2] Royal Styles and Titles – 1816 Letters Patent.

[3] Royal Styles and Titles – 1919 Letters Patent.

[fife-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Royal Styles and Titles – 1905 Letters Patent.

[marriage&family-5] British Monarchy (2009). "Diana, Princess of Wales — Marriage and family". Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2017.

[TRF-6] "The Royal Family" (PDF). royal.gov.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.

[7] British Monarchy (2009). "The Countess of Wessex – Styles and titles". Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2017.

[8] Jack, Ian (11 March 2005). "Lay of the last duchess". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 April 2021.

[9] "The Royal Title that Camilla and Princess Diana Shared". Harper's Bazaar. 13 November 2018. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019. When she married Prince Charles, "Camilla was not popular or well liked, [though] this has changed a lot since the marriage as Camilla has taken on a lot of patronages and Charles is a lot happier," [Marlene] Koenig says. "Still, [there was] a lot of tension and anger among a certain element of the population—so it was decided that Camilla would be styled as the Duchess of Cornwall, even though, of course, she is the Princess of Wales."

[10] "HRH The Duke of Edinburgh". College of Arms. 9 April 2021. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.

[11] House of Commons Hansard (4 April 2005). "Royal Marriage". Retrieved 10 February 2017.

[12] "Styles and titles – The Duchess of Cambridge". The Royal Household. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013. Miss Catherine Middleton became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn and Lady Carrickfergus.

[13] Rayner, Gordon (2 August 2013). "Royal baby: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge register birth of Prince George". The Telegraph. The Duchess is entitled to use the title Princess William of Wales, but has never described herself as such because the couple decided to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after the titles were conferred on them by the Queen on their wedding day.

[14] Rayner, Gordon (2 August 2013). "Duchess Kate: Princess of the United Kingdom (but you can call me mummy)". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Although she has never used the name, the Duchess is entitled to refer to herself as Princess William of Wales, as well as being Countess of Strathearn and Lady Carrickfergus.

[15] "Harry and Meghan drop royal duties and HRH titles". BBC News. 19 January 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.

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