Page "British Royal Family" Paragraph 223

Women marrying sons and male-line grandsons of a Sovereign are normally styled Her Royal Highness followed by the feminised version of her husband's highest title.

The wives of royal peers are known as " HRH The Duchess of ..." or " HRH The Countess of ..." Thus, the wives of HRH The Duke of Cambridge, HRH The Earl of Wessex, HRH The Duke of Gloucester and HRH The Duke of Kent are " HRH The Duchess of Cambridge ," " HRH The Countess of Wessex ," " HRH The Duchess of Gloucester ," and " HRH The Duchess of Kent ," respectively.

Before their divorces, Diana, Princess of Wales and Sarah, Duchess of York enjoyed the respective titles and styles of " HRH The Princess of Wales ," and " HRH The Duchess of York ".

However, when a woman marries a prince who does not hold a peerage, she is known as HRH Princess husband's Christian name, followed by whatever territorial or titular designation.

For example, the former Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz enjoys the title and style of " HRH Princess Michael of Kent ," and not " HRH Princess Marie-Christine of Kent.

" Similarly, the former Birgitte Eva van Deurs was titled " HRH Princess Richard of Gloucester " from her wedding until her husband succeeded to his father's dukedom in 1974.

The widows of princes remain an HRH.

However, under HM The Queen's 21 August 1996 letters patent, divorced wives and widows who subsequently remarry of a Prince of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland " shall not be entitled to hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of Royal Highness.