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| Royal and Diplomatic Titles: A Guide to Who's Who | Dr. Tahir Mahmood |
Decoding Royal and Diplomatic Titles: A Guide to Who's Who
Ever found yourself reading a news article about a royal tour or an international summit and getting tangled in a web of acronyms like HRH, HH, and HE? You're not alone. These honorifics, or styles of address, are more than just fancy letters; they are a formal system of respect, hierarchy, and protocol that defines a person's status.
Understanding these titles is key to understand the worlds of royalty, diplomacy, and international relations. Let's break down the most common ones.
The Royal Ranks: Majesty, Royal Highness, and Highness
These titles are typically hereditary and are reserved for members of a monarchy. The hierarchy is quite clear.
- HM - His or Her Majesty: This is the top tier. HM is reserved exclusively for reigning monarchs, such as a King or Queen. For example, King Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is addressed as His Majesty (HM), and King Charles III of the United Kingdom is addressed as His Majesty (HM). The style for an emperor or empress is His/Her Imperial Majesty (HIM).
- HRH - His or Her Royal Highness: This is the next level down and is one of the most well-known royal titles. It is granted to the highest-ranking members of a royal family, usually the direct children and grandchildren of the monarch. For example, Muhammad bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is titled His Royal Highness (HRH), and William, The Prince of Wales, is styled as HRH The Prince of Wales. Spouses of those holding the HRH title often receive it as well, such as HRH The Princess of Wales. It signifies a very close blood relationship to the sovereign and a senior status within the royal house.
- HH - His or Her Highness: This title is a step below HRH. It is typically used for royals who are more distant relatives of the monarch, such as great-grandchildren or members of cadet branches of the family. It can also be the style used by the rulers of smaller principalities or emirates. For instance, the ruling emirs of the United Arab Emirates are often addressed as His Highness.
Titles of Office: Excellency and Eminence
These titles are not typically hereditary. Instead, they are attached to a specific high-ranking office and are used to show respect for the position the person holds.
- HE - His or Her Excellency: This is a widely used title in diplomacy and government for high-ranking officials. It is most commonly applied to:
- Heads of State (who are not monarchs), such as Presidents. For example, "His Excellency, the President of France."
- Heads of Government, like Prime Ministers in some, but not all, nations.
- Ambassadors and High Commissioners.
- Governors or Governors-General. The title His Excellency is a sign of respect for the sovereign authority of the state they represent.
- HE - His Eminence: While it shares the same acronym, this title is entirely different and is used almost exclusively for the topmost religious scholars, such as the recently late Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, His Eminence Shaikh Abdul Aziz al-Shaikh (RA).
Other Notable Titles
While the titles above are the most common, you may encounter a few others in formal settings:
- The Right Honorable (The Rt Hon.): Used in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms for senior officials like cabinet ministers, Privy Counsellors, and Prime Ministers.
- The Honorable (The Hon.): A broader title used for various officials, including certain judges, junior government ministers, and the children of some peers.
- HIH - His or Her Imperial Highness: Used for members of an Imperial Family, such as the Imperial House of Japan. It is the imperial equivalent of HRH.
Correctly using these titles is more than just good manners—it's a crucial part of diplomatic and formal protocol that acknowledges a person's rank, role, and the traditions they represent.
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