Why Isn’t Princess Eugenie a Duchess? Everything We Know About Princess Eugenie’s Royal Title
Following her wedding to Jack Brooksbank, royal fans want to know: Why isn’t Princess Eugenie a duchess? Upon their weddings to Prince William and Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle both received matching duchess titles to their husbands’ dukedom. So, why didn’t Princess Eugenie? Ahead, we take a closer look at the ins and outs of royal titles, including why Princess Eugenie is not a duchess.
Why isn’t Princess Eugenie a duchess
As a member of the royal family, Princess Eugenie was born into her Her Royal Highness status. But, upon her royal wedding to Jack Brooksbank, some though Queen Elizabeth II might bend royal family peerage (aka title) rules and grant her granddaughter a dukedom of her own.
However, in the royal family, official royal titles are passed through males. And, only sons and grandsons of the monarch receive royal dukedoms. While the monarch has multiple peerages to choose from, a royal dukedom is the highest ranking title in the royal family and typically granted to male members of the family upon marriage or majority. Similar to last names, women in the royal family take their husband’s title, making them a duchess (or another peerage).
If the queen were to bend the rules, she would have granted Jack Brooksbank a dukedom, which would automatically make Princess Eugenie a duchess. But, since Jack Brooksbank did not receive a royal title, Eugenie, in turn, did not become a duchess.
Princess Eugenie’s royal title
Prior to her royal wedding, Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York was Princess Eugenie’s royal title. And, although she had the option to keep her title in a similar format, the newlywed chose to drop “of York,” and is now known as Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie.
Dropping York from her title wasn’t the only way Princess Eugenie could have changed her official royal title. In addition to dropping York, she could have also done away with her “Her Royal Highness” status, too. However, dropping that from Princess Eugenie’s royal title would cause Eugenie to lose her current ranking in the royal family.
In addition to dropping aspects of her royal title, Princess Eugenie could have changed her name altogether and go by Lady Eugenie instead. She also could have added her husband’s last name to the title and gone by Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Brooksbank.
Jack Brooksbank’s royal title
Due to royal family tradition, many suspected Jack Brooksbank would not become a duke upon marriage. However, some thought he would receive some form of a royal title. That said, upon his wedding day, Jack Brooksbank did not receive peerage from the queen. Princess Eugenie is not a full-time member of the royal family (and therefore, neither is he), which is likely why he did not receive a royal title.
Will Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s children have a royal title?
According to royal family experts, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s children likely won’t have a royal title. “Since royal titles are passed through the male line, it is unlikely that [Princess Eugenie’s] children will have titles unless her husband Jack Brooksbank receives an earldom from the Queen,” royal historian Carolyn Harris said on her blog.
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