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Will Princess Eugenie Become a Duchess? How Her Title Will Change After the Royal Wedding

With the upcoming royal wedding, many are wondering: Will Princess Eugenie become a duchess? In the royal family, there are many wedding rules and traditions — some of which involve an official title change. However, even though she is a royal, Princess Eugenie won’t automatically become a duchess upon marriage. Up ahead, we take a …
by Jessie Quinn
Published on
2 min read

With the upcoming royal wedding, many are wondering: Will Princess Eugenie become a duchess? In the royal family, there are many wedding rules and traditions — some of which involve an official title change. However, even though she is a royal, Princess Eugenie won’t automatically become a duchess upon marriage. Up ahead, we take a look at how her title might change once she marries Jack Brooksbank on October 12, 2018.

Many want to know what Princess Eugenie’s title will be after her royal wedding. | Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

Will Princess Eugenie become a duchess?

In the royal family, dukedoms are a huge deal. In fact, they’re considered the highest ranking title — even above prince and princess. That said, not every blood relative to the queen becomes a duke or duchess. Dukedoms are typically granted to sons or grandsons of the monarch upon marriage or majority. And, should the monarch wish the give such honor to a member of her family, their wife automatically becomes a duchess.

According to the royal family rules, Princess Eugenie will not become a duchess after marrying Jack Brooksbank. Because Jack Brooksbank is a commoner and subsequently not related to the queen of England, he likely won’t receive a dukedom upon marriage. Which means Princess Eugenie will not become a duchess like her cousins-in-law, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle.

However, not everything is by the books. Should Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie become full-time members of royalty — like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — the queen could decide to bend the rules for her future grandson-in-law.

What will Princess Eugenie’s title be?

If she doesn’t become a duchess, what will Princess Eugenie’s title be after the royal wedding? She allegedly has a few options to choose from — and the choice is entirely up to her! And, get this: She doesn’t have to change her name entirely.

Instead of going by HRH Princess Eugenie of York, she can simplify it and go by HRH Princess Eugenie. However, there’s a chance she will want to adopt some form of her husband’s name. If that’s the case, she could change her name to HRH Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Brooksbank. And, if she prefers to skip the royal title, she could forgo her HRH (Her Royal Highness) status altogether and be called Lady Eugenie.

While it is likely Princess Eugenie won’t become a duchess, the queen could still make an exception. The royal family has recently let up on a lot of old-fashioned rules and become much more gender neutral. Case in point: The Succession to the Crown Act 2015 says royal succession is no longer subject to gender. Any royal princess born after October 28, 2011 — such as Princess Charlotte — can keep their place in line to the throne, even if they have a younger brother.

With the recent equality efforts by the royal family, anything is possible. That said, as it stands Princess Eugenie is not a full-time member of the royal family. Should that be a requirement for dukedom by the queen, she either will not be named a duchess or will have to uphold similar roles and responsibilities as her cousins Prince William and Prince Harry.

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