what is the difference between a duke and an earl?
358717
probably a few thousands of acres :-)
719095
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liege_lord
174072
Esquire (abbreviated Esq.) was originally a social rank above that of mere gentleman, allowed, for example, to the sons of nobles and gentry who did not possess any other title. A gentleman, on this basis, was designated Mr (before his name) whereas an Esquire was so designated (with no prefix before the name) after his name. \n\nToday in the USA the term refers to both men and women who have finished law school, taken the bar exam, and passed the bar exam.
568906
On his wedding day in June 1999, Prince Edward was created the Earl of Wessex and as a result of this, his wife became HRH the Countess of Wessex. Had Edward not been given a title, his wife Sophie would have been known as HRH Princess Edward. \n\nAs the younger son of a Duke, the wife of Prince Michael of Kent, upon marriage, became known as Princess Michael of Kent. \n\nWhen a woman marries into the royal family, she takes the title of her husband. She doesn't become a Princess in her own right, therefore Sophie is not entitled to be called Princess Sophie. During her marriage, Diana, Princess of Wales was inaccurately known as Princess Diana. Her official title upon marriage became HRH The Princess of Wales. \n\nAs for Prince Edward's daughter, Louise, as a grandchild of a sovereign in the male line, IS entitled to be known as HRH Princess Louise. However, it was decided at the time of her parents marriage that any children born would take the title of the children of an Earl and not be known as HRH/Prince or Princess. This decision was made to allow Louise, as a minor royal, to grow up with more freedom and without the burden that royal titles come with. \n\nHowever, it must be noted that Letter's Patent were never issued to officially prevent her from using her royal title. So at some point in the future she could, if she chose, decide to be known as HRH Princess Louise.
533496
Any! The Duke rules!!
886845
Cousin in law I guess. 'once removed' means one generation difference and 'cousin in law' sounds right in your situation.
472060
"Sir Duke"\n"Superstitious"\n\nBring the funk kid!
948869
King/Queen > Lord/Vassal > Knight > Serfs
1037502
Prince = Le Prince\nPrincesse - La Princesse
302890
My cousin did our genealogy and discovered our family descended from English royalty. I don't know his name, I was young and was kind of ho-hum about it at the time but other family members were real excited about it. Sorry, no link.
278750
This depends on which side the aunt is related on. \nUmtee if the aunt is your father's sister\nKhatlee if the aunt is your mother's sister.   \n(spelled phonetically)\nThis also applies to uncles\nUmee would be your father's brother\nKhalee would be your mother's brother
812554
Esquire (abbreviated Esq.) was originally a social rank above that of mere gentleman, allowed, for example, to the sons of nobles and gentry who did not possess any other title. A gentleman, on this basis, was designated Mr (before his name) whereas an Esquire was so designated (with no prefix before the name) after his name. A very late example of this distinction can be seen in the list of subscribers to The History of Elton by the Rev. Rose Fuller Whistler, published in 1882, which clearly distinguishes between subscribers designated "Mr" and those, of higher social position, designated "Esquire". Although somewhat old-fashioned, "Esq." is still widely used in upper class circles.\n\nIn the United States, there are no titled gentry or nobility. The suffix "Esq." has no legal meaning, and may in theory be adopted by anyone (at least, given the meaning, any male). In practice, it is used almost exclusively by lawyers (of both sexes), and so it may generally be assumed when it appears on business cards or stationery that it indicates that the person is a member of the bar.\n\nThat "esquire" may be used to indicate that an individual is a lawyer is a remnant of the British practice, in which barristers claimed the status of Esquire and solicitors used the term "gentleman". In the United States, though a lawyer may choose to specialize in litigation or other types of law, there are no licensing or bar membership distinctions between the equivalent roles of barrister and solicitor.\n\n\n[edit] United Kingdom\nIn the United Kingdom (and, before the Act of Union, in England), tables of precedence were from time to time drawn up and they invariably ended, for men, with the ranks of Esquire and Gentleman in that order.\n\nFrom time to time, attempts were made formally to define those entitled to the rank of Esquire, as opposed to Gentleman. A typical definition is as follows:\n\nThe eldest sons of knights and their eldest sons in perpetual succession \nThe eldest sons of younger sons of peers and their eldest sons in perpetual succession \nThose who bear special office in the Royal Household \nSheriffs while in office. \nJustices of the Peace while in commission \nCommissioners of the Court of Bankruptcy \nMasters of the Supreme Court \nDeputy Lieutenants and Commissioners of Lieutenancy \nQueen's Counsel \nSerjeants-at-law (of whom none have been appointed since the 19th century) \nRoyal Academicians \nOfficers of the Royal Navy with rank of Lieutenant or higher, of the Army with rank of Captain or higher, or of the Royal Air Force with rank of Flight Lieutenant or higher \nBachelors of Divinity, Law, or Physic, and others (note that these were all traditionally post-graduate degrees, not first degrees). \nPersons to whom the title is granted by the Monarch \n\nHowever, formal definitions such as these were proposed because there was, in reality, no fixed criterion distinguishing those designated "Esquire": it was essentially a matter of impression as to whether a person qualified for this status. William Segar, Garter King of Arms (the senior officer of arms at the College of Arms), wrote in 1602: "And who so can make proofe, that his Ancestors or himselfe, haue had Armes, or can procure them by purchase, may be called Armiger or Esquier." Honor military, and ciuill (1602; lib. 4, cap. 15, p. 228).\n\nThe use of Esquire (as Esq.) had become ubiquitous in the United Kingdom by the late 20th century, for example being applied by banks to all men who did not have a grander title. Although the College of Arms continues to restrict use of the word Esquire in official grants of arms to some (not even all) of those in the table above, it uses the term Esquire in all its correspondence, even to those who do not fall within any of the definitions in the table. Many people in the United Kingdom no longer appreciate that there is any distinction between "
452581
They've always used Wales as their last name in school ever since they were small children. It helped them fit in not being a "Windsor" in class. \nAs for last names in general, the royal family tends to use whatever names they want willy-nilly. They don't need last names, and only recently have royals really used them, because more and more of them have more regular "civilian" style lives, outside of the palace. \nPrince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, goes by Edward Wessex, but before he got married and got that title, he used to go by Edward Windsor. His wife Sophie also goes by Sophie Wessex. Prince Andrew (the Duke of York)'s daughters both go by Beatrice and Eugenie York. \nIt's just a way of distinguishing themselves from one another and trying to fit into the populace a little better.\nLast names really don't mean too much to them.\nAnd in 1960, the Queen made it "law" that her descedants would take the surname Mountbatten-Windsor to include her husband's last name, not just her own. And Windsor, I believe, was not a family name. George V changed it from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (which WAS a family name) to keep it less German sounding.
985463
Apart from their name... they are different regiments and have a different history and different personnel!\n\nAsk for more specifics and you will get a better answer!\n\nIt's like saying whats the different between a ford focus and a mondea... they are both cars by ford, but they are different cars by ford!
336959
Prince charles has been divorced. Princess anne has been divorced. Im not sure if Prince Andrew and fergie are divorced. Prince edward isnt divorced
1044257
Henry of France   \nor\n\nRooyne of England
781451
I could be wrong, but I think it is called Sir Duke.