I wonder who is next, among European royals, to be stripped of their princely titles and the qualification of (Royal) Highness ... Has there ever been talk in the UK of removing these titles and styles from the Duke and Duchess of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael, Princess Alexandra, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester?
In the past, death rates were high, and royals typically married their own kind (indeed, titles and styles have always been unlimited in dynastic male lines in German dynasties).
In today's world, however, unless one is the heir, he doesn't really stand a reasonable chance of succeeding to the throne. And unless one is the sovereign, he doesn't really have that much to do -- unless one is the Princess Royal, who always finds things to do.
So streamlining royal families and restricting titles makes sense, to a degree. And indeed, if one chooses not to live like a royal, he really should not style himself with such a title: it's a lot like trying to have your cake and eat it, too.
But it could also be a chicken-and-egg situation: if one is not CALLED a prince(ess), can he be expected to live like one -- taking on royal duties and engagements?
It all began with Countess Eloise of Orange-Nassau: fortunately, she didn't get stripped of any royal title (rather, it was determined before her birth that she would not be styled as a princess). And it seems to me that things have been carried to extremes in recent times, in other royal houses ...
To be sure, many have brought it upon themselves: witness the shenanigans of Princess Martha of Norway, Harry and Meghan. Perhaps things would be different, had junior members of the various royal families of Europe had married at least nobles and managed to comport themselves with greater decorum ...
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