Begegnungen mit dem Adel sind eine Herausforderung.Wie begrüßt man einen Lord, eine Baronin oder gar die Königin? Diese Anleitung hilft Ihnen, Adelige stilsicher zu begrüßen, ohne in ein Fettnäpfchen zu treten.
Should you happen to meet a member of the British royal family or other nobility, would you know how to speak to them? What do you call them to acknowledge their status? This guidelines will help you greet and talk to members of the nobility without making embarrassing mistakes.
To bow or not to bow?
You do not have to bow or curtsey to a member of the royal family, especially if you are not a citizen of the UK or the Commonwealth. British and Commonwealth citizens, on the other hand often bow from the neck (not from the waist) if they are male or make a small curtsey (placing the right foot be-
hind the left heel and bending the knees slightly) if they are women.
How to address the aristocracy
Here is a table with titles and forms of address – in person and in writing – for members of the aristocracy.
Title | How to address | How to start a letter | What to write on | German |
The Queen | Your Highness | Madam | HRH Quenn Elisabeth II | Königin |
A princess | Your Highness | Madam | HRH Princess Ann | Prinzessin |
A prince | Your Highness | Sir | HRH Prince Charles | Prinz |
Duke | Duke or Your Grace | Dear Duke of XXX | His Grace the Duke | Herzog |
Duchess | Your Grace or Duchess | Dear Duchess of XXX | Her Grace the Duchess | Herzogin |
Marquess | My Lord or Lord XXX | Dear Lord XXX | The Most Hon. the | Marquis |
Marchioness | My Lady or Lady XXX | Dear Lady XXX | The Most Hon. the | Marquise |
Earl | My Lord or Lord XXX | Dear Lord XXX | The Earl of XXX | Graf |
Countess | My Lady or Lady XXX | Dear Lady XXX | The Countess of XXX | Gräfin |
Viscount | My Lord or Lord XXX | Dear Lord XXX | The Viscount of XXX | Vicomte |
Viscountess | My Lady or Lady XXX | Dear Lady XXX | The Viscountess of XXX | Vicomtesse |
Baron | My Lord or Lord XXX | Dear Lord XXX | The Lord XXX | Baron/ |
Baroness | My Lady or Lady XXX | Dear Lady XXX | The Baroness XXX | Baronin/ |
What is the Commonwealth?
The Commonwealth (in full the Commonwealth of Nations) is an international association consisting of the UK and a further 52 states that (with the exception of Mozambique) were previously part of the British Empire. The British monarch is the symbolic head of the Commonwealth.