What does the title "HRH" mean?

HRH stands for “His/Her Royal Highness” and it is a style, not a title - in the same way that Mr or Mrs are styles not titles.

Previously, British Royals could also have had the style “His/Her Highness” (HH) - however this hasn’t been used since 1917. The style of HRH (and previously HH) are almost always granted alongside the title of Prince or Princess *

The rules that govern who has a right to the style HRH are laid down in several Letters Patent that have been issued by British monarchs over the last 100 years or so. The following Letters Patent currently apply:

Letters Patent 1917. Issued by George V, and forming the basis of the current system (subsequent Letters Patent only modify this system). Under these Letters Patent, the style of HRH and dignity of Prince/Princess is granted automatically to:

Children of a monarch

Male line grand children of a monarch

The eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales

Letters Patent 1996. Issued by Queen Elizabeth II. Removed the style HRH from the divorced wives of princes. Currently only applies to Sarah, Duchess of York.

Letters Patent 2012. Issued by Queen. Elizabeth II. Extended HRH automatically to all children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales.

As such, the following 24 members of the Royal Family hold the style HRH (at time of writing):

Prince William (as male line grandson of Elizabeth and son of Charles), and his wife (by right of marriage)

Prince Harry (as male line grandson of Elizabeth and son of Charles), and his wife (by right of marriage)

Prince George (as former child of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, and current male line grandchild of Charles )

Princess Charlotte (as former child of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, and current male line grandchild of Charles )

Prince Louis (as former child of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, and current male line grandchild of Charles )

Prince Archie (as male line grandchild of Charles)

Princess Lillibet (as male line grandchild of Charles)

Princess Ann (as child of Queen Elizabeth)

Prince Andrew (as child of Queen Elizabeth)

Princess Beatrice (as male line grandchild of Elizabeth)

Princess Eugenie (as male line grandchild of Elizabeth)

Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (as child of Queen Elizabeth) and his wife (by right of marriage)

Princess Louise (as male line grandchild of Elizabeth - although the title is currently not used)

Prince James (as male line grandchild of Elizabeth - although the title is currently not used)

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (as male line grandchild of George V) and his wife (by right of marriage)

Prince Richard (as male line grandchild of George V) and his wife (by right of marriage)

Prince Michael (as male line grandchild of George V) and his wife (by right of marriage)

Princess Alexandra (as male line grandchild of George V)

* Indeed, there is only one known occasion when HRH was granted to an individual without them also being granted the title Prince - and that is when Philip of Greece was made HRH the day before his wedding to Princess Elizabeth. He wasn’t made a Prince for another 10 years.

Since the time of King George V, it has been limited to children of the sovereign (or a former sovereign) and of the sovereign’s sons, and their wives. Its use is determined by the reigning monarch and though it was used routinely from princes’ or princesses’ 18th birthdays, a modern practice is emerging of allowing it only to members of the working royal family - that is those members of the family who regularly carry out public engagements on behalf of the sovereign.