This page is for proposed changes to the Wikipedia:Naming conventions (names and titles) page.
Other royals
For royalty other than monarchs:
- If they hold a princely substantive title, use "{first name}, {title}". Examples: Charles, Prince of Wales, Anne, Princess Royal, Felipe, Prince of Asturias.
- If a prince(ss) holds a substantive title that is not princely (a peerage, for instance), use "Prince(ss) {first name}, {title}". Examples: Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. Numerals are not used. Example: Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, not "Prince Richard, 2nd Duke of Gloucester".
- Use "Prince(ss) {first name} of ..." where a prince/ss has a territorial suffix by virtue of their parent's title, e.g., Prince William of Wales, Princess Beatrice of York, Prince Arthur of Connaught, etc.
- Where they have no substantive title, use the form "{title} {name} of {country}," e.g., Princess Irene of Greece. Use only the highest prefix title the person ever held. Deceased queen consorts should not have a title mentioned, e.g., Anne of Denmark. Using royal titles for more junior royals will enable users to distinguish between royal consorts and others. A prefix title can be used only when it was held and used by the person. This means that roughly before the 17th century, prince/ss would not be prefixed automatically.
- When dealing with a Crown Prince(ss) (however not consort) of a state, use the form "{name}, Crown Prince(ss) of {state}" unless there is a clear formal title awarded to a prince which defines their status as crown prince (e.g., 'Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark', but 'Charles, Prince of Wales', 'Felipe, Prince of Asturias', etc)
- Do not use styles as part of a title of an article; e.g., Princess Irene of Greece not HRH Princess Irene of Greece.
- Do not use 'surnames' in article names. Most royal families do not have or use surnames. Many that do have different personal surnames from the name of their Royal House. Only use surnames in article titles if this is how the royal is overwhelmingly known, which would normally be only in elective monarchies, like that of Poland. Example: Jakub Ludwik Sobieski
- Past Queen Consorts are referred to by their pre-marital name or pre-marital title, not by their consort name, as without an ordinal (which they lack) it is difficult to distinguish various consorts; e.g., use Catherine of Aragon not Queen Catherine, as there have been many queen consorts called Catherine. This should also be the form followed for consorts of other sovereign rulers, such as Grand Dukes, reigning Dukes, reigning Princes, and so forth.
- Existing Royal Consorts are referred to by their consort name, e.g., Queen Sofia of Spain. But when she dies, she will revert to her pre-marital title, ie, Sofia of Greece. As widow, some appropriate addition (usually announced by the country in question) will be amended to (such as Queen Dowager or Queen Mother), with the new Queen of Spain being referred to by the consort designation. The same rule applies to male royal consorts.
- Use the most senior title received by a royal or noble personage. For example, George V (King of the United Kingdom) is referred to as such, not Prince George, Duke of York or George, Prince of Wales, his earlier titles.
- When two individuals were known by the same name, use birth and death dates to disambiguate them. Examples: Prince Henry of Prussia (1726-1802), Prince Henry of Prussia (1862-1929)
The Russian Imperial House
- Junior male dynasts of the Imperial House of Russia should be at the form "{Title Firstname Patronymic} of Russia". Examples: Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich of Russia, Prince Roman Petrovich of Russia.
- The same form should be followed for women born into the family, unless they became the consorts of sovereign rulers of foreign countries. Examples: Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna of Russia, Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolayevna of Russia
- Women born into the Romanov family who became sovereigns of foreign countries should be at the form "Name Patronymic of Russia". Examples: Anna Pavlovna of Russia, Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. [Possible exception: Grand Duchess Olga Nikolayevna, who became Queen Alexandra of Württemberg. I have no idea where she should go)
- Empress-consorts of Russia, who usually changed their name upon conversion to orthodoxy, should use the form: "Russianname Patronymic (Birthname of Birthcountry)". Examples: Alexandra Fyodorovna (Charlotte of Prussia), Alexandra Fyodorovna (Alix of Hesse)
- Non-Russian princesses who married into the imperial family should have the form "Title Russian Name Patronymic (Birthname of Birthcountry)". Examples: Grand Duchess Elisabeth Fyodorovna (Elisabeth of Hesse), Grand Duchess Olga Fyodorovna (Cecilie of Baden).