Card of the Day: The Coronets of a Prince or Duke of the Royal Blood and a Duke

We conclude our look at the coronets of the British peerage with the coronets of a Prince or Duke of the Royal Blood and a Duke.
There’s a distinction to be made in the titles. A Prince, obviously, is a prince and the son of a monarch or a descendant of a person of princely status. A Royal Duke is a duke who is a member of the British Royal Family, and is, therefore, entitled to the style of "His Royal Highness.”

A non-Royal duke (male) or duchess (female) is a member of the nobility. This is historically of the highest rank in the peerage below the monarch. Historically, Dukes or Duchesses control a duchy. For example, in our online novel, Punch’s Cousin, Julian, the Duke of Fallbridge is a non-Royal Duke. His title is inherited, but he is not a member of the Royal Family, and is therefore not entitled to the style, “His Royal Highness.” Subsequently, he is referred to as “Your Grace.”

Coronet of a Duke of the Royal Blood

While non-royal dukes are entitled to a coronet of eight strawberry leaves, to bear at a coronation and on his coat of arms, royal dukes are entitled to princely coronets (four crosses patée alternating with four strawberry leaves). The coronet of a Royal Duke will often bear a fleur-de-lis. A Royal Duke also bears six rows of black dots in the ermine, as opposed to four rows of dots for a duke.

Coronet of a Non-Royal Duke

Coronet of Charles, the Prince of Wales
The Royal Collection