In the Commonwealth realms, a Royal Style and Titles Act is passed in order to declare the Sovereign's formal title.
The most significant of these Acts is the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act 1927, which was passed in the United Kingdom in recognition of the creation of the Irish Free State, a development that necessitated a change in King George V's title.
The 1927 Act was amended by:
- the India Independence Act (10 & 11 Geo. 6. c. 30) and Order in Council Approving Proclamation Altering the Style and Titles Appertaining to the Crown by Omitting the Words "Emperor of India" on 22 June 1948. Because of this change the King's title in the English language became:
George VI by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith
- An Act to provide for an alteration of the Royal Style and Titles. 1 & 2 Eliz. 2 c. 9 . Pursuant to this Act, the Sovereign's title became:
Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith
The Act signified a change in the way that the Crown in the United Kingdom related to the Crown in other Commonwealth realms, opened the way for the monarch to have a different title in each Dominion.
Interestingly, in December 1952 the Dominion governments agreed that the practice of separate titles should continue in the reign of the new monarch, Elizabeth II. Each country adopted its own titles; the British Act of Parliament clearly stated that it applied only to the United Kingdom and those overseas territories whose foreign relations were controlled by the UK government. For Britain, the act also tidied up use of the title of King of Ireland, following Ireland's declaration as a republic in 1949. Henceforth, Elizabeth would be known in the UK as Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rather than of Great Britain and Ireland separately.
Famous quotes containing the words royal, style, titles and/or act:
“High from the summit of a craggy cliff,
Hung o’er the deep, such as amazing frowns
On utmost Kilda’s shore, whose lonely race
Resign the setting sun to Indian worlds,
The royal eagle draws his vigorous young”
—James Thomson (1700–1748)
“The flattering, if arbitrary, label, First Lady of the Theatre, takes its toll. The demands are great, not only in energy but eventually in dramatic focus. It is difficult, if not impossible, for a star to occupy an inch of space without bursting seams, cramping everyone else’s style and unbalancing a play. No matter how self-effacing a famous player may be, he makes an entrance as a casual neighbor and the audience interest shifts to the house next door.”
—Helen Hayes (1900–1993)
“Lear. Dost thou call me fool, boy?
Fool. All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born with.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Always strive to find out what to do by thinking, without asking anybody. If you continually do this, you will soon act like a grown-up woman. For want of doing this, a very great number of grown-up people act like children.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)