What’s the Definition of Prince?

Definition Of A Prince

The classic definition of a prince is the son of a king or queen. 

This is the simplest example of the rank, role and title of a traditional royal prince. Yet there are a great many variations and subtle distinctions that lead to more complex definitions of the royal title of prince. These vary in degrees of significance – some distinctions are purely formal intricacies – whereas others can dictate the very nature of sovereign governance and the line of succession. 

The following are just a few different types of princely titles and variations that have populated royal history, along with some insights into the position and status of a prince within the larger picture of the traditional imperial and royal hierarchies. 

Types Of Prince

Son Of A Sovereign

Those who appreciate history or enjoy following the lives of modern royals will most likely be familiar with this definition of a prince. The classic status of a royal prince is the son of a sovereign, such as a King or Queen.

Junior Royal

The title of prince can also be held by more junior royals, such as the grandson of the monarch. This is sometimes subject to further conditions, such as whether the child’s connection to the monarch is via his mother or his father. 

Sovereign Prince: Monarch Of A Principality

While a royal prince is customarily an heir to the throne or a monarch-in-waiting, there is another type that is more of an equivalent rank to a conventional monarch. For a country that is regarded as a Principality, the monarch is styled as a sovereign prince. 

Crown Prince: Heir To The Throne

The most famous princes of history have often been those who were heir to the throne. This is because their role in the royal family, and their life stories and legacies, are usually deemed the most significant. They’re seen as the future of the monarchy, so this class of prince is often the focus of historians and contemporary culture. However, the title of prince does not necessarily mean that the individual is an heir to the throne, yet they will likely be in the line of succession to some degree. 

Royal Consort

The title of prince is sometimes used as the formal title for a Royal Consort, i.e. the spouse of a reigning sovereign. A famous example of this type of prince was Prince Albert, the husband of England’s Queen Victoria. Although his wife was a queen, Albert was not a hereditary king and so was granted the title of Prince. 

Prince Regent

A Prince Regent is a type of reigning prince, who is considered to be the ruler of a monarchy, even though the true sovereign is still alive. This situation could occur if the king or queen is ill, either physically or mentally incapable of ruling. It could also occur if the monarch is away from the realm, perhaps fighting a war in a distant territory. In this scenario, the role of the Prince Regent would be a temporary arrangement, until the true sovereign returns to govern in person. 

Who Ranks Higher Than A Prince? 

Even though the title of Prince is one of the most high-ranking and esteemed of all royal titles, in the established hierarchy of imperial and royal ranks of Europe, there are a few titles that customarily outrank a royal prince. 

Emperor & Empress

Emperors and Empresses are regarded as imperial titles, rather than royal titles. These are the ultimate sovereign rank – higher even than King and Queen. As such, an Emperor or Empress would rank higher than a prince. 

Tsar & Tsarina

Tsar & Tsarina are the Russian/Slavic titles for the highest-ranking sovereign, the equivalent to an Emperor and an empress, so these ranks would also be considered a higher regal and social elevation than the title of Prince. 

Tsar Nicholas II (Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov), the last reigning Emperor of Russia – Unknown author (originally uploaded to Wikimedia Commons on 22 August 2012 by Peruanec), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

King & Queen

The classic definition of a prince is the son of a King or Queen, and in the systems of royal hierarchy, parents customarily outrank their children, at least until the child inherits the highest title. So, a King or Queen would hold a higher rank than their child, ie a prince. 

There are occasions when a prince might hold equal rank to a King or Queen. For example, in terms of European royalty, the monarch of a principality is considered a sovereign in the same way that the monarch of a kingdom is considered a sovereign. This could mean that a Sovereign Prince holds equal rank to a King or Queen of another country. A modern example of this is the rank of Prince Rainier of Monaco, who is considered a sovereign ruler, rather than a junior royal. 

Grand Prince

Although this title is no longer in popular usage, in terms of historical rank, as the name suggests, a Grand Prince would be considered a higher rank and more elevated title than that of a conventional royal prince. 

Archduke

The Archdukes of the ages have historically been considered sovereign rulers. Their political might, vast fortunes and social influence certainly suggest the rank of royal or even imperial majesty. So, it’s not surprising that an Archduke would outrank a prince. 

Grand Duke

Grand Duke is another royal title that was more commonly used in previous ages, yet this singular rank would be considered superior to that of a prince. 

In fairy tales and folklore, the role of a prince within a royal family is usually quite simple – he is the son of the king or queen, and often the heir to the throne. In reality, however, the ranks of royal and imperial titles are far more complex. 

The above insights into the nuances of just one seemingly straightforward royal title give a glimpse of the elaborate and esoteric details of royal titles through the ages. While it may lead to confusion for those new to regal ranks, these subtleties and distinctions are part of the rich history of monarchies and empires, and part of the reason these social orders are as captivating as ever in modern society.

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