Most Gracious Majesty
Most Gracious Majesty is a form of address in the United Kingdom. It is an elaborate version of Your Majesty and is only used in the most formal of occasions.[when?]
Historical background
Around 1519 King Henry VIII decided Majesty should become the style of the sovereign of England. "Majesty", however, was not used exclusively; it arbitrarily alternated with both "Highness" and "Grace", even in official documents. For example, one legal judgment issued by Henry VIII uses all three indiscriminately; Article 15 begins with "the Kinges Highness hath ordered," Article 16 with "the Kinges Majestie" and Article 17 with "the Kinges Grace."
In pre-Union Scotland Sovereigns were only addressed as Your Grace.
During the reign of James VI of Scotland and I of England and Ireland, however, James made Majesty the official title, to the exclusion of others.
The style "His/Her Most Excellent Majesty" is used solely for a present or past reigning monarch. The style "Her Most Gracious Majesty" may be used for a queen consort, queen mother, or dowager queen, in addition to a present or past reigning monarch.
In 2012, the Speaker of the House of Commons and Lord Speaker used a modified version of this style, addressing Queen Elizabeth II as 'Most Gracious Sovereign'.[1][2]
See also
References
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- Holiness
- Imperial and Royal Majesty (HI&RM)
- Imperial and Most Faithful Majesty
- Imperial Majesty (HIM)
- Apostolic Majesty (HAM)
- Catholic Monarchs
- Catholic Majesty (HCM)
- Most Christian Majesty (HMCM)
- Most Faithful Majesty (HFM)
- Orthodox Majesty (HOM)
- Britannic Majesty (HBM)
- Most Excellent Majesty
- Most Gracious Majesty
- Royal Majesty (HRM)
- Majesty (HM)
- Grace (HG)
- Royal Highness (HRH)
- Monseigneur (Msgr)
- Most Eminent Highness (HMEH)
- Exalted Highness (HEH)
- Highness (HH)
- Serene Highness (HSH)
- Illustrious Highness (HIll.H)
- Excellency (HE)
- Most Excellent
- Most Illustrious
- Hochgeboren
- Hochwohlgeboren
- Wohlgeboren
- Much Honoured (The Much Hon.)
- Milord (Millourt)
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