Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2023 September 22

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September 22

How was Prince Arthur addressed as Governor General of Canada?

Would Prince Arthur have been addressed as 'Your Excellency' or 'Your Royal Highness' while Governor General of Canada? 113.196.51.134 (talk) 02:14, 22 September 2023 (UTC)

Governor General of Canada § Symbols and protocol says that the status of Governor General outranks members of the Royal family (since the GG is Viceroy, or direct representative of the sovereign). This would imply that 'Your Excellency' would be the appropriate form of address. -- Verbarson  ^talk_edits 09:02, 22 September 2023 (UTC)

However, see:

• Return to an Address to His Royal Highness the Governor General of the 24th January, 1912
• In the matter of a reference by his Royal Highness the Governor-General in Council to the Supreme Court of Canada...
• Memorial of the Conference of Friends of the Indians of British Columbia to His Royal Highness, the Governor General of Canada

Similarly, when Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester was Governor-General of Australia in 1945-47, he was also addressed referred to as "His Royal Highness the Governor-General". [1] Alansplodge (talk) 14:20, 22 September 2023 (UTC)

So when referring to Prince Arthur, it was appropriate to combine both titles. However, within the correspondence (eg first document, items 1 and 2; I have not read further) we find both the GG and HM Ambassador to the US addressing each other as 'Your Excellency'. -- Verbarson  ^talk_edits 15:06, 22 September 2023 (UTC)

Thanks for the correction User:Verbarson, however all of the correspondence included in that volume predates Prince Arthur's tenure as Governor General and actually refers to his predecessor, the Earl Grey of tea fame.

This account of the State Opening of Parliament on 16 November 1911, has the Speaker, Thomas Simpson Sproule, addressing the new Governor General thus:

"May it please your Royal Highness: The House of Commons has elected me their Speaker..."

Alansplodge (talk) 18:45, 24 September 2023 (UTC)

And from the Smiths Falls Record News:

SEPTEMBER 14, 1911: The title "His Excellency" as applied to the Governor General of Canada will be dropped during the Duke of Connaught's tenure of office. His correct title will be "His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught, Governor General of Canada", and he will be addressed as "Your Royal Highness." [2]

Alansplodge (talk) 18:56, 24 September 2023 (UTC)

Definitive!

Never did like Earl Grey, anyway. -- Verbarson  ^talk_edits 20:45, 24 September 2023 (UTC)

I never realized there had been a Prince Arthur in the line of succession in relatively modern times. Maybe we can get another King Arthur someday. Neat. 2601:644:8501:AAF0:0:0:0:86EA (talk) 21:07, 24 September 2023 (UTC)

Maybe, but I'm not expecting to outlive William V, let alone see the progeny of George VII on the throne. A previous Prince Arthur who was a direct heir came to unfortunate end, see Arthur, Prince of Wales who died aged 15. Alansplodge (talk) 10:28, 25 September 2023 (UTC)

Given that the current incumbent's name is Charles Philip Arthur George you could argue that you don't have to wait.

@Verbarson: I had my first sighting of that rare beast the King Charles III definitive stamp at the post office this morning. Nestled among all the other stamps showing the head of our dear departed Queen was one portraying the new king which could be purchased for one pound 20 pence. It doesn't seem to correspond to any postage rate so it's unlikely to get much viewing. 2A02:C7B:301:3D00:E55F:B25:176C:A314 (talk) 14:11, 25 September 2023 (UTC)

Monarchs choose their own regal name, so Prince William could easily become King Arthur. Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 14:36, 25 September 2023 (UTC)