How to Address French Royalty in a Letter

French royalty should be addressed in a certain manner.

There are 10 royal families remaining in seats of power throughout Europe. They preside over Belgium, United Kingdom, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Luxembourg. The Pope is also considered the monarch of Vatican City but his title is not passed on through heritage. While some descendants of the various French Royal houses may still exist, their titles are only ceremonial and they hold no role in the government. There are strict guidelines that should be followed when addressing current royals. When addressing former royalty like those of French society, the guidelines are less stringent and the formality is merely a show of respect for tradition.

Things You'll Need

• Pen
• Paper

Instructions

1. Plan your letter in a four part format: the date, a two-part salutation, the text body and a signature, according to the West Kingdom College of Heralds.

2. Write the date at the top of the letter. The date is important for filing and reference purposes should there be a need to revisit the letter or its contents at a later time.

3. Include the titles and names of the royal or royals you are addressing and a formal greeting in your first salutation line. The first salutation line should embody the bulk of the pomp and circumstance involved with royal address and might read something like this: "Unto their royal highnesses, Luc and Antoinette, Prince and Princess of Orleans, does Mr. Your Name send warm greetings.

4. Include the purpose of your letter in a short introductory section between the salutation and the body of the letter. If the purpose of the letter is to invite the royals to an event this should be stated here. If the purpose is to request assistance or pay respects or any other reason it should be stated here along with the date and location of the event in question or any details necessary to your inquest. When this pertinent information is placed at the top of the letter it makes finding it later far easier.

5. Write a line of address prior to the body of the letter. A simple but formal greeting will suffice. The West Kingdom College of Heralds suggests: "May it please your majesty," or "It has come to my attention."

6. End your letter with a statement of well-wishing. Her Ladyship Yolande Chastellaine, a lady-in-waiting for the Duke & Duchess of Burgundy, suggests: "May your days be joyous and healthy in the months to come." Other statements will do, like "Yours in service," "Your humble servant," and so forth.

7. List your address with all methods of contact and your full name and title if any. The proper format would look like this:

   Name, Title

   Your Office of Title

   Street Address

   City, State, Zip

   Telephone

   Email Address

Tips & Warnings

• Since the French royals are defunct it is perfectly suitable to write to them with less formality than you would a sitting royal. While the traditional format is a show of respect, a simple Dear Prince Etienne would suffice.

• Write your letter in a clear and concise manner. Many royals receive large amounts of mail and a short letter will get the attention it deserves.

References

• Forms of Address: Foreign National Officials and Noble Heads of State
• West Kingdom College of Heralds: Interacting with Royalty
• Heraldica: The Royal Family: A Geneaology
• The Independent: The Big Question: What is the Extent of European Royalty, and Does it Still Have a Role?; Paul Vallely; 2009
• Offley: How to Write an Invitation to Royalty; HL Yolande Chastellain; 2004
• Offey: HL Yolande Chastellaine; 2004

Resources

• BT Internet: Monarchies of Europe; French Royal Family