Princess

For other uses, see Princess (disambiguation).

Royal and noble ranks

Emperor & Empress

King & Queen

Viceroy & Vicereine

Archduke & Archduchess

Infante & Infanta

Grand Duke & Grand Duchess Grand Prince & Grand Princess

Duke & Duchess

Prince & Princess

Marquess & Marchioness Marquis & Marquise

Margrave & Margravine

Count & Countess Earl & Countess

Viscount & Viscountess

Baron & Baroness Freiherr & Freifrau

Baronet & Baronetess

Hereditary Knight, Ritter

Knight & Dame

Nobile, Edler von

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Princess is the feminine form of prince (from Latin princeps, meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters.

For many centuries, the title "princess" was not regularly used for a monarch's daughter, who might simply be called "Lady" or a non-English equivalent; Old English had no female equivalent to "prince", "earl", or any royal or noble aside from the queen, and the women of nobility bore the title of "Lady".

As women have slowly gained more autonomy through European history, the title of princess has become simply the female counterpart of prince and does not necessarily imply being controlled or owned by a prince.^{[citation needed]} In some cases then, a princess is the female hereditary head of state of a province or other significant area in her own right. The ancient meaning applies in Europe still to the extent that a female commoner who marries a prince will almost always become a princess, but a male commoner who marries a princess will almost never become a prince, unless his wife has, or is expected to attain, a higher title, such as Queen regnant.^{[citation needed]} The implication is that if the man held the equivalent masculine title, he would have rank over his wife without the necessary pedigree.^{[original research?]}

In many of Europe's royal families, a king would grant his heirs actual or theoretical principalities to train them for future kingship or to give them social class. This practice has led over time to many people thinking that "prince" and "princess" are titles reserved for the immediate family of a king or queen. In fact, most princesses in history were not immediate members of a royal family but women who married into it; however, in many cases, a princess would choose someone outside of royalty to wed^{[citation needed]}.

See also

• Princess (disambiguation)
• Damsel in distress
• Princess and dragon
• List of fictional princesses

• Category:Lists of princesses