I do not know if my question's title sounds sensible but I figured that since I would lay out my questions more here, it would do.
My first question concerns the royals of England. I understand that Henry VIII started the tradition of referring to Kings and queens by "his/her majesty" but before then what was the most common address of a King or Queen? Was it "Your Highness" or "Your Grace" or something different?
Did the titles of Princes and Princesses change in accordance when the King's title was "bumped up"? What title were they using before and if they did change, what did they use? Has a Prince/Princess also been referred to as "Your Highness"?
When did positions and titles like Duke, Earl, Marquess, Baron and others come to be? I understand that Dukes are referred to in the present day as 'Your Grace' but has that always been the case? How did these titles come to be? Who made the decision to add dukes and the like to the feudal mix?
I am sorry. This has been on my mind for what feels like forever since I found out that Kings were not always 'Majesties" and the questions piled on from there. Thank you for taking time out of your day to answer these questions.
so theres a difference between your serene highness and royal highness, serene highness originiated german ruling families, and hasn't been used in britain since the "de-germanization george V did during WWI when they changed their german house name from saxe coburg gotha to house of windsor, amongst other things. now that there are no german monarchies serene highness is used in reigning ducal familes of liechtenstein and princely famiily of monaco
of course your majesty is reserved for the monarch and their consort, and typically the immediate family of the monarch use your royal highness, but the right to use it is the prerogative of the queen and can confer it on whom every she chooses. i am unsure if there a tradition or formality on who gets it, when, or why though if there even is a protocol.
now for the fun part lol.. so the use of king, queen, prince/princess has been around since the petty anglo saxon kings pre-900's. up until the 1300's the only title of nobility was ealdorman, which eventually became earl at some. the vikings also called some of their chieftains "jarls" and i believe the overlap with the two is how it changed to earl.
after william the conqueror brought norman invasion, he brought the rank and title of duke with him since he himself was a bastard before becoming a duke, althought it was left unused until edward III made is son edward the black prince the first royal duke in the 1330's. not long after that edward III created the first non royal dukedom several years later the rest of the titles of were either created or had been used in france, and given as a reward to his supporters, and to also distinguish them from his son.
there are many ways the titles of royals can change over time. at the core is the rule that only the children and male grandchildren of the monarch are princes or princesses, but the monarch can change any of these rules and make exceptions when she pleases. she made all if williams children princes at birth, but was requested not to do so by harry for his kid, who was born the son of a duke instead. another thing is that the children of princes arent give the status of a prince or princess and is merely born the son of a whatever there fathers title is.
there is also a centuries old that the crown has a tradition of bestowing certain peerages that are only held for life. princess royal is one the is given to the eldest daughter of the monarch. others such as the prince of wales, duke of cornwall,,the duke of rothesay, and the earl of chester. additionally he was made dukes of cornwall and rothesay at birth, and later prince of wales and earl of cornwall when he came of age, all of which traditionally go to the crown prince which provide him with and income. another duchy that changes hands with seniority is the duchy of lancaster that is always the monarch, which is another revinue source.
thats everything i can think of and a little more about the topics you asked, i hope it helps