Regnal title


A regnal title is the title held by a monarch while in office. Monarchs can have various titles, including king or queen, prince or princess, emperor or empress, or even duke or grand duke or duchess. Many monarchs also are distinguished by styles, such as "Majesty", "Royal Highness" or "By the Grace of God".
Sometimes titles are used to express claims to territories that are not held in fact or titles not recognized. A pretender is a claimant to an abolished throne or to a throne already occupied by somebody else. Abdication is the resignation of a monarch.