STYLE AND TITLES OF THE QUEEN

The Queen has slightly different titles in each of her realms.

The Queen’s title in the UK is “Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith”.

By tradition, The Queen takes an abbreviated form of the Latin description when she signs formal and official documents and messages, using the signature ‘Elizabeth R’ (which stands for ‘Regina’ or Queen).

The 1953 Royal Titles Act reflected the fact that The Queen is equally Queen of each of her Realms, acting on the advice of her Ministers in each realm.

Legislation on the Royal title was to be enacted by each country separately, allowing The Queen to adopt a title suitable to the circumstances of the country concerned with a common element, symbolising the role of the Sovereign as a unifying factor in the Commonwealth.

Each title therefore includes a reference to The Queen’s other Realms and Territories, and also her title as Head of the Commonwealth.

The words ‘Defender of the Faith’ are also included in the styles and titles used by The Queen in Canada and New Zealand.

The Queen also has other titles by which she is known in different parts of Britain. In the Isle of Man, she is Lord of Man; in the Channel Islands, she is Duke of Normandy; and in the land of the Duchy of Lancaster, she is Duke of Lancaster.