HO 45/18980


332956




BUCKINGHAM   PALACE

23rd.March 1917.

My Dear Curzon,

The King desires me to ask you if you will be good enough to arrange for an Order in Council to be issued with regard to the title of the son of Prince Arthur of Connaught.

His Majesty's wish is that he should be styled "His Highness Prince Alastair of Connaught". At present he really has no name as a Member of the Royal Family, although he was born Earl of Macduff.

The King assumes that you will communicate with the Heralds' College on the subject.

Yours very truly,
Stanfordham

The Rt.Honble Earl Curzon.
K.G. Lord President of the Council.


24 March 17
My dear Harris:

I enclose a letter that Lord Curzon has received from Lord Stanfordham.  I have written to Lord Stanfordham to thank him for his letter: and I have pointed out that these things are done not by Orders in Council but by Royal Warrant.  Accordingly Lord Curzon has caused this letter to be sent to the Home Secretary.

Yours etc

George Cunningham


27th March 1917

Sir,
His Majesty having signified His Pleasure that the son of Prince Arthur of Connaught should be styled "His Highness Prince Alastair of Connaught", I am directed by the Secretary of State to request that you will be so good as to submit to this Department the draft of a Warrant for carrying out His Majesty's Pleasure into effect.

I am, Sir,
    Your obediant Servant,

<unsigned>


Sir Alfred Scott-Gattty, K.C.V.O.,
Garter King of Arms,
College of Arms,
Queen Victoria Street.  E.C.4.

332596/2

26.4.17
Garter (College of Arms)

Honours
Son of Prince Arthur of Connaught to be styled "His Highness Prince Alastair of Connaught"

Submits draft Warrant for carrying His Majesty's Pleasure into effect and also a second draft Warrant which includes any further issue of Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Arthur of Connaught.

Minutes

Here are two points which should perhaps be submitted to His Majesty's decision before the Warrant is made out.

1. Garter points out that it is usual in Warrants of this kind to include any further issue of the marriage.  It is suggested that this should be done in the present case.

2. In Lord Stanfordham's letter in -/1, it is stated that the King's will is that the Prince should be styled "His Highness Prince Alastair of Connaught". And Garter in the draft within proposes to insert a provision that "the designation of the said Prince Alastair shall be "of Connaught".  A provision of this kind has not been inserted in any previous Warrants.  The practice of adding such a phrase to the style of a prince or princess is of quite recent growth.   Richmond says it was first adopted in Queen Victoria's reign, apparently as a convenient way of distinguishing the different members of the Royal House, when their number had become considerable.  The practice has made its way into formal documents such as Royal consents to marriages.  But it is not consistently followed.  It has never been definitely authorized by a Royal Warrant. and I understand that the late King would not have the words "of Fife" inserted in the warrant conferring the title of Highness on the daughters of the Duke of Fife.  See copy of the warrant in the case of the daughter of the Duke of Fife within; also copy of the letters patent of 1864 defining the style of children of sons of the Sovereign.

If the precedents are to be followed, therefore, nothing would be said in the present warrant as to the use of the words "of Connaught" but in practice the Prince would be so called, and he would in convenience also no doubt be so styled in official documents (just as his father is styled "of Connaught" in the Royal consent to his marriage and other official documents). 

If however the addition of the words "of Connaught" after the Christian names (it cannot of course be used with any title of honour he may subsequently bear) is to be formally authorized, I think the warrant had better run "He shall at all times hold and enjoy the style and attribute of Highness with the tituler dignity of Prince prefixed to, and the words "of Connaught" following, his Christian names", or something similar.  The words "of Connaught" would be part of his "style" and not a separate "designation". (In the recent Brunswick warrant, the "designation" was distinguished from the "style" - see 250449 herewith).

?Submit these two points for his Majesty's decision."
MD18.5.17
AJ 18/5
SoS GC 19.5.17

See Lord Stanfordham's note attached.
Lay by.
AJE
24.5.17





College of Arms, E.C.

26 April 1917

Sir,

In compliance with the request of the Secretary of State signified in your letter of the 27th ultimo (number 332,956) informing me that His Majesty The King has signified His Pleasure that the son of Prince Arthur of Connaught shall be styled "His Highness Prince Alastair of Connaught" I beg to submit a draft of Warrant for carrying His Majesty's Pleasure into effect. In this draft the instructions of the Secretary of State have been precisely followed.   I find, however, that in former Warrants of this kind any further issue has, as far as I am aware, invariably been included and in case His Majesty should now be pleased to follow these precedents I venture to enclose for the consideration of the Secretary of State a second draft of a Warrant which includes any further issue born of Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Arthur of Connaught.

I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your Obedient Servant,

A.S. Scott-Gatty
Garter

The Under Secretary of State, Home Office,
Whitehall S.W.1.


pencilled insertions are marked in italics, and deletions are stricken through.

A

GEORGE THE FIFTH by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, To Our Trusty and Well
beloved Edmund Bernard Talbot Esquire (commonly called Lord Edmund Bernard Talbot) Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Deputy to Our Right Trusty and Entirely beloved Cousin the Most Noble Bernard Marmaduke, Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England, Greeting.

Whereas on the Fifteenth day of October One thousand nine hundred and thirteen Our dear Cousin His Royal Highness Prince Arthur Frederick Patrick Albert of Connaught intermarried with Our dear Niece Her Highness Princess Alexandra Victoria Alberta Edwina Louise, Duchess of Fife:

And whereas a son was born of the said marriage on the ninth day of August One thousand nine hundred and fourteen who was baptized by the names of Alastair Arthur.  

And whereas We are desirous of defining and fixing the style and designation which the said Arthur son of Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess of Connaught shall enjoy within Our Dominions:  

Now Know Ye that We do hereby declare and ordain that he shall at all times hold and enjoy the style and attribute of "Highness" with the titular dignity of Prince prefixed to his Christian names or with any titles of honour which may belong to him: 

And We do hereby further declare and ordain that the designation of the said   Prince Alastair shall be "of Connaught". 

Our Will and Pleasure further is that you the said Edmund Bernard Talbot Our said Deputy Earl Marshal to whom the cognizance of matters of this nature doth properly belong do see this Our Order kept and that the same be duly registered in Our College of Arms to the end that Our Officers of Arms and all others upon occasion may take full notice and have knowledge thereof. 

In witness whereof We have caused Our Great Seal to be affixed to these Presents,

Given at Our Court at Saint James's the      day of                          in the               year of Our Reign.



B

GEORGE THE FIFTH by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, To Our Trusty and Well  beloved Edmund Bernard Talbot Esquire (commonly called lord Edmund Bernard Talbot) Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Deputy to the Most Noble Bernard Marmaduke, Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England Greeting.  

Whereas on the Fifteenth day of October One thousand nine hundred and thirteen Our dear   Cousin Hid Royal Highness Prince Arthur Frederick Patrick Albert of Connaught intermarried with Our dear Niece Her Highness Princess Alexandra Victoria Alberta Edwina Louise, Duchess of Fife: 

And whereas a son was born of the said marriage on the ninth day of August One thousand nine hundred and fourteen who was baptized by the names of Alastair Arthur:  And whereas We are desirous of defining and fixing the style and designation which the issue of the said marriage shall enjoy within Our Dominions:  

Now Know Ye that We do hereby declare and ordain that the children born to Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Arthur of Connaught shall at all times hold and enjoy the style and attribute of "Highness" with the titular dignity of Prince or Princess prefixed to their respective Christian name or names, or with any title of honour which may belong to them.  And We do hereby further declare and ordain that the designation of the said children shall be of Connaught". 

Our Will and Pleasure further is that you Our said Deputy Earl Marshal to when the cognizance of natters of this nature doth properly belong do see this Our Order kept and that the same be duly registered in the College of Arms to the end that Our Officers of Arms and all others upon occasion may take full notice and have knowledge thereof.  

In witness whereof We have caused Our Great Seal to be affixed to these Presents.      

Given at Our Court at Saint James's    the     day of       in the year of Our Reign.



Edward the Seventh, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith : To Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin and councillor Henry, Duke of Norfolk, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, Knight Grand cross of Our loyal Victorian Order, Earl Marshal and Our Hereditary  Marshal of England, Greeting!                                         

Whereas We are desirous of defining and fixing the style by which Our dear Daughter The Princess Louise [Duchess of Fife ] shall be designated, We are pleased to declare that She shall henceforth be styled Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal:                                                         

And Whereas by Letters patent under the Great Seal of the said United Kingdom bearing date the thirtieth day of January One thousand eight hundred and sixty four Our beloved Mother Her late Majesty Queen Victoria was pleased to declare Her Royal Will and Pleasure touching the style and title of Royal Highness and of defining and limiting the same to be used and enjoyed by the children of the sons of any Sovereign of Great Britain and Ireland.

And Whereas We are also desirous of defining and fixing the style and title by which the children of Our said dear Daughter shall be designated

Now We are hereby pleased to declare that the Lady Alexandra Victoria Alberta Edwina Louise Duff and the lady Maud Alexandra Victoria Georgina Bertha Duff, daughters of Our said dear Daughter Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal shall at all times hold and enjoy the style, title and attribute of Highness prefixed to such respective styles or titles of Honour as may belong to them, and further to declare that Our said dear Granddaughters shall bear the style of Princess prefixed to their respective christian names, and shall take, hold and enjoy during the term of their natural lives in all Assemblies or Meetings whatsoever the precedence and Rank following , that is to say immediately after all Members of Our Royal Family enjoying the style of Royal Highness:

Our Will and Pleasure further is that you Our said Earl Marshal to whom the cognizance of matters of this nature doth properly belong do see this Our Order kept, and that the same be duly registered in Our College of Arms, to the end that Our Officers of Arms and all others upon occasion may take full notice and have knowledge thereof:

In Witness whereof We have caused the Great Seal to be affixed to these Presents.

Given at Our Court at Buckingham Palace the Ninth day of November 1905 in the Fifth year of Our Reign.

By the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, signed with His own hand.



Buckingham Palace.
23d. May 1917

Dear Harris,

The King wishes the question of the designation of Prince Arthur of Connaught's Son to stand over for the present, I therefore return the papers.

Yours very truly,
Stanfordham

S.W. Harris Esq: C.B.
Home Office.


Buckingham Palace
July 3, 1917

Dear Harris
owing oo the changes which the King is making in names and titles of the Royal Family this warrant will not be required.  The actual title and sstyling of the son of Prince Arthur of Connaught will be shortly settled by His Majesty.

Yours very truly,
Stanfordham

332,956/3




COLLEGE OF ARMS,               
QUEEN VICTORIA STREET,
LONDON. E.C.4.

3rd February, 1942.

Dear Dadd,
Among Garter's papers I found, the other day, a letter from your office to Sir Alfred Scott-Gatty, Garter, dated 27th March 1917, numbered 332,956, informing him that the King had granted the styles and titles of "His Highness" and "Prince" to the infant son of Prince Arthur of Connaught and requesting Garter to prepare a Warrant carrying this out. A draft of this Warrant was sent by Garter on 26th April 1917. No such warrant is recorded in the College and I am convinced that it was never issued, for on 30th November of the same year the King issued a Warrant abolishing the title of Highness (with an exception in favour of those holding it at the date of the Warrant - who were, 1 have always thought, the two princesses, Helena Victoria and Marie Louise) and 1 have never at any time heard of Prince Arthur's son (who has now succeeded to the Dukedom of Connaught) being described as H.H. or Prince.                                                           

If I am right, there may have been some other letters which passed between your Office and Garter at the time which, by some accident, got omitted from the bound volume of Garter papers.

Would it be possible for you to consult the file in the matter and let me have copies of any such letters ?

I shall have to consider the status of the present Duke, and this nay be an important item in the situation.

Yours sincerely,

Gerald W. Wollaston
Garter

F.J.Dadd
Home Office.


CORNWALL HOUSE, STAFFORD STREET,
S.E.1.
16th February, 1942.

Dear Sir Gerald Wollaston,

I am sorry not to have been in a position to reply earlier to your letter of the 3rd February about the grant of the styles and titles of "His Highness" and "Prince" to the son of Prince Arthur of Connaught.   Search has been made in our records, which had been evacuated.  Following our letter of the 27th March, 1917, to Sir Alfred Scott Gatty, Garter, I find on our files the following documents, copies of which I enclose:
  1. A letter from Garter dated 26th April, 1917.
  2. Two Draft Warrants marked "A" and "B".
  3. A copy of Letters Patent of 1864.
  4. A copy of a Warrant of November, 1905.
The papers show that Lord Stamfordham, the King' s Private Secretary, told the Private Secretary to Lord Cave, then Home Secretary, that "owing to changes which the King is making in the names and titles of the Royal Family this Warrant will not be required.   The actual title and styling of the son of Prince Arthur of Connaught will shortly be settled by His Majesty."

So far as this Department is concerned it seems that no further action was taken in the matter, and there is no trace in our 1917 Royal Warrants book of the issue of a Warrant for the purpose.

Yours sincerely,

(SNG) F. J. DADD

Sir Gerald Wollaston,
K.C.B., K.C.V.O.,
Garter King of Arms.