Protocol between royals

[sciurophobic]

With Queen Elizabeth here in Virginia there's been various articles about proper protocol when meeting her. For example, you're not supposed to speak until spoken to, and she should be addressed as Your Majesty or Ma'am. This made me wonder, what are the rules when two monarchs meet? Do they have to call each other Your Majesty, or are they allowed to use first names? And who speaks first?

[Cunctator]

Most of the European monarchs are related to each other. I'm sure they'd just use first names when talking to each other.

[Alive At Both Ends]

Originally Posted by Cunctator

Most of the European monarchs are related to each other. I'm sure they'd just use first names when talking to each other.

True, but not all monarchs are European. I too would like to know how, say, the King of Saudi Arabia would address the Emperor of Japan.

[Mighty_Girl]

I don't know, but I imagine Margrethe of Denmark and Elizabeth of England don't greet each other with a 'yo, byatch!' when they meet. That would be cool though.

[Alan Smithee]

I have to imagine that it depends on where they meet. I would presume that in any formal setting, the host country's protocal prevails. Probably any informal setting as well, unless the royals are already well aquainted.

[ryobserver]

FWIW, it used to be protocol for monarchs to address each other as "sister" or "brother" in correspondence. Still is, for all I know. I've read letters between, say, Queen Victoria and Napoleon III beginning with "Sir, My Brother" or "Madam, My Sister" and ending with "Your Majesty's good brother" or "devoted sister" or similar above the signature. The idea was that all monarchs were equal and could address each other accordingly.

When the elderly Queen Victoria met the four-year-old Queen Wilhemina of the Netherlands for the first time, she put her at ease by saying, "As we're both queens together, we can say what we like."

[rocking chair]

it would depend on if the monarchs in question are reigning (qeii) or non reigning (her hubby), in charge of an empire, kingdom, or pricipality.

reigning trumps non reigning, empire trumps kingdom, kingdom trumps principality.

euro royalty are rather friendly as many are cousins.

i don't believe saudi arabia and japan have met. that would be interesting, japan would be the higher monarch if they did meet. saudi would be presented to japan. after the presentation it would be up to them what they settled on.

interesting question, alive at both ends.

[DrDeth]

"Cousin" is a term used a lot, and is often not far from the truth.

[Guinastasia]

They're not as related as they used to be.

[Paul in Qatar]

At some time in the past, I encountered the information that letters from and to royalty begins with the salutation "My Dear Brother (Sister)," I cannot prove it at this point, but I like the idea.