Dear Newscaster

[msmemory_archive]

Philip is Queen Elizabeth the Second's husband, not Queen Elizabeth's second husband, as reported this morning.

{signed}
Royalty Watcher

Comments

[ladymacgregor.livejournal.com]

All right, I'll display my ignorance. What DO you call the Earl of Cornwallis? (I assume he's "of"?) I thought that he would be "Lord Whichywhat, the Earl of Cornwallis" and would be addressed as "Lord Whichywhat" (or "Earl Cornwallis"?). But is there a one-word appellation? ("Sir"? "Your Grace"? I figure that both "Lord" and "Earl" are wrong.)

I had this reasonably straight for the SCA, but I know the real world is different.

[baron-steffan.livejournal.com]

The first time you address him directly, say "Lord Cornwallis". After that, he's "My Lord". In indirect reference, he's introduced as "the Earl Cornwallis" and referred to as "Lord Cornwallis".

It's really no different, functionally, than the usage for gentlemen (and esquires, which is where I sorta rank as an American college graduate[*]): I'm introduced as "Mr. Steven Mesnick", I'm addressed initially as "Mr. Mesnick" and subsequently as "Sir".

And he is the "Earl Cornwallis", not the "Earl of Cornwallis". There are some few earldoms that don't include the preposition, notably this one as well as Spencer (the brother of the late Princess of Wales). The peerage guides like Burke's and Debrett's go into ferocious detail about which do and which don't. Conversely, BTW, most viscountcies don't, which is why the late Princess Margaret's son is Viscount Linley.

[*] No, really. When I subscribed to the journal of The Heraldry Society, the mail was addressed to "Mr. Steven Mesnick, Esq.".

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

And you address him as "Cornwallis" only if you are a good friend, right?