student asking question

If the wife has the higher rank in the monarch, just like Queen Victoria, in this case, does the male spouse changes their surname?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

This is not the case. The British royal family, especially those close in relation to the monarch, doesn't have last names but titles instead. So, for example, if a woman were to marry a man in the royal family, she will adopt the feminine version of the title held by her husband. There is no adopting of last names within the royal family, regardless of whether the person with a higher "rank" is female or male. For example, when Diana Spencer married His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince of Wales, she did not adopt his surname (as he technically does not have one). Rather, she adopted the feminine version of his title, becoming Her Royal Highness (HRH) the Princess of Wales.

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