How well do you know British Nobility
- and how to address them?

The British Nobility is a world all of its own. Knowing where you are in the pecking order is tricky at best, and impossible at worst. Before you take this test, you'll stand a much better chance of getting the answers right if you watch THIS VIDEO

1. What is the correct form of address for a Duke?

YOUR HONOUR

If the Duke also happened to be a 'sitting' judge in the courtroom you were attending (let's say as a lawyer rather than in the dock), then possibly. Otherwise, how dare you!

MY LORD

Good try, and lots of Aristocracy are quite happy with a 'My Lord', but Dukes and Earls, are way higher than that.

YOUR GRACE

Spot on. You're obviously a devotee of crusts-off cucumber sandwiches.

YOUR EMINENCE

Is the 'Duke in Church and wearing a very big crucifix? Thought not... It's a Cardinal sin to address a Duke that way.

2. What is a Courtesy or Subsidiary title 

ANY POLITE USE OF A TITLE

That's very polite of you, and the British are nothing if not polite, but sadly, no.

ANY HONOURIFIC TITLE

Hardly. Honorific titles are awarded to all sorts of hoi polloi

A TITLE FOR THE CHILD OF A PEER

Yes, the offspring of nobility may well be nobility themselves one day, so these are sort of 'training-wheel' titles

A TITLE FOR THE SPOUSE OF A PEER

If we're talking female spouses, then 'Madam' is correct. Male spouses don't even get that.

3. What is a Dame?

THE WIFE OR WIDOW OF A BARONET OR KNIGHT

You're getting the hang of this now, aren't you?

THE FEMALE EQUIVALENT OF A KNIGHT

Correct. Theatricals with fabulous voices often boast Damehood. Magie Smith, Eileen Atkins, and of course, Judy Dench.

A MAN DRESSED AS A WOMAN AT CHRISTMAS

Obviously a fan of the Pantomime.
This Commedia dell'Arte form of theatre is very popular with the royals...

SOMETHING THAT THERE IS NOTHING LIKE

That may be true, but unless you're one of three sailors on shore leave, in the South Pacific, keep that one to yourself.

4. Do you think that A Very British Voice would enhance your project by making it sound authoritative or would it have an adverse effect because it's too posh?

AUTHORITATIVE

That’s brilliant news. Thank you! Click here for a FREE demo and a quote

ADVERSE

Are you sure? You can have a FREE demo if you like. You might change your mind... (And I can sound less posh - I'm a Camden Town boy after all...)

Every month I create a daft reel on a different subject. Here’s a typical example.
CAUTION. As my grandmother would say, this recording contains 'language'.

If you’d like to hear it when it’s released every month, please leave me your first name and email address. Plus you could WIN a free voiceover just by subscribing here