Prince and Princess Michael of Kent

[GMH]

I maybe missing something here, but why Prince and Princess Margaret of Kent - these two minor members of the royal family:

A) Share the same Christian name

B) Has a woman with a man's name? (Michael is a a man's name)

Is the "Michael" bit part of their title or rank as much as the "Kent" bit is? It has really confused me.

[GMH]

By the way I mean Michael and not Margaret.

[jno]

women often take their husband's name on marriage. Don't know about Prince Margaret, though.

[Drusilla1S]

If I'm not mistaken, any letter addressed to a married couple is formally addressed,
Mr. and Mrs. (Husbands initial) Smith

I think the Royal protocol is an extension of this.

[joko]

thats so ridiculous! i thought they had just decided to give her an unusual name, an asexual one like ashley, francis, lesley etc

imagine being constantly referred to by someone elses name and one of the opposite sex at that!

arrgghh...i cannot stand stuff like this!

[joko]

and why isn't it princess charles or whatever?

[joko]

hi iap,

that may be but what difference does that make to first names? and it still doesn't explain why the royals feel the need to ignore this womans real name and call her by her husband name

[lady_p_gold]

If you are married i.e. Julie Smith married to John Smith then the correct form of addressing her is Mrs John Smith. That is why she is called Princess Michael of Kent.

[joko]

yes lady p - i just think in this day and age theres no place for this. i am me, not my hubby

iap - i know, thanks for explaining. i just hate that kind of sexism.

[annavc]

Everyone is right in saying that this is the official way of addressing someone but I don't think you can have a go at the Royal Family for being stuck in the past on this one. I remember seeing or hearing an interview with Princess Michael many years ago and she was asked this question and said that it had been entirely her choice to be known by that title. I think you'll find that other royals of the same level have chosen not to use this method of addressing and for it it was a personal choice.