THE PRINCE CONSORT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 512, 30 September 1857, Page 3

THE PRINCE CONSORT.

[Prom the ' Times.']

At the Council which was held yesterday an order was passed for publishing a Letter Patent, by which the Queen grants to Prince Albeit the title of "Prince Consort" during their joint lives. No one can object to the distinction which is thus conferred on the husband of the Queen after 17 years of married life. We are not concerned to say whether the title of ie Prince Consort" gives to the possessor any accession of heraldic rank which continental Chamberlains would recognise. Suffice it to say that it makes Prince Albert legally, as he already is actualty, a member of the British Royal Fami]j>\ Hitherto the Prince has had no British rank whatever. Philip of Spain was titular King of England, but the Consort of the present Queen is only what he was prior to his marriage—a Prince of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. He has not even received a British Peerage. Although a naturalized subject of the British Crown, Prince Albert has hitherto borne only his German title, and out of England takes, we believe, according to the code of Court precedence, only his rank as a younger brother of a Ducal German House. Although styled "Royal" among ourselves, and no doubt invested by courtesj 7 with Eoyal honours in friendly States, the Prince has by birth a claim only to the title of " Serene Highness," and must yield precedence to numerous scions of continental Royalty, whose lot is obscure comparatively with his own.

Her Majesty has then certainly transgressed no bound of moderation when, after a reign of 20 years, she confers on her husband a title which, without giving him any authority at home, assures to him a high and definite position abroad. Prince Albert will now meet foreign Royal families with the status of a British Prince of the highest rank. Already, by Royal Order, he has taken precedence of all members of the reigning family in England; the new title only assures to him the same position in other countries, where these matters are ordered by immemorial usage rather thanin accordance with the statutes of any particular monarchy. We may well acquiesce, therefore, in the a«t which the natural affection of the Queen has prompted in making this innovation on English heraldry. The law of the country has, indeed, always been that the rank of the wife confers no dignity on the husband. No doubt this is in accordance with the law which determines the descent of dignities in England. All our o!d English Baronies, and a great number of the ■ Scottish Peerages, are, like the Crown, heritable by women. So, in default of a Salic Law, we have established by custom another which the nonexistence of the former almost renders recessary,

namely, that the imsTrand shall receive no rank, dignity, or precedence in right of his wife. This has become so much a part of our jurisprudence that we sire inclined to forget that it is hardly understood in many parts of Europe. In Spain and Portugal, both-lately governed by Queens, the Consorts of the Sovereign had the title -of "King." It was thought no more than just that the husband of a Queen Begnant should have the same social title as his wife, even though he did not share her authority. HerfMajesty is certainly the best judge whether a similar regulation in England will enhance the dignity of her husband. If the title of " Prince Consort" gives to Prince Albert a higher position at Courts where the wife's -authority naturally attaches to her Consort, the .people of England can have no objection to the grant. It is within the prerogative of the -Sovereign of England to bestow any title of honour or any place in precedence, although actual authority within the realm can only be constitutionally exercised in pursuance of an Act of Parliament. Prince Albert, therefore, may fairly bear his new title. We cannot indeed believe that the change was necessary to obtain for the Prince fitting respect among ourselves. Eor seventeen years he has received almost every honour which the Crown or the great Corporations of the country can bestow. The list of his titles and offices obtained before middle age is a proof of the public respect for himself or the widely diffused loyalty to the Crown. His Eoyal Highness, the Prince Consort of the United Kingdom, will be to us pretty much the same as his Royal Highness the Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. But, in spite of the poet, there is much in a name, and, if there be increased homage rendered to the new title on the banks of the Spree or the Danube, the English people will be happy to sanction and adopt it.