Lady Marmalade]I do understand titles and the history as to why they renounced and had to change their titles to sound more English. Please do not insult me on here like that. You implied it by the way your sentences are typed.
Believe what you wish.
As we have seen in many countries, Germany, Japan, Russia, Greece etc., the recognition of titles and such may not be by their governments, but the families are still passing them down generation to generation and I think that is wonderful to ensure and instill the names and titles going down the line. No one is being hurt in the process.
More importantly, how can you state unequivocally that no one is being hurt in the process? Indeed, many who suffered under the monarchist regime in Greece would disagree (the majority did *vote* for abolishment, you know). As would entire peoples who suffered under the pograms of the tsars, and whose descendants are still marginalized in Russian society and/or are cognizant of what their ancestors underwent.
I was never erroneous in my postings on here in any sense. None of us, I assume are real royals or aristocrats on here.
Actually, several of your assertions were, in fact, shown to be incorrect. At least have the intellectual integrity to admit it. For example, your comments regarding the various styles of Highness & the royal "pecking order" (which I clarified in a previous post) were incorrect, as was your assertion that the Grimaldi's are a royal family when in fact they are a sovereign princely family. Not to mention your (alarming) claim that royals were innocent during the great wars (some were and some were not --- see my previous posts).
Furthermore, one doesn't have to be a royal or an aristrocrat to know the internecine details of these systems. In fact, in my experience royal hobbyists and scholars are more likely to now much more than many "royals" and aristocrats, as this is their hobby or line of work. For instance, Marlene Koenig (who specializes in QVD) is more likely to know about Queen Victoria's descendants than many of Queen Victoria's descendants themselves.
Indeed, many royals and aristocrats are very ill informed about their histories and/or the histories of other families, precedents, geneology, orders of chivalry, etc. As a result,they often look to many of the scholars or hobbyists who posts on these boards for help.
Just because the British peerage system is the one most well known, does not make the socially superior one.
Yes, but many, if not most, perceive it as such. That's the point.
Again, these families can call themselves whatever they wish too, legal and official or not.
Actually, it often does matter. Particularly if they want to live in certain places (see below) and/or if they want to avoid being the subject of ridicule.
If they want to use Princess of Hanover or Prussia or whatever rather than adding them as a last name such as Von Hapsburg, I dot believe anyone will protest.
You believe wrong then. Many have protested & many are offended (not to mention that those who use these titles them are often viewed as pretentious as rather ridiculous ). For an example, just take a gander at the 'Marie Chantal -- What do you think of her ?' thread, and you will see that many Greeks are, in fact, offended. And the Greek government has prostested on numerous ocassions to Downing Street. There were also protests in 1995 when Pavlos married MC & even back in the 1970s at Caroline of Monaco's wedding, when the Greek Ambassador insisted that Greece did not have a King (Constantine was an invitee) and refused to attend the pre-wedding ball.
Whether the country is now a republic or monarchy or communist, or whatever does not matter in the sense if the families wish their titles to pass generation to generation, they probably do not care if they are recognized officially and legally by the governments in the former countries they once ruled.
Pitty, because not caring or recognizing the will of legitimate governmets and people is one of the reasons many of them are relegated to titles of pretension as opposed to real ones. ;-)
Kidding aside, I don't think you or I are in a position to know their state of mind.
I hardly think any government in Europe will care too much given there are so many real problems to deal with in today's world.
More pressing problems nothwistanding, governments and people often do care. As stated in previous posts, it depends on how the monarchies ended in many of these countries. Otto had to renounce his claims to the Austrian throne to be let in again & titles there are still forbidden. Victor Emmanuelle & Filberto had to swear allegience to the republic before being allowed back a couple of years ago. I've already given examples on the Greek situation, and I'm sure you are aware of the fact that the Greek government fought Constantine tooth and nail with respect to his claims for compensation. And, as Idriel has pointed out, identity, names, titles, etc. are legal issues under the control of the government in every country.
Still, to a certain extent you are correct insofar as many of these so-called "royals" and wannabe royals/aristos are not taken seriously by most people. Rather, they are relegated to the back pages of Point de Vue where they look ridiculous while schmoozing with B list personalities, wannabes, and other questionable and sometimes unsavoury characters. One sees them and thinks "my, how the mighty have fallen!"
