IMPERIAL HONOURS LIST: May 28, 2023

 


AN HONOURS LIST
On the Occasion of the Solemn Opening of the Imperial Diet

 

THE EMPEROR has been graciously pleased to express his intention to bestow certain honours within the imperial gift upon the following:

 

GRANDEE OF THE EMPIRE, of the 2nd Degree*

In recognition of his singular devotion, his undivided loyalty to the Hanoverian Crown, and his extraordinary efforts to develop the Electorate of Aspenwald:

HMSH THE COUNT PALATINE AND PRINCE-ELECTOR OF ASPENWALD, GE

 

KNIGHT COMPANION OF THE IMPERIAL ALEXANDRIAN ORDER

In recognition of their constant devotion, ready willingness to assist the Crown, and proactivity in service to the Empire:


HIH THE ARCHDUKE ROBERT JAMES, DUKE AND PRINCE-ELECTOR OF HARBURG
HIH THE ARCHDUKE MICHAEL ALEXANDER, DUKE AND PRINCE-ELECTOR OF GUELPH


PRINCE ASSISTANT AT THE IMPERIAL THRONE**

For exemplary service to the Empire:

HG CHRISTOPHER JORDAN, PRELATE AND PRINCE-ELECTOR OF BERGEN
HG SIMON JAMES, PRELATE AND PRINCE-ELECTOR OF PRINZENWALD


*The dignity of Grandee of the Empire, which is the pinnacle of nobiliary stratification, is to be divided into two degrees, the first being greater than the second. While both degrees of grandeeship will grant to the holder the post-nominal letters “GE”, the style of “Most Excellent” as a supplement to one’s existing styles and titles, and the right to be addressed by the emperor as “Cousin”, the two degrees will differ in terms of ceremonial privileges at court. 

Whereas a grandee of the 1st degree may both address the emperor and receive his reply while covered, a grandee of the 2nd degree must remove his ceremonial head covering to address the emperor, but may then, by right, replace his head covering while listening to the emperor’s response. The context, here, is a formal ceremonial audience of the emperor (whether actual or virtual) in which both the monarch and the grandee are attired in full regalia, the head covering in question typically a grandee’s coronet or electoral hat (although the same rules apply to any hat worn in formal circumstances).   

Finally, whereas grandees of both classes are to be ceremonially received in public audience annually by the emperor (the precise occasion for this has not yet been determined), a grandee of the first class may request an additional, personal ceremonial audience of the emperor, once annually, on his birthday.

**The dignity of Assistant at the Imperial Throne is an honour which implies a unique degree of courtly proximity to the person of the emperor, a “Prince Assistant” being of the highest rank within the dignity. In formal ceremonial settings, assistants at the imperial throne stand upon the dais behind, besides, or otherwise about the throne, according to rank.  


THE EMPIRE OF GREAT HANOVER • 2023

Popular posts from this blog

OF CORONATIONS, CONSORTS, AND COLD WARS

Image
    Originally published during the lifetime of Queen Elizabeth II (February 2022), this piece is being reprised following the state funeral of the late British monarch. It has been supplemented with notations, in red italics. This reprise is being released in advance of any announcements concerning the details of the next coronation, and the speculations offered herein are just that: speculations: Open speculation about the next coronation at Westminster Abbey has always been a bit of no-no in the United Kingdom. As it is considered by many Britons to be in poor taste to discuss such things while Britain’s much-revered current monarch is yet living, the topic is regarded as something of a taboo.  Tut-tutting and editorial pearl clutching over the topic may be just a bit duplicitous, however, since, in reality, such speculations occur frequently enough. It is all happening now, in fact, and has been for some time behind closed doors as the House of Windsor comes to grips with how bes
Read more

Throne Speech opens Great Hanover's vicennial Parliament

Image
Bergen “Be good or be gone” seems to be the theme emerging for the 20 th anniversary year of the Kingdom of Great Hanover, which, when you think about it, is fitting enough. That’s essentially the attitude by which Hanover was reclaimed in the first place. After a New Year’s Day address in which the king took anti-vaxxers and right-wing extremists to task for the part they’ve played in making the world an increasingly less delightful place in which to live, His Majesty’s government devoted a great deal of text in its first throne speech of 2022 to warning cyber-bullies and “individuals who exhibit toxic or anti-social behavior” not to expect to find the red carpet rolled out for them within the social media of Great Hanover. Following a successful “ Restoration Parliament” which was convened for a short time in late 2021, the government set forth its agenda for the 2022 legislative season in what is set to be the first of two parliamentary sessions convened this year.   A verit
Read more