Imperial Majesty (style)

Imperial Majesty (His/Her Imperial Majesty, abbreviated as HIM) is a style used by emperors and empresses. It distinguishes the status of an emperor/empress from that of a king/queen, who are simply styled Majesty (HM). Holders of this style have sometimes been observed to follow religious leaders who are styled "His Holiness" in public ceremonies.

King-Emperors and Queen-Empresses sometimes have used the style Imperial and Royal Majesty (e.g. The Empress Frederick's style Her Imperial and Royal Majesty The German Empress and Queen of Prussia).

Today, the style is effectively extinct, (despite being assumed by Farah Pahlavi, the exiled Shahbanu of Iran). The sole reigning imperial monarchs, the Emperor and Empress of Japan (Japanese: 陛下, Hepburn: heika), voluntarily forgo the use of the style Imperial Majesty after world war 2, taking instead the official styles of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress.^[1] The absence of the courtesy title "Imperial" is exclusive to their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, while the rest of the imperial household retains the use of traditional English courtesy titles (e.g. Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess).^[2]}

See also

• HIM (Finnish band)

Styles used by monarchs and royalty Monarchs & mediatised nobles Imperial and Royal Majesty (HI&RM) Imperial Majesty (HIM) Apostolic Majesty (HAM) Catholic Majesty (HCM) Most Christian Majesty (HMCM) Most Faithful Majesty (HFM) Britannic Majesty (HBM) Most Excellent Majesty Most Gracious Majesty Royal Majesty (HRM) Majesty (HM) Grace (HG) Royal Highness (HRH) Exalted Highness (HEH) Highness (HH) Most Eminent Highness (HMEH) Serene Highness (HSH) Illustrious Highness (HIll.H) Imperial Crown of Austria Members of sovereign/mediatised families Imperial and Royal Highness (HI&RH) Imperial Highness (HIH) Royal Highness (HRH) Grand Ducal Highness (HGDH) Highness (HH) Sultanic Highness (HSH) Ducal Serene Highness (HDSH) Serene Highness (HSH) Serenity (HS) Illustrious Highness (HIllH) Grace (HG) Excellency (HE)

1. ↑ "How to Address the Emperor of Japan?". 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2015. 
2. ↑ "Personal History - The Imperial Household Agency". 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2015.