In accordance with Act 54, Laws 1-4, only the Monarch can appoint a noble, on the founding of the relevant Town, Province, Duchy or Region.
In accordance with Act 54, Laws 6-8, Barons and Counts are to be addressed as My Lord, Dukes are to be addressed as Your Grace, and Baronesses, Countesses, and Duchesses are to be addressed as My Lady.
Act 54, Law 11 is hereby repealed. The Monarch may only appoint the title of Archduke/Archduchess to those with the pre-nominals of HIH (His/Her Imperial Highness). It is a hereditary title with the same line of succession as that used by the Monarch (male-preference primogeniture), except the title may not pass to a person not in the Line of Succession to the Throne. If the heir to the title is not in the line of succession then the Monarch must appoint the title to another member of the Imperial Family upon the incumbent’s death, or if the title is removed by order of the Monarch (see Act 90, Law 11) or relinquished by the holder.
If a title of nobility is removed from a Noble by order of the Monarch (see Act 90, Law 11), then the title will automatically pass to the noble’s heir unless the heir to the title refuses to take it or the Monarch chooses not to allow the heir to inherit the title. In either case, the Monarch will choose the new recipient of the title.
On 28 March 2009, HIH Empress Margaret (then known as HIH Princess Consort Margaret) relinquished the title of Duchess of Royton. The title of Duke of Royton was given to Lord General William, 2nd Duke of Royton, KOR, KCA, DSC (then known as Sir William Kingsnorth, KOR, CAO, DSC) on the basis that the next in line to HIH Princess Consort Margaret, HIH Crown Prince Jonathan, refused the title. At that time Law 4 of this same Act had not been enacted, meaning that the title of Duke of Royton legally belonged to HIH Crown Prince Jonathan as he could not at that time refuse it. It is hereby confirmed that Lord General William, 2nd Duke of Royton, KOR, KCA, DSC, is the legal holder of the title “2nd Duke of Royton”, not HIH Crown Prince Jonathan, and has been so since HIH Princess Consort Margaret relinquished the title.
On 14 October 2009, HIM Emperor Terry I relinquished the title of 1st Duke of Highland. The title of 2nd Duke of Highland was given to Dark Lord Esmond, 2nd Duke of Highland, SCH on the basis that the next in line to HIM Emperor Terry I, HIH Crown Prince Jonathan, refused the title. At that time Law 4 of this same Act had not been enacted, meaning that the title of 2nd Duke of Highland legally belonged to HIH Crown Prince Jonathan as he could not at that time refuse it. It is hereby confirmed that Dark Lord Esmond, 2nd Duke of Highland, SCH, is the legal holder of the title “2nd Duke of Highland”, not HIH Crown Prince Jonathan, and has been so since HIM Emperor Terry I relinquished the title.
The children of a Baron or Baroness have the non-hereditary title of The Hon. Forename Surname. They may continue to use this title after the death of the parent noble if they did not inherit the noble title.
The sons of a Count or Countess have the non-hereditary title of The Hon. Forename Surname, and the daughters have the non-hereditary title of The Lady Forename Surname.
The sons of a Duke or Duchess have the non-hereditary title of Lord Forename Surname, and the daughters have the non-hereditary title of The Lady Forename Surname.