HIGHNESS

From Agepedia

HIGHNESS ; a title of honor given to princes. The kings of England and Spain had formerly no other title, the first till the time of Heniy VIII, the second till that of Charles V. The petty princes of Italy began to receive this title in 1630, and the duke of Orleans assumed the title of royal highness in 1631, to distinguish himself from the other princes of France. The prince of Conde took the title of most serene highness. At present, the children of crowned heads are generally styled royal highness. Those of the emperors of Austria and Russia are styled imperial highness. The granddukes and the elector of HesseCassel are called royal highness. The French altesse royale corresponds to royal highness, but altesse is not the same as highness, it being used for your grace, and for the German Darchlaucht.