UK: New Letters Patent

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom has decided that all the children of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge are to be titled Prince or Princess with the style of Royal Highness. The decision didn't come as a big surprise to anyone, but it was unclear whether it would come in form of a Letters Patent or just as an announcement where "the Queen let it be known...".  Fortunately the Queen followed a more formal approach this time. The Letters Patent was published in the Official Gazette on 8 January 2013:

The Queen has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 31 December 2012 to declare that all the children of the eldest son of The Prince of Wales should have and enjoy the style, title and attribute of Royal Highness with the titular dignity of Prince or Princess prefixed to their Christian names or with such other titles of honour.

Under the previous Letters Patent a daughter of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales would have been styled Lady. For more information on British royal titles, go to Heraldica.org. See also Telegraph.co.uk 9 January 2013.

The Duchess of Cambridge's pregnancy was announced on 3 December 2012.