Prince

Prince is a male member of a royal family, or the ruler of a principality. The title is typically granted to sons or other male-line descendants of a sovereign, though in some cases a prince is the ruling prince of a state. The term derives from the Latin princeps, meaning “first” or “principal,” and entered European usage through Latin and medieval governance.

In constitutional monarchies, princes usually perform ceremonial duties and represent the crown in public engagements. Heirs apparent may receive specific titles, such as the Prince of Wales in the United Kingdom or the Prince of Monaco. In monarchies with feudal traditions, a prince can be a sovereign ruler of a princely state; examples include the ruling princes of Liechtenstein and Monaco. Historically, the rank spanned a range from powerful dynasts to high nobles within empires.

Beyond royalty, Prince is also a given name and stage name. The most famous bearer is Prince (1958–2016), the American musician Prince Rogers Nelson, whose work spanned funk, pop, and rock and left a lasting influence on popular music.