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majesties

Majesties is the plural form of majesty, a term used in English to denote the dignity, rank, or authority of a sovereign. In contemporary usage, majesty refers to the status of a monarch, and the phrase Your Majesty is the formal mode of address for a single reigning king or queen. Their Majesties is used when referring to two or more monarchs or to the monarchs collectively, for example in ceremonial or diplomatic contexts.

Etymology and scope: majesty derives from Latin maiestas, meaning greatness or dignity, and entered English via

Usage notes: In third-person references to a single monarch, His Majesty or Her Majesty is common. For

Context and significance: In constitutional and ceremonial monarchies, majesty functions as part of formal protocol and

See also: Your Majesty; Their Majesties; Royal style.

Old
French
majesté.
The
plural
majesties
appears
primarily
in
formal
or
official
writing,
particularly
in
references
to
multiple
monarchs
or
to
the
institution
of
the
monarchy
as
a
whole
rather
than
to
an
individual
sovereign.
multiple
monarchs,
Their
Majesties
is
the
standard
form,
as
in
official
proclamations
or
descriptions
of
joint
events.
The
word
majesty
can
also
mean
the
abstract
quality
of
grandeur,
independence
of
its
plural
usage,
or
the
sovereign’s
dignity,
in
contrast
to
related
styles
of
address
such
as
Royal
Highness
or
Your
Grace.
titles.
The
terms
are
embedded
in
laws,
decrees,
and
public
ceremonies,
signaling
respect
and
the
ceremonial
role
of
the
monarchy.