Grace (style)

His Grace or Her Grace is a style used for various high-ranking personages. It was the style used to address Kings of England until Henry VIII and the King or Queen of Scots up to the Act of Union of 1707, which merged the Kingdom of Scotland with the Kingdom of England. Today, the style is used when referring to non-royal dukes and duchesses, and archbishops, in the United Kingdom.

For example, His Grace The Duke of Devonshire in the United Kingdom, or His Grace The Archbishop of Canterbury; or Your Grace in spoken or written address. Royal dukes, for example The Duke of York, are addressed with their higher royal style, Royal Highness.

Ecclesiastical usage

The style "His Grace" and "Your Grace" is used in England and some other English-speaking countries to address Roman Catholic archbishops, which is not common in other countries (e.g. in France, the Philippines, and the United States Catholic bishops are addressed using the style "Excellency"). In the Eastern Orthodox Church it is used for bishops and abbots. The style is also used for an archbishop and some bishops in the Anglican tradition. In the United Methodist Church in the United States, bishops are addressed "Your Grace" (spoken style), and "His/Her Grace" (reference style). The Church of God in Christ addresses its Presiding Bishop as "His Holy Grace" and "Your Holy Grace". The bishop's reference style is "His Eminence" and the spoken style is "Your Eminence".

Outside Christianity

In Islam, several Sufi orders (such as the Qadrianis and Hawariyun) may refer to their spiritual Grand Masters with the epithet "(Most) Graceful ..." or "His Grace" in reference style while the spoken style is "(Most) Graceful".

International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON–Hare Krishna) devotees prefix the name of their founder, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, with "His Divine Grace".

See also

• Style of the monarchs of Scotland
• By the Grace of God