2006-08-24 13:09:45 · 6 answers · asked by Bvilleboy 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
It depends. Most women become Duchesses by marrying a duke. She would most likely be the daughter of a peer of similar rank to her husband, so her father could be a Duke, an Earl, a Marquess, etc...
Most women do not become duchesses when their Duke fathers die. Titles generally go to the men.
2006-08-24 13:17:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As people have said above, a duchess is normally either a wife or widow of a duke, or a woman who is granted the title in her own right by the reigning soveriegn.
However there has been a case where a woman inherited a ducal title from her father: that of the 2nd Duchess of Fife, HH Princess Alexandra. This was a special case, as the 1st Duke of Fife had been married to the eldest daughter of King Edward VII, and His Grace unfortunately had no sons. The title was granted *again*, this time allowing it to pass to the Duke's daughters and their male heirs. Note that this special case was really more of a one-time exception.
2006-08-24 23:32:49 · answer #2 · answered by meilang 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Primarily, duchess is the wife of someone with the title 'Duke'. I don't know if father of a 'duchess' is also a duke, but I presume he could be...
2006-08-24 20:55:49 · answer #3 · answered by Uros I 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Duke
2006-08-24 21:54:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Duke
2006-08-24 20:14:53 · answer #5 · answered by scottwatras 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That would be Duke
2006-08-24 20:14:47 · answer #6 · answered by AngelicSmile81 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋