Foreign National Officials
and Noble Heads of State
Questions & Answers, Frequently Asked Questions, and Blog

How to Address an Austrian Count?     
How to Address a Counselor at an Embassy?      
How to Address an Earl, Countess and Their Sons?       
How to Address a Former President?     
How to Address a French Senator?    
How to Address a Member of French Royalty?     
How to Address a Prime Minister?     
How to Address a Princess?       
How to Address a Ruler?      
How to Address a Sheikha?       

Does a US Citizen Bow to a Foreign Head of State?       
    Does the President Bow to a Foreign King or Queen?    

How Do I Introduce a Former British Prime Minister    
    to a Former Mexican President?

What is the Salutation for a Member of the Queen’s Council?   
What Complimentary Close Should a President Use?   

Looking for Diplomats or International Representatives?
Link to Q&A just on Diplomats and International Representatives

What Complimentary Close Should a Chief of State Use?
      Does a President of a country end correspondence or note card with a complimentary close? Would it be appropriate for our President to use an expressions such as yours sincerely on a card? I checked out my copy of your book, but it only covers how to address people with titles.
          -- S @ The Presidency, PSOW Grad in the Mediterranean

Dear S@TP:
     Yes ... I guess I did write the book for people (like me -- without a title) writing TO those with titles. All correspondence that is signed includes a complimentary close. With regards to which complimentary close your President should use, I did some research and found the following;
    The President of the United States signs a letter with the complimentary close: Sincerely
         See the complimentary close on this letter from the President of the United States.
    And the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom uses: Yours Sincerely
         See the complimentary close on this letter from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom .
    Yours Sincerely seems a bit fancy to us in the US, but is quite standard in the U.K. Either closing would be very appropriate for your President to use when writing a card in English.
          -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a French Senator?
     I am addressing a formal letter in French to a member of the French Senate as follows:
           L'honorable Robert XXX, Senateur
                 Senat - Hauts-de-Seinge Department
          Cher Senateur XXX,
     I know you are the expert on these issues, and would appreciate your guidance. Thank you.
             -- April McLean, Assistant Director
                 XXX University Law School

Dear Ms. McLean:
    French citizens do not address their national officials as Honorable. Officials are formally addressed as Mr./Madam (office) as in Mr. President of the Republic (Monsieur le President de la République), Mr. Prime Minister (Monsieur le Premier Ministre), Mr. President for a president of council or chamber in the legislature (Monsieur le Président), Mr. Senator (Monsieur le Sénateur), or Mr. Deputy (Monsieur le Député).
    So I would not use "The Honorable" ... on the envelope just his name: Robert XXX  ... and use as the salutation use Monsieur le Sénateur:
            -- Robert Hickey

Dear NYT-R:
    Lady Gaga ("Poker Face," "Just Dance," "Paparazzi" ... ) is not a Lady in the way the British use the title. She is really Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta of the New York, New York Germanottas. I guess that most formally one would address her as Ms. Germanotta, although I admit probably no one does.
      A Lady in the U.K. use of the honorific would be a woman holding the rank of Marchioness, Countess, Viscountess, or Baroness ... or be the wife of a man holding one of the corresponding ranks ... or be married to a Baronet or Knight ... or be a Life Peeress in her own right.
      It seems unlikely that Stefani Germanotta is any of those.  But the photo in the New York Times made it look as though she delivered a very dignified performance when she was presented to Her Majesty.
            -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Counselor (A Foreign Diplomat)?
     How should I address foreign diplomats who are not the ambassador – rather, they are in the ambassador’s office. Their positions are “Counselor, Deputy Chief of Mission” and “Counselor, Congressional Liaison Officer.” Thanks in advance for your assistance,
     -- Ellen

Dear Ellen:
     Everyone at a foreign embassy .... except the ambassador .... is:
          Mr./Mrs./Ms. (Full Name)
               Embassy of (Official Name of Country)
                    Address
     In a salutation they would be
          Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. (Surname):
     "Counselor" is not used as an honorific in writing for a diplomat. Include their office after their name in an introduction ... but not on an envelope. 
     RE: Use of Mrs. or Ms.: Internationally "Ms." is not as ubiquitous as it is in the US, but a foreign diplomat serving in the US would be familiar with it.
     Only an accredited ambassador who has presented his credientials to the head of state or head of the international organization is addressed as "His/Her Excellency" or in direct address "Your Excellency"
    -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a Sheikha?
     I am sending a formal letter to  Sheikha Hussah Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah, a member of the royal family of Kuwait and director of the Kuwait National Museum. Could you please advise me on how to address her in the salutation? Thank you for your help.
    I believe she is an H.E... Her husband is H.E. Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Special Advisor to H.H. The Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Sheikh Nasser is the son of H.H. Sabah Al-Ahmed Al- Jaber Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs for Kuwait.
          -- Rachel @  Museum of Natural History

Dear Rachel:
     From what you say her husband is an H.E. ... not an H.H. ... His Highness.
     And if her husband is a H.E. that means he's His Excellency ... and while H.H. might well transfer to a wife from a husband .... H.E. would not.  His Excellency means he is ... or he's been ... or holds the rank of ambassador.
     Based on what you say ... the correct form is what you mentioned in the beginning:
          Sheika Hussah Sabah al-Salim al-Sebah
            Director
               Kuwait National Museum
                  (address)
     And in the salutation:
          Sheika Hussah Sabah al-Salim al-Sebah:
     Or:
          Sheika Hussah:
       -- Robert Hickey

Robert
   Thank you for the information. It was a great help! I was making an artifact loan request so the last thing I wanted to do was offend her by addressing her improperly.
          -- Rachel @  Museum of Natural History

How to Write a Prime Minister's Name?
     I hope this e-mail finds you well.  I am currently working on a document for my office and I could really use your expertise.
     The document includes a list of Heads of State whom we received in the last year in Washington, DC.  I need to include each Head of State’s name and have hit a few snags with certain countries. For example, listing the President of Haiti I would say “His Excellency Rene Garcia Preval President of Haiti”.  I realized; however, that some countries would list both their President and Prime Minister as “His/Her Excellency”, though not all do.
     I’m also wondering about the PM of Moldova, the PM/Chairman, Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, The PM of Lithuania, The President of France, the President of Nigeria, the PM of Haiti and the PM of Cameroon.
     Forgive me if I’m making this more complicated than necessary!
              -- KB on The Hill

Dear KB:
    Prime Ministers ... when out of their countries ... are typically addressed as "Your Excellency" whether or not they are addressed that way in their own country.
     The officials who get this are head of government, chief of state, speakers of houses & chambers, and minister of ministries / secretaries of deparments. The logic is they are at the level of being 'ambassadors of their government"  and as such they are given the forms of address typical for accredited ambassadors.
     Each official may have a different way they are addressed by their fellow countrymen .... I know for example that a President of France is not addressed with any courtesy title in France  ... he is just Nicolas Sarkorzy, President of the French Republic in France ... but when traveling His Excellency Nicolas Sarkorzy, President of the French Republic is the standard.
     If you know they have a different form at home ... e.g., The Right Honourable David Cameron ...  and want to use that, it would be the best ... You will find that in the last section of my book with the country-by-country information.
              -- Robert Hickey

How to Address the Ruler of Dubai?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
   I was asked this afternoon to draft a letter to Sheikh Mohammed of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. How do I address the Sheikh correctly in both the address and the salutation?
    -- Donna in tech world

Dear Donna:
     This form is listed on page 424. The Ruler of Dubai holds a noble rank and is always directly addressed orally as "Your Highness" and in writing as "His Highness Sheikh (name)".
     You referred to him as "Shiekh Mohammed of the UAE". He is the Ruler of Dubai - AS WELL AS - the Prime Minister of the UAE, so be specific in your address. For example, if you are writing him as the Ruler of Dubai, use the following:
    Envelope:
        His Highness
        Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum   
        Ruler of Dubai
        (Address)
    Letter salutation:
        Your Highness:
    In my book (pages 424-425) I go into more detail on all the forms of address used in the Emirates, but what's above are the basics.
                        -- Robert Hickey

Dear Going to Moscow:
    Around the world it is rare to address a former head of government by their former office's title. So, I would address him as "Mr. Gorbachev", and identify him as "the former president of ... "
    Russians do not address their national officials with courtesy titles. But the embassy advises that when their current high officials travel abroad it is appropriate to use courtesy titles. So you could address the current president and premier by (office) or as His/Her Excellency.
                      -- Robert Hickey

How Do I Introduce a Former British Prime Minister to a Former Mexican President?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
Your material is fascinating and very helpful. In the case of wishing to introduce the former British Prime Minister and former President of Mexico during a spoken address, what's the right form?
         --- Katherine Littefield, New York

Dear Ms. Littlefield:
    You didn't mention which individuals, but I am going to answer using Tony Blair and Vicente Fox. If you were going to introduce them to the audience -- here are some good forms:
    Tony Blair would be The Right Honourable Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 1997 to 2007.  A British prime minister will have been appointed to the Privy Council, and as a Privy Counsellor is The Right Honourable for life.
    Vicente Fox would be Vicente Fox, President of the United States of Mexico from 2000-2006. Mexicans don't use the courtesy titles when addressing their officials, so I'd use just (first name)+(last name) for Vincente Fox.
    Of course you could describe them as formers. Or the United States we identify former Presidents by their number, e.g., the 43rd President.  But maybe including the years provides a bit more information? So, do it however you like.
    Using the formal country names (e.g., United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) is correct .... just like we most formally say "The President of the United States of America."
    FYI, I cover all this in my book: the UK, Mexico and more than 180 other countries.
           -- Robert Hickey

How to Address a French Royalty?
     I saw in The New York Times a reference to Jeane de France, Duc de Vendome of the French Royal Dynasty. In your book I don't see a section on French Royalty. What form would one use for this gentleman?
         --- Bill Taylor

Dear Mr. Taylor:
    In my book I cover forms of address for current royalty and nobility, but not former royalty or noblity.
    In the United Kingdom there is a royal family -- so the nobles -- dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, barons, etc. --- are still officially addressed by their noble titles. Same is true in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Japan and other countries where the head of state is a hereditary monarch.  I do provide forms for all these. But my book is already 576 pages, and I decided it made no sense to include "how to address the Czar" or "how to address the Holy Roman Emperor", when those offices no longer exist!
   In republics -- such as the French Republic -- nobility no longer exists. Jean de France would be the Duc of Vendome if nobility had not been abolished with the French Revolution. Today friends and social acquaintances address him as a duc as a courtesy to honor him and his heritage. In an official situation he would be a Mr. de France (in English).
  That said, if you want to address him as a duc -- use the form I provide for a British duke (page 396), It's O.K. to use the British form when addressing a foreign noble in English. He will just fine with that.
                  -- Robert Hickey

How to Address an Austrian Count?
    What is the correct form of address when meeting a Count from Austria? He has a daughter that travels with him. What would be her form of address also?
         -- Matt

Dear Matt:
   Austrian nobility was officially abolished in 1919 at the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. So, count in Austria is a courtesy title – an unofficial title used as a courtesy in social situations by friends to honor the person’s family history.  I've known Austrian barons who did not like being addressed as a baron saying was not legally accurate to use the titles with Austrian citizens, but if your guest likes it, use it in social situations.  E.g., he would not be officially introduced to the President of the United States as a Count (name), but it could be included as a point of interest in the introduction.
    All that said, there would a form of address in German, but I assume you want to address him in English. In English it is O.K. to use the forms for a British Earl. In the UK they have earls rather than counts but they are equivalent ranks. 
    See … How to Address an Earl or Countess … and just replace earl with count.
    If his daughter is the eldest, she will inherit the title, but since he is still alive the title has not yet descended. As a daughter of a count, use the form for a daughter of an earl. As a courtesy (in English using the British model) she'd be addressed as Lady (full name) or in conversation as Lady (first name).
                    -- Robert Hickey

What is the Salutation for a Member of the Queen's Council?
      I am writing a letter to:
            The Honorable Robert Haynes, QC
                Attorney at-Law
                   Firm Name
    How do I address him in the salutation line?
     -- DAH- Jamaica

Dear DAH:
     If he’s addressed as “The Honorable” he must be a former member of the Cabinet in Jamaica? But “Honorable” is never used in salutations.
     Members of Jamaica's Queen's Council (QC) ... are addressed in a salutation: Dear Mr./Ms./etc. (surname):
                     -- Robert Hickey

Dear Mr. Clark:
    If she's a princess // member of the Thai royal family // she's a Your Royal Highness. Some info on Thailand's government and officials is on page 525 of "Honor & Respect"... and the forms for royal princess on page 430.
    In the US you can follow the same level of formality, same styles, you would use for visiting British nobles ... using the British model for royalty and nobility anywhere in the English speaking world is completely acceptable.
    In her world there are "Royal Persons,"  "Peers," and "Commoners" ... and they don't have the tradition of 'all men are created equal.' But she will have more knowledge of US customs that you have of Thai customs! I would wait for her to offer her hand first in shaking hands -- which she may, but if she does not -- just keep your hands to your sides and greet her warmly in word and expression.
               -- Robert Hickey

Dear LBT:
      British titles aren't easy ... unless you are raised with them!  The British books give directions on what to do rather than just the answer ... so I wrote my book for those of us (like me) who want just the facts and fast.
     1) Can an Earl and Countess either be called Earl of Richland and Countess of Richland, or Lord and Lady Richland?
    An earl/countess is always addressed in formal conversation as "Lord/Lady."  
    "Earl" and "countess" are not used oral address, Someone might refer to the earl/countess by his or her title when specificity is needed when speaking about the earl/countess to a third person. Otherwise it would "Lord/Lady (Name)" such as in  "Lord Ferrers will be here in 20 minutes."
     2) Can a father and eldest son both be a Lord (Surname) at the same time?
     The (name) in the title may or may not be their surname ... So don't think of it as "Lord (Surname)" think of it as "Lord (Name of Earldom)."
    Only the titled person (the father) is addressed as "Lord (name)" ... so a son would not be addressed as "Lord" until the title passes, when his father dies ... but read the next note.
     3) Maybe the father is the Marquess and the son is a Viscount? I understand that the younger son can be called "lord" by courtesy, but please clarify about the eldest son for me.
     Actually the father is a both the Marquess and the Viscount. He is addressed by his highest title and the lower title is not used. So the eldest son (who will inheriting the titles) can use 'Viscount' -- one of his father's unused titles -- during his father's lifetime.
    Both a 'Marquess' and a 'Courtesy Viscount" are addressed as "Lord (Name)."
    There's a different formula for younger sons ... who are "Honourable" and "Mr. (Surname)" ... and have no title to pass on.  And yes -- in this case (Surname) is their family name.
             -- Robert Hickey