regality
/rɪˈɡalɪti
/noun (plural regalities) [mass noun]
1The state of being a king or queen.Even Elizabeth's image was not so very different from that of her male predecessors and contemporary kings; like them she emphasised her regality, religion and role as carer of her people....
- Jones became obsessed with regality, parading around Paris in dress uniform, taking audiences with Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and courting French debutantes.
- The annotations in his personal psalter suggest that, by the 1540s, he perceived himself as David, and that he read the Psalms as a commentary on his own divine mission and regality.
1.1The demeanour or dignity appropriate to a king or queen: Enid awaited her guests, radiating regality...
- ‘Not many boys your age appreciate the greats of the silver screen,’ the first said with the stiff, formal grace and regality of a queen.
- We're all agog alright over the prospect of a presidential election later in the year but that's because we need some stateliness, maybe even regality, in our lives.
- On the other hand, while Mary brought quiet reserve and regality to her role as Princess of Wales, Alexandra's influence was much more ethereal.
2 historical (In Scotland) territorial jurisdiction granted by the king to a powerful subject.
2.1 [count noun] A territory subject to regality jurisdiction.Though there was an appeal from the barony to the royal sheriff court, this was not true of baronies in the regalities.
3 [count noun] archaic A royal privilege.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French regalite or medieval Latin regalitas, from regalis 'royal' (see regal).