Royalty vs. Nobility: What's the Difference?

Royalty is a term specifically reserved for individuals who are part of a royal family. These are the people who hold, or are eligible to hold, a kingdom’s highest titles such as king, queen, prince, or princess. Nobility, on the other hand, is a broader term encompassing individuals who are aristocrats but are not part of the immediate royal family. Members of the nobility may hold titles like duke, baron, or earl.

While both royalty and nobility enjoy special privileges and often live in luxury, their roles within a kingdom can vary considerably. Royalty usually has the highest level of authority, including legislative and sometimes even judicial powers. Nobility often serves in advisory roles or as regional rulers but do not hold as much power as the royalty.

Grammatically speaking, "royalty" is a collective and uncountable noun, which refers to the institution or group of royal family members. "Nobility" is also an uncountable noun, referring to a social class of people with hereditary titles, but not necessarily royal. Both words can be pluralized when referring to multiple royal or noble houses, such as "European royalties" or "ancient nobilities."

Historically, the lines between royalty and nobility were often blurred, especially when nobles married into royal families. However, the titles and roles have become more standardized over time. While both belong to the upper echelons of society, royalty typically inherits or assumes a level of responsibility and power that members of the nobility do not.