: of or relating to a king or his reign
specifically
: calculated from a monarch's accession to the throne
in his eighth regnal year
Examples of regnal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The little prince’s name was soon announced as George Alexander Louis, likely a tribute to the regnal name of Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI.
—
Janine Henni, People.com, 22 July 2025
Wojtyła took the regnal name after his predecessor, Pope John Paul I, who passed away only a month into his reign as the sovereign of Vatican City.
—Gabriele Regalbuto, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2025
In the fall, King Charles and Queen Camilla memorably penned birthday cards to the oldest man and woman in the U.K., signed with their regnal signatures.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 1 May 2024
Upon Queen Elizabeth's death on September 8, 2022, Charles immediately ascended to the throne, taking on the regnal name of King Charles III.
—Town & Country, 7 Sep. 2023
Questions about his regnal name popped up soon after his ascension, with the public wondering whether the new monarch would keep his name or adopt a new one in the tradition of previous royals.
—Quinci Legardye, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 May 2023
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Janine Henni, People.com, 22 July 2025
Wojtyła took the regnal name after his predecessor, Pope John Paul I, who passed away only a month into his reign as the sovereign of Vatican City.
—Gabriele Regalbuto, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2025
In the fall, King Charles and Queen Camilla memorably penned birthday cards to the oldest man and woman in the U.K., signed with their regnal signatures.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 1 May 2024
Upon Queen Elizabeth's death on September 8, 2022, Charles immediately ascended to the throne, taking on the regnal name of King Charles III.
—Town & Country, 7 Sep. 2023
Questions about his regnal name popped up soon after his ascension, with the public wondering whether the new monarch would keep his name or adopt a new one in the tradition of previous royals.
—Quinci Legardye, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 May 2023
Cite this Entry
“Regnal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regnal. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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