royalty

What it means

1. countableuncountableThe rank, status, power or authority of a monarch.
2. countableuncountablePeople of royal rank, plus their families, treated as a group.

   Wolferton was an important station on the Kings Lynn-Hunstanton line, which closed in 1969. As the station was convenient for the Sandringham estate, it was regularly patronised by royalty, and royal retiring rooms were provided.

   2022 December 14, Robin Leleux, “A royal occasion as heritage projects honoured: Wolferton”, in RAIL, number 972, page 61

3. countableuncountableA royal right or prerogative, such as the exploitation of a natural resource; the granting of such a right; payment received for such a right.

In a sentence

Wolferton was an important station on the Kings Lynn-Hunstanton line, which closed in 1969. As the station was convenient for the Sandringham estate, it was regularly patronised by royalty, and royal retiring rooms were provided.

2022 December 14, Robin Leleux, “A royal occasion as heritage projects honoured: Wolferton”, in RAIL, number 972, page 61

Where it comes from

1. Latinrēgālis
2. Vulgar Latin*rēgālitās
3. Old Frenchroialté
4. Middle Englishroyaltee
5. Englishroyalty

From Middle English royaltee, roialtee, royalte, from Old French roialté, roiauté, realté (compare earlier Old French realted (“realm, kingdom”)), from Vulgar Latin *rēgālitās, from Latin rēgālis, equivalent to royal + -ty. Doublet of regality.