Q. Upon seeing Prince Charles or Queen Elizabeth, is it halachically appropriate to recite a blessing? Thanks.

A. Shulchan Aruch( O.C. 224,8) quotes the Talmud (Brochos 58a): “On Gentile Kings one blesses “He bestowed from His glory to flesh and blood”. Mishna Berurah (ibid. 8) rules that you only recite the full blessing (mentioning Hashem’s name), if the sovereign has absolute power including life and death decisions, otherwise you bless omitting Hashem’s name.

Birchas Hamedaver (p. 404) quotes opinions that include in the full blessing, a president or leader that is empowered to grant a pardon to a death-convicted individual.

Many Poiskim maintain that the blessing is recited only if the monarch is dressed in distinctive royal or official attire. (Tshuvos Vehanhogos 2,139 – Tzitz Eliezer 22,14 et al.)

Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit”a opinion is that on Prince Charles no brocho need be recited meantime. On the Queen you can recite without Hashem’s name.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a