The Ruthene Imperial Family is the family group of close relatives of the monarch of the Ruthenian Empire. There is no strict legal or formal definition in the empire of who is or is not a member of the Imperial family and different lists will include different people. However, those carrying the style Her or His Imperial and Royal Highness(HI&HR) are normally considered members. By this criterion, the Imperial Family will usually include the monarch, the consort of the monarch, the widows and widowers of previous monarchs, the children of the monarch and of previous monarchs, the male-line grandchildren of the monarch and previous monarchs, and the wives or widows of a monarch's and previous monarch's sons and male-line grandsons.