Green’s Dictionary of Slang

used by a woman as a sarcastically ‘respectful’ description of her husband; the implication is of laziness, or someone considered to be pompous, overbearing.

1879		G.R. Sims Dagonet Ballads 77: The green-stuff ain’t up to his ’ighness; he don’t like to serve at the stall.
1945		(con. 1937) R. Westerby Mad in Pursuit 218: He just rang me and was extremely rude [...] he told me you were to go in to see him. His Royal Highness seemed annoyed.