Prince of Scotland

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Prince and Great Steward of Scotland are two of the titles of the heir apparent to the throne of the United Kingdom. Their current holder is Charles, Prince of Wales.

The title of Prince of Scotland originates from when Scotland was a separate kingdom from England and was held by the heir apparent to the Scottish throne, in addition to being Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Great Steward of Scotland. Before England and Scotland were united under James VI and I sources indicate it was sometimes used in much the same way the title Prince of Wales was used to designate the heir to the English throne, although the Scottish heir was more often referred to as Duke of Rothesay.

The title originated from a charter creating the Principality of Scotland to the future James I of Scotland, the then heir apparent, granted on December 10, 1404, by King Robert III. During the reign of James III of Scotland, permanency was enacted to the title. The designation "Principality of Scotland" implied (and implies) not Scotland as a whole but the lands in Renfrewshire and the Stewartry appropriated as patrimony of the Sovereign's eldest son for his maintenance.

The Great Stewardship of Scotland was granted to Walter Fitz Allan by David I came to the Sovereign through the accession of Robert Stewart, son of Walter Stewart, 6th Great Steward of Scotland, and of Marjorie Bruce, Princess of Scotland, daughter of Robert I, as Robert II in 1370. Since that date it has been enjoyed by the Sovereign's eldest son.

The titles Prince and Great Steward of Scotland are normally conjoined in legislation.

Since the unification of England and Scotland in 1603, the titles have fallen from habitual use, the holder also from then on usually being Duke of Cornwall, Prince of Wales and Duke of Rothesay, which were preferred, and is now seldom referred to, except as the last in the conventional list of the Prince of Wales's titles. Similar to the process of Crown consent (see Royal Assent), in order for any bill affecting, directly or by implication, the personal property or interests of the Prince and Great Steward of Scotland to be heard in Parliament, the Prince must first consent to its hearing.

When the Sovereign had no son, there has been uncertainty as to who should bear and use the titles and enjoy the revenues of the Principality. Both Mary Queen of Scots and George II used the titles and styles, but on the accession of George VI there was a difference between the opinion of the Lord Lyon and the advice given by the Scottish Lords of Appeal to the Garter King of Arms. The matter remains unresolved, but is unlikely to be of practical significance for some time.