Order of precedence in England and Wales
The Order of precedence in England and Wales as of 11 May 2010:
Names in italics indicate higher precedence elsewhere in the table or precedence in the table for the other sex.
Men
Royalty, archbishops, et al.
Royal Family
- Brothers of the Sovereign (none at present)
- Uncles of the Sovereign (none at present)
Archbishops, High Officers of State, et al.
- The Lord High Steward (none; ceremonial and only appointed for coronations)
- The Lord High Treasurer (none; in commission since 1714)
- The Lord Speaker[1] (currently a woman, Baroness D'Souza)
- The Lord High Constable of England (none; ceremonial and only appointed for coronations)
- The Lord High Admiral (The Duke of Edinburgh, who ranks higher as the Sovereign's spouse)
Nobility, bishops, et al.
Dukes, et al.
Marquessess, et al.
Earls, et al.
- The Lord Steward of the Household (The Earl of Dalhousie)
- The Lord Chamberlain of the Household (The Earl Peel)
- The Master of the Horse (The Lord Vestey)[4]
- 20 Earls of England (ordered according to date of creation)
- 34 Earls of Scotland (ordered according to the Decree of Ranking of 1606 and the date of creation), excepting:
- The earldoms of Mar, Sutherland and Dysart, which are currently held by women;
- The Earl of Dalhousie, who ranks higher as Lord Steward of the Household; and
- The earldom of Selkirk, which is presently disclaimed by a baron for life, Lord Selkirk of Douglas, who ranks as a younger son of the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon
- 24 Earls of Great Britain (ordered according to date of creation)
- 31 Earls of Ireland created before 1801 (ordered according to date of creation)
- 78 Earls of the United Kingdom and of Ireland created after 1801 (ordered according to date of creation), excepting:
- The earldom of Mountbatten of Burma, which is currently held by a woman;
- The Earl of Wessex, who ranks higher as a member of the Royal Family; and
- The Earl Peel, who ranks higher as Lord Chamberlain of the Household
- Lord Nicholas Windsor (younger son of the Duke of Kent)
- Eldest sons of marquesses (ordered according to the precedence of the peerage holders)
- Younger sons of non-royal dukes (ordered according to the precedence of the peerage holders)
Viscounts, et al.
Bishops
Barons
- Secretaries of State being of the degree of a baron (none at present)
- 31 Barons of England (ordered according to date of creation; excepting 6 baronesses in their own right)
- 16 Scottish Lords of Parliament (ordered according to date of creation; excepting 3 Ladies of Parliament in their own right)
- 24 Barons of Great Britain (ordered according to date of creation)
- 31 Barons of Ireland created before 1801 (ordered according to date of creation)
- 334 Hereditary barons of the United Kingdom and of Ireland created after 1801, and barons for life of the United Kingdom[5] (ordered according to date of creation; Lord Chalfont is the only baron for life who outranks hereditary barons (four) in seniority of creation), excepting:
- The presently disclaimed four hereditary baronies of Merthyr, Reith, Silkin and Sanderson of Ayot;
- Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, who ranks higher as President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom;
- Lord Judge, who ranks higher as Lord Chief Justice;
- Lord Vestey, who ranks higher as Master of the Horse;
- Lord Selkirk of Douglas, who ranks higher as a younger son of a duke;
- Lord Carey, who ranks higher as a retired Archbishop of Canterbury;
- Lord Habgood, who ranks higher as a retired Archbishop of York;
- Lord Hope of Thornes, who ranks higher as a retired Archbishop of York; and
- Lord Harries, who ranks higher as a retired Bishop of Oxford
Gentry, et al.
Senior legal officials and justices
Royal Household officials
- Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal (none; last appointed in 1836)
Cabinet, et al.
- Secretaries of State under the degree of baron
- Eldest sons of viscounts (ordered according to the precedence of the peerage holders)
- Younger sons of non-royal earls and of countessess in their own right (ordered according to the precedence of the peerage holders)
- Eldest sons of hereditary barons, Lords of Parliament, hereditary baronesses in their own right and Ladies of Parliament in their own right (ordered according to the precedence of the peerage holders)
Knights of the Garter and Knights of the Thistle
- Knights of St Patrick (none; order dormant)
Privy Counsellors, et al.
Senior judges, et al.
- Senior judges
- Judges of the High Court (ordered according to seniority of appointment)
- Younger sons of viscounts (ordered according to the precedence of the peerage holders)
- Younger sons of hereditary barons, Lords of Parliament, hereditary baronesses in their own right and Ladies of Parliament in their own right (ordered according to the precedence of the peerage holders)
- All sons of barons and baronesses for life (ordered according to the precedence of the peerage holders)[7]
Baronets
- Baronets (Bt) (approx. 1,100 baronets holding baronetcies not already held by higher-ranking hereditary peers), excepting:
- Sir George Young, who ranks higher as Lord Privy Seal; and
- Sir William Gladstone, who ranks higher as a Knight of the Garter
Knights
Lower level judges, et al.
- The Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster (Mr Justice David Richards, who ranks higher as a High Court judge; it is customary for a High Court judge to be named to this position)
- The Recorder of London (Judge Beaumont, QC)
- The Recorders of Manchester and of Liverpool (in order of appointment)
- The Recorder of Liverpool (Judge Goldstone, QC)
- The Recorder of Manchester (Judge Gilbart, QC)
- The Common Serjeant of London (Judge Barker, QC)
- Judges junior to those of the High Court
- Circuit judges
- The Senior Judge of the Court of Protection (Denzil Lush)
Other lower ranks
Companions, commanders, lieutenants and officers of various orders
Eldest sons of various grades
- Eldest sons of younger sons of hereditary peers or hereditary peeresses in their own right (ordered according to the precedence of the peerage holders)
- Eldest sons of baronets (ordered according to the precedence of the baronets or baronetesses in their own right)
- Eldest sons of knights (ordered according to the precedence of the knights or dames/ladies in their own right)
Members of orders
Younger sons of various grades
- Younger sons of baronets (ordered according to the precedence of the baronets or baronetesses in their own right)
- Younger sons of knights (ordered according to the precedence of the knights or dames/ladies in their own right)
Lesser titles
Women
Members of the Royal Family
High Officers of State, et al.
Nobility, et al.
Gentry, et al.
Other lower ranks
- Wives of viscounts' eldest sons
- Viscounts' daughters not married to peers
- Wives of younger sons of earls or of countesses in their own right
- Wives of eldest sons of barons or baronesses
- Daughters of barons or baronesses not married to peers
Ladies and Dames, et al.
- Ladies of the Garter (all already rank higher in precedence)
- Ladies of the Thistle (who are not already ranked higher)
- Wives of Knights of the Garter (who are not already ranked higher)
- Wives of Knights of the Thistle (who are not already ranked higher)
- Lady Anderson
- Lady Morrison
- Privy counsellors
- Senior judges
- Wives of viscounts' younger sons
- Wives of younger sons of barons or baronesses
- Baronetesses in their own right (none currently, as Dame Anne Maxwell MacDonald, Baronetess of Stirling-Maxwell of Pollock a Baronetess in her own right passed away on 21 April 2011)
- Wives of baronets
- Dames Grand Cross
- Wives of Knights Grand Cross and Grand Commander
- Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
- Wives of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India
- Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Wives of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
- Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
- Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
- Dames Commander
- Dames Commander of the Order of the Bath
- Dames Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Dames Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
- Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Circuit judges
- Wives of Knights Commander
- Wives of Knights Bachelor
Members of orders, et al.
Companions of orders
-
- Companions of the Order of the Bath
- Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Wives of members of orders
- Wives of Companions of the Order of the Bath
- Wives of Companions of the Order of the Star of India
- Wives of Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Wives of Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire
- Wives of Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
- Wives of Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Wives of Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
- Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- Wives of Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order
- Wives of Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- Companions of the Imperial Service Order
- Wives of Companions of the Imperial Service Order
Wives and daughters of peers, baronets, and knights, et al.
- Wives of the eldest sons of sons of peers or peeresses
- Daughters of sons of peers or peeresses
- Wives of the eldest sons of baronets
- Daughters of baronets
- Wives of eldest sons of knights
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights of the Garter
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights of the Thistle
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights of St Patrick
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross or Grand Commander
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
- Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Daughters of knights:
- Daughters of Knights of the Garter
- Daughters of Knights of the Thistle
- Daughters of Knights Grand Cross or Grand Commander
- Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
- Daughters of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India
- Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Daughters of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
- Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
- Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
- Daughters of Knights Commander
- Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
- Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
- Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
- Daughters of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
- Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Members of the Royal Victorian Order
- Members of the Order of the British Empire
- Wives of members of the Royal Victorian Order
- Wives of members of the Order of the British Empire
Wives of younger sons
- Wives of younger sons of baronets
- Wives of younger sons of knights
- Wives of younger sons of Knights of the Garter
- Wives of younger sons of Knights of the Thistle
- Wives of younger sons of Knights of St Patrick
- Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross or Knights Grand Commander
- Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
- Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India
- Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
- Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
- Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
- Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander
- Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
- Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
- Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
- Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
- Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Local precedence
- The Lord Lieutenant of the County
- The High Sheriff of the County
- The Lord Mayor
- The (elected) mayor
- The chairman of the county council
- The deputy mayor
- Aldermen
- Councillors
- Justices of the Peace
- The clerk of the County Council
- The town clerk
- The chief constable
- The county engineer or borough engineer
References
- ^ a b Following a Resolution of the House of Lords on 12 July 2005, and a further Resolution on 31 January 2006, by which the office of Lord Speaker was established, The Queen issued a Warrant dated 4 July 2006 establishing the rank and precedence of the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords as being immediately after that of the Speaker of the House of Commons. [1]
- ^ a b c d London Gazette: no. 59201. p. 16957. 1 October 2009.
- ^ a b London Gazette: no. 58529. p. 17439. 30 November 2007.
- ^ If the Master of the Horse holds a rank lower than a Duke in the peerage, then by Royal Warrant of 6 May 1907, the Master of the Horse ranks next after the Lord Chamberlain.
- ^ Barons and baronesses for life created under the Life Peerages Act of 1958 and the Appellate Jurisdiction Act of 1876.
- ^ Justices of the Supreme Court of the UK (who are not peers) have the right to the courtesy title of "Lord" or "Lady" by authority of Royal Warrant issued 13 December 2010. [2]
- ^ Rank and precedence set by Royal Warrant, dated 21st July, 1958 and published in The London Gazette, No. 41454, page 4641 on 22nd July, 1958 [3]
- ^ In formal documents the word Knight or the abbreviation Kt. may be added. This style is often adopted by Knights Bachelor who are also peers, baronets or knights of the various statutory orders. [4]
- ^ a b "Precedence Amongst Ladies in England and Wales". Debretts.com. http://www.debretts.com/forms-of-address/hierarchies/table-of-precedence-ladies.aspx.