Order of precedence in England and Wales

The following is the order of precedence in England and Wales as of August 2020. Separate orders exist for gentlemen and ladies.

Names in italics indicate that these people rank elsewhere—either higher in that table of precedence or in the table for the other sex. Titles in italics indicate the same thing for their holders, or that they are vacant.

Peers and their families make up a large part of these tables. It is possible for a peer to hold more than one title of nobility, and these may belong to different ranks and peerages. A peer derives his precedence from his highest-ranking title; peeresses derive their precedence in the same way, whether they hold their highest-ranking title in their own right or by marriage. The ranks in the tables refer to peers rather than titles: if exceptions are named for a rank, these do not include peers of a higher rank (or any peers at all, in the case of baronets). No exceptions are named for most categories, owing to their large size.

Gentlemen

Royalty, archbishops, et al.

Royal family

Precedence is accorded to spouses, children and grandchildren of the reigning sovereign, as well as children and grandchildren of former sovereigns.[nb 1]

TitleHolderRef
The Sovereign (regardless of sex) HM The Queen
The Spouse of the Sovereign HRH The Duke of Edinburgh [nb 2] [3]
Eldest son of the Sovereign HRH The Prince of Wales [4]
Younger sons of the Sovereign HRH The Duke of York [4]
HRH The Earl of Wessex
Grandsons of the Sovereign HRH The Duke of Cambridge [5]
HRH The Duke of Sussex
Viscount Severn[6]
Peter Phillips
Brothers of the Sovereign None at present [7][4]
Uncles of the Sovereign None at present [4]
Nephews of the Sovereign The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Snowdon [4]
Grandsons of former Sovereigns
who are Dukes
HRH The Duke of Gloucester [7]
HRH The Duke of Kent
Grandsons of former Sovereigns
who are not Dukes
HRH Prince Michael of Kent

Archbishops, High Officers of State, et al.

TitleHolderRef
The Vicegerent in Spirituals None; vacant since 1540 [1][8]
The Archbishop of Canterbury The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby [1]
The Lord High Steward None; ceremonial and only appointed for coronations [9]
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain The Rt. Hon. Robert Buckland, MP [8]
The Archbishop of York The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Stephen Cottrell [1]
The Prime Minister The Rt. Hon. Boris Johnson, MP [nb 3]
The Lord High Treasurer None; in commission since 1714 [8]
The Lord President of the Council The Rt. Hon. Jacob Rees-Mogg, MP [8]
The Speaker of the House of Commons The Rt. Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, MP [12]
The Lord Speaker of the House of Lords The Rt. Hon. The Lord Fowler [nb 4]
The President of the Supreme Court The Rt. Hon. The Lord Reed of Allermuir [15]
The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales The Rt. Hon. The Lord Burnett of Maldon [16]
The Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Evans of Bowes Park Office held by a woman [8]
The Ambassadors and High Commissioners to the United Kingdom in order of arrival [nb 5][17]
The Lord Great Chamberlain The Most Hon. The Marquess of Cholmondeley [8]
The Lord High Constable None; ceremonial and only appointed for coronations [8][18]
The Earl Marshal His Grace The Duke of Norfolk [8]
The Lord High Admiral HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Office held by a member of the royal family [8]
The Lord Steward of the Household The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Dalhousie [8]
The Lord Chamberlain of the Household The Rt. Hon. The Earl Peel [8]
The Master of the Horse The Rt. Hon. The Lord de Mauley [nb 6]

Nobility, bishops, et al.

Dukes, et al.

NoteRef
Royal Dukes not grandsons of former Sovereigns None at present [7]
England Ordered according to date of creation [nb 7]
Scotland Ordered according to date of creation
Great Britain Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland The 9th Duke of Leinster [nb 8]
United Kingdom Ordered according to date of creation
Eldest sons of Royal Dukes
who are not already ranked higher
Earl of Ulster (son of the Duke of Gloucester) [nb 1]
Earl of St Andrews (son of the Duke of Kent)
Prince George of Cambridge (son of the Duke of Cambridge)
Archie Mountbatten-Windsor (son of the Duke of Sussex)
Ministers, envoys, and other very important visitors from foreign countries

Marquesses, et al.

NoteRef
England The 18th Marquess of Winchester
Scotland Ordered according to date of creation
Great Britain Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland Ordered according to date of creation
United Kingdom Ordered according to date of creation [nb 9]
[20]
Eldest sons of Dukes according to the precedence of the peerage holders

Earls, et al.

NoteRef
England Ordered according to date of creation
Scotland Ordered according to the Decreet of Ranking of 1606 according to date of creation [nb 10]
[nb 11]
Great Britain Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland Ordered according to date of creation
United Kingdom Ordered according to date of creation [nb 12]
[nb 13]
[21]
Younger sons of Royal Dukes
who are not already ranked higher
Lord Nicholas Windsor (second son of the Duke of Kent) [nb 1]
Prince Louis of Cambridge (second son of the Duke of Cambridge)
Eldest sons of Marquesses according to the precedence of the peerage holders
Younger sons of Dukes according to the precedence of the peerage holders

Viscounts, et al.

NoteRef
England The 19th Viscount Hereford
Scotland Ordered according to date of creation
Great Britain Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland Ordered according to date of creation
United Kingdom Ordered according to date of creation [22]
Eldest sons of Earls according to the precedence of the peerage holders [nb 14]
Lord Frederick Windsor (only son of Prince Michael of Kent) [7]
Younger sons of Marquesses ordered according to the precedence of the peerage holders

Bishops

TitleHolderRef
Diocesan Bishops with seats in the House of Lords - ex officio The Bishop of London The Rt. Rev. and Rt. Hon. Dame Sarah Mullally Office held by a woman [23]
The Bishop of Durham The Rt. Rev. Paul Butler
The Bishop of Winchester The Rt. Rev. Tim Dakin
Other Diocesan Bishops with seats in the House of Lords ordered according to seniority of confirmation of election [nb 15]
Other Diocesan Bishops ordered according to seniority of confirmation of election
Suffragan bishops ordered according to seniority of consecration
Retired Church of England diocesan archbishops and bishops ordered according to original date of confirmation of election

Barons/Lords of Parliament

Order of precedenceNotes
Secretaries of State
Being of the degree of a Baron
None at present
England Ordered according to date of creation
Scotland Ordered according to date of creation
Great Britain Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland Ordered according to date of creation
United Kingdom Ordered according to date of creation [nb 16]
[nb 17]
[nb 18]
[nb 19]
[nb 20]
[24]

Gentry, et al.

Master of the Rolls and Supreme Court Justices

TitleHolderRef
The Master of the Rolls The Rt. Hon. Sir Terence Etherton [16]
The Deputy President of the Supreme Court The Rt. Hon. Lord Hodge [15]
Justices of the Supreme Court The Rt. Hon. The Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore ranks higher as a baron. [15][nb 21]
The Rt. Hon. Lord Wilson of Culworth
The Rt. Hon. Lord Carnwath of Notting Hill
The Rt. Hon. Lady Black of Derwent Office held by a woman
The Rt. Hon. Lord Lloyd-Jones
The Rt. Hon. Lord Briggs of Westbourne
The Rt. Hon. Lady Arden of Heswall Office held by a woman
The Rt. Hon. Lord Kitchin
The Rt. Hon. Lord Sales
The Rt. Hon. Lord Hamblen

Royal Household officials

TitleHolderRef
The Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal None; last appointed in 1850 [7]
The Treasurer of the Household Stuart Andrew, MP
The Comptroller of the Household Mike Freer, MP
The Vice-Chamberlain of the Household Marcus Jones, MP

Cabinet, et al.

DepartmentHolder
Secretaries of State
Under the degree of a Baron
for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs The Rt. Hon. Dominic Raab, MP
for Justice The Rt. Hon. Robert Buckland, MP [27]
for Defence The Rt. Hon. Ben Wallace, MP
for Health and Social Care The Rt. Hon. Matt Hancock, MP
for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy The Rt. Hon. Alok Sharma, MP
for Education The Rt. Hon. Gavin Williamson, MP
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs The Rt. Hon. George Eustice, MP
for Housing, Communities and Local Government The Rt. Hon. Robert Jenrick, MP
for Transport The Rt. Hon. Grant Shapps, MP
for Northern Ireland The Rt. Hon. Julian Smith, MP
for Scotland The Rt. Hon. Alister Jack, MP
for Wales The Rt. Hon. Simon Hart, MP
for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport The Rt. Hon. Oliver Dowden, MP
Eldest sons of Viscounts according to the precedence of the peerage holders
Younger sons of Earls according to the precedence of the peerage holders
Eldest sons of Barons according to the precedence of the peerage holders

The Prime Minister determines the order of precedence for Secretaries of State. If he or she is absent from a Cabinet meeting, the chair is assumed by the highest-ranking Secretary of State present; the same rule is followed in Cabinet committees when both their chair and deputy chair are absent.[28] The current order of precedence can be found in the website of the Prime Minister's Office.[29]

Knights of the Garter and Knights of the Thistle

OrderPost-nominal lettersHolderRef
Knights of the Garter KG Sir Timothy Colman [30]
Sir Antony Acland
Sir John Major
Sir Thomas Dunne
Sir David Brewer
Knights of the Thistle [30]
Sir Ian Wood
Knights of St Patrick KP None; order dormant [nb 22]

Privy Counsellors, et al.

Privy CounsellorsHolderRef
Privy Counsellors (PC) Ordered according to date of oath-taking [nb 23]
The Chancellor of the Order of the Garter His Grace The Duke of Abercorn [31]
The Chancellor of the Exchequer The Rt. Hon. Rishi Sunak, MP [32]
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster The Rt. Hon. Michael Gove, MP [32]

Senior judges, et al.

HolderRef
The Senior Judges The President of the Queen's Bench Division The Rt. Hon. Dame Victoria Sharp Office held by a woman [nb 24] [34]
The President of the Family Division The Rt. Hon. Sir Andrew McFarlane [32]
The Chancellor of the High Court The Rt. Hon. Sir Geoffrey Vos [32]
The Lords Justices of Appeal Ordered according to seniority of appointment [35]
The Judges of the High Court Ordered according to seniority of appointment [36]
Younger sons of Viscounts according to the precedence of the peerage holders
Younger sons of Barons according to the precedence of the peerage holders
All sons of Life Peers according to the precedence of the peerage holders [nb 25]

Baronets

Post-nominal lettersRef
Baronets Bt [nb 26]

Knights

LevelOrderPost-nominal lettersRef
Knights Grand Cross Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath GCB
Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India GCSI [nb 27]
Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George GCMG
Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire GCIE [nb 27]
Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order GCVO
Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire GBE
Knights Commander Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath KCB
Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India KCSI [nb 28]
Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George KCMG
Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire KCIE [nb 29]
Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order KCVO
Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire KBE
Knights Bachelor Kt [nb 30]

Lower level judges, et al.

TitleHolderRef
The Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster The Rt. Hon. Sir Alastair Norris, QC [39]
The Recorder of London His Honour Sir Nicholas Hilliard, QC
The Recorders of Manchester and of Liverpool [40]
The Recorder of Manchester His Honour David Stockdale, QC [41]
The Recorder of Liverpool His Honour Andrew Menary, QC [42]
The Common Serjeant of London His Honour Richard Marks, QC [43]
The Circuit Judges

Other lower ranks, including Esquires and Gentlemen

Companions, commanders, lieutenants and officers of various orders

OrderPost-nominal lettersRef
Companions of the Order of the Bath CB
Companions of the Order of the Star of India CSI [nb 31]
Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George CMG
Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire CIE [nb 32]
Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order CVO
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire CBE
Companions of the Distinguished Service Order DSO
Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order LVO
Officers of the Order of the British Empire OBE
Companions of the Imperial Service Order ISO

Eldest sons of various grades

NoteRef
Eldest sons of younger sons of hereditary peers 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
Eldest sons of knights Ordered according to the precedence of the knights

Members of various orders

OrderPost-nominal lettersRef
Members of the Royal Victorian Order MVO
Members of the Order of the British Empire MBE

Younger sons of various grades

NoteRef
Younger sons of baronets Ordered according to the precedence of the baronets
Younger sons of knights Ordered according to the precedence of the knights

Ladies

Royalty

The order of precedence accorded to women of the royal family differs depending on whether or not they are accompanied by a husband who is of higher precedence by birthright. Thus two tables are given below: the first outlines the order of precedence for women of the royal family when unaccompanied by a more senior ranking spouse. The second shows the order of precedence when female members of the royal family are joined by their spouses of the blood Royal. This is done because when unaccompanied, blood relations of the sovereign are always accorded higher precedence than those who are married in. For example, when not accompanied by the Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, ranks after Princess Alexandra, The Honorable Lady Ogilvy; when with him, she ranks above all women other than the reigning sovereign and any queens dowager. The same goes for spouses of the Queen’s grandsons and their positioning with the Queen’s granddaughters. For example, as a Princess of the blood Royal, Princess Beatrice of York outranks Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge if Catherine is unaccompanied by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.[44]

Order of Precedence for female members of the royal family when not accompanying their husbands

TitleHolderRef
The Queen HM The Queen
The Queens Dowager None surviving; most recently widowed first
Daughters of the Sovereign HRH The Princess Royal
Granddaughters of former Sovereigns HRH Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy
Lady Sarah Chatto
Princess of Wales HRH The Duchess of Cornwall [45]
Granddaughters of the Monarch accorded princely rank HRH Princess Beatrice of York
HRH Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank
Wives of grandsons of the Sovereign accorded princely rank HRH The Duchess of Cambridge
HRH The Duchess of Sussex
Daughters-in-law of the Sovereign HRH The Countess of Wessex
Granddaughters of the Sovereign without princely rank Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor [46]
Zara Tindall
Granddaughters-in-law of the Sovereign Autumn Phillips
Aunts (by marriage) of the Sovereign None surviving [47]
Nieces (by marriage) of the Sovereign The Rt. Hon. The Countess of Snowdon [47]
Granddaughters-in-law of former Sovereigns
whose husbands are dukes
HRH The Duchess of Gloucester
HRH The Duchess of Kent
Granddaughters-in-law of former Sovereigns
whose husbands are not dukes
HRH Princess Michael of Kent

Order of Precedence for female members of the royal family when accompanying their husbands

Title or RelationshipHolderRef
The Queen HM The Queen
The Queens Dowager None surviving; most recently widowed first
Daughters-in-law of the Sovereign HRH The Duchess of Cornwall[45] [48]
HRH The Countess of Wessex
Daughters of the Sovereign HRH The Princess Royal
Granddaughters-in-law of the Sovereign HRH The Duchess of Cambridge [49]
HRH The Duchess of Sussex
Autumn Phillips
Granddaughters of the Sovereign HRH Princess Beatrice of York [5]
HRH Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank
Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor [46]
Zara Tindall
Sisters-in-law of the Sovereign None surviving [48]
Sisters of the Sovereign None surviving
Aunts (by marriage) of the Sovereign None surviving [48]
Aunts (by blood) of the Sovereign None surviving
Nieces (by marriage) of the Sovereign The Rt. Hon. The Countess of Snowdown [48]
Nieces (by blood) of the Sovereign Lady Sarah Chatto
Granddaughters-in-law of former Sovereigns
whose husbands are Dukes
HRH The Duchess of Gloucester [48]
HRH The Duchess of Kent
Granddaughters-in-law of former Sovereigns
whose husbands are not Dukes
HRH Princess Michael of Kent [48]
Granddaughters of former Sovereigns HRH Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy

High Officers of State, et al.

TitleHolderRef
The Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
The Ambassadors and High Commissioners to the United Kingdom in order of arrival

Nobility and Bishops

Duchesses, et al.

NoteRef
England Ordered according to date of creation
Scotland Ordered according to date of creation
Great Britain Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland The Duchess of Leinster
United Kingdom Ordered according to date of creation
Wives of eldest sons of Royal Dukes The Countess of Ulster (wife of the Earl of Ulster)
The Countess of St Andrews (wife of the Earl of St Andrews)
Daughters of Royal Dukes Lady Davina Lewis (elder daughter of the Duke of Gloucester) [nb 1]
Lady Rose Gilman (younger daughter of the Duke of Gloucester)
Lady Helen Taylor (only daughter of the Duke of Kent)
Princess Charlotte of Cambridge (only daughter of the Duke of Cambridge)
Ministers, envoys, and other very important visitors from foreign countries

Marchionesses, et al.

NoteRef
England The Marchionesses of Winchester
Scotland Ordered according to date of creation
Great Britain Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland Ordered according to date of creation
United Kingdom Ordered according to date of creation
Wives of the eldest sons of Dukes according to the precedence of the peerage holders
Daughters of Dukes not married to peers

Countesses, et al.

NoteRef
England Ordered according to date of creation
Scotland Ordered according to the Decreet of Ranking of 1606 according to date of creation
Great Britain Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland Ordered according to date of creation
United Kingdom Ordered according to date of creation
Wives of younger sons of Royal Dukes
who are not already ranked higher
Lady Nicholas Windsor
Wives of eldest sons of Marquesses according to the precedence of the peerage holders
Daughters of Marquesses not married to peers
Wives of younger sons of Dukes according to the precedence of the peerage holders

Viscountesses, et al.

NoteRef
England The Viscountess Hereford
Scotland Ordered according to date of creation
Great Britain Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland Ordered according to date of creation
United Kingdom Ordered according to date of creation
Wives of eldest sons of Earls according to the precedence of the peerage holders
Daughters of Earls not married to peers [50]
Wives of younger sons of Marquesses ordered according to the precedence of the peerage holders

Female Bishops

TitleHolderRef
Female Diocesan Bishops with seats in the House of Lords - ex officio The Bishop of London The Rt. Rev. and Rt. Hon. Dame Sarah Mullally [23]
Other Female Diocesan Bishops with seats in the House of Lords ordered according to seniority of confirmation of election [nb 15]
Other Female Diocesan Bishops ordered according to seniority of confirmation of election
Female Suffragan bishops ordered according to seniority of consecration
Retired Female Church of England diocesan archbishops and bishops
ordered according to original date of confirmation of election

Baronesses

NoteRef
Secretaries of State
Being of the degree of a Baroness
None at present
England Ordered according to date of creation
Scotland Ordered according to date of creation
Great Britain Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland Ordered according to date of creation
United Kingdom Ordered according to date of creation [nb 16]
[nb 33]

Gentry, et al.

Supreme Court Justices

TitleHolderRef
Justices of the Supreme Court The Rt. Hon. Lady Black of Derwent [15]
The Rt. Hon. Lady Arden of Heswall

Cabinet, et al.

HolderRef
Secretaries of State
Under the degree of a Baroness
for the Home Department The Rt. Hon. Priti Patel, MP
for International Trade The Rt. Hon. Liz Truss, MP
for Work and Pensions The Rt. Hon. Thérèse Coffey MP
for International Development The Rt. Hon. Anne-Marie Trevelyan, MP
Wives of Viscounts' eldest sons
Daughters of Viscounts not married to peers
Wives of younger sons of Earls
Wives of eldest sons of Barons
Daughters of Barons not married to peers

Ladies and Dames, et al.

Ladies of the Garter and Ladies of the Thistle

OrderPost-nominal lettersHolderRef
Ladies of the Garter LG Lady Mary Fagan [30]
Lady Mary Peters
Ladies of the Thistle LT None at present [30]

Wives of Knights of the Garter

WifeHusband who is/was memberRef
Lady (Valerie) Stephen Sir Ninian Stephen [51] [30]
Lady (June) Hilary Sir Edmund Hillary [52]
Lady (Mary) Colman Sir Timothy Colman
Lady (Rosamund) Gladstone Sir William Gladstone [53]
Lady (Jennifer) Acland Sir Antony Acland
Lady (Norma) Major Sir John Major [nb 34]
Lady (Henrietta) Dunne Sir Thomas Dunne
Lady (Tessa) Brewer Sir David Brewer

Wives of Knights of the Thistle

WifeHusband who is/was memberRef
Lady (Poppy) Anderson Sir Eric Anderson [30]
Lady (Gillian) Morrison Sir Garth Morrison [54]
Lady (Helen) Wood Sir Ian Wood

Privy Counsellors, et al.

Privy CounsellorsHolderRef
Privy Counsellors (PC) Ordered according to date of oath-taking [nb 23]

Senior judges, et al.

HolderRef
The President of the Queen's Bench Division The Rt. Hon. Dame Victoria Sharp
The Lords Justices of Appeal Ordered according to seniority of appointment
The Judges of the High Court Ordered according to seniority of appointment [55]
Wives of younger sons of Viscounts according to the precedence of the peerage holders
Wives of younger sons of Barons according to the precedence of the peerage holders
Baronetesses in their own right None at present [nb 35]
Wives of Baronets

Dames

LevelOrderPost-nominal lettersRef
Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath GCB
of the Order of St Michael and St George GCMG
of the Royal Victorian Order GCVO
of the Order of the British Empire GBE
Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India
of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Dames Commander of the Order of the Bath DCB
of the Order of St Michael and St George KCMG
of the Royal Victorian Order DCVO
of the Order of the British Empire DBE [56]
Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
of the Order of the Star of India
of the Order of St Michael and St George
of the Order of the Indian Empire
of the Royal Victorian Order
of the Order of the British Empire
Wives of Knights Bachelor

Lower level judges

TitleHolderRef
The Circuit Judges

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 Companions of the following Orders:
    • Order of the Bath
    • Order of the Star of India
    • Order of St Michael and St George
    • Order of the Indian Empire
    • Royal Victorian Order
    • 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:
    • Knights of the Garter
    • Knights of the Thistle
    • Knights of St Patrick
    • Knights Grand Cross or Grand Commander
    • Knights Commander
  • 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 Commander
  • 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:
    • Knights of the Garter
    • Knights of the Thistle
    • Knights of St Patrick
    • Knights Grand Cross or Knights Grand Commander
    • Knights Commander

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 or district 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

Notes

  1. There is no specific place in the order for a great-grandchild of the Sovereign, no matter how senior in the order of succession. Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge are entitled to precedence as the eldest son and a daughter respectively of a Duke of the Blood Royal and Prince Louis of Cambridge is entitled to precedence as the younger son of a Duke of the Blood Royal, pursuant to the unrevoked Lord Chamberlain's Order of 1520 as amended in 1595.[1]
  2. The Duke of Edinburgh was accorded precedence immediately after his wife's "except where otherwise provided by Act of Parliament" by Royal Warrant dated 18 September 1952.[2]
  3. The title of Prime Minister was used unofficially in the 18th and 19th centuries for the First Lord of the Treasury; it first received official recognition with a Royal Warrant of 2 December 1905, which assigned the Prime Minister precedence immediately after that of the Archbishop of York.[10][11]
  4. The speakership of the House of Lords was historically vested in the Lord Chancellor; following the creation of a separate office of Lord Speaker, its rank and precedence was established by Royal Warrant dated 4 July 2006 as being immediately after that of the Speaker of the House of Commons.[13][14]
  5. When visiting the United Kingdom, cabinet ministers of foreign countries are given precedence immediately above that of their country's High Commissioner (if in the Commonwealth) or Ambassador (if not).
  6. If the Master of the Horse holds a rank lower than a duke in the peerage, then by Royal Warrant dated 6 May 1907, he ranks next after the Lord Chamberlain.[19]
  7. Excepting The Duke of Norfolk who ranks higher as the Earl Marshal.
  8. The Dukedom of Abercorn was created after the Acts of Union 1800. It takes precedence after earlier Dukedoms of the United Kingdom.
  9. Excepting The Marquess of Cholmondeley who ranks higher as the Lord Great Chamberlain.
  10. Excepting The Earl of Dalhousie who ranks higher as the Lord Steward of the Household.
  11. Excepting The Baron Selkirk of Douglas who disclaimed the Earldom of Selkirk in 1994.
  12. Excepting The Earl of Wessex and The Earl of Snowdon, who rank higher as members of the royal family.
  13. Excepting The Earl Peel, who ranks higher as Lord Chamberlain of the Household.
  14. Excepting The Viscount Severn (son of the Earl of Wessex), who ranks higher as member of the royal family.
  15. The number of bishops entitled to sit in the House of Lords has been fixed at 21 since the 16th century; they were all male until 2015, when women who are bishops began to be introduced to the House of Lords under the terms of the Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015.
  16. Barons and baronesses for life created under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 and the Life Peerages Act 1958.
  17. Excepting The Lord Fowler, who ranks higher as Lord Speaker of the House of Lords.
  18. Excepting The Lord Reed of Allermuir, who ranks higher as the President of the Supreme Court.
  19. Excepting The Lord Burnett of Maldon who ranks higher as the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.
  20. Excepting The Lord de Mauley who ranks higher as the Master of the Horse.
  21. Justices of the Supreme Court who are not peers have the right to the courtesy title of "Lord" or "Lady" for life by authority of Royal Warrant issued 10 December 2010.[25][26]
  22. The last Knight, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, died in 1974.
  23. Privy Counsellors who do not already rank higher are mostly current or former politicians, civil servants, royal household staff, clergy and judiciary.
  24. This office was historically held jointly with that of Lord Chief Justice; following their separation, a Royal Warrant dated 30 September 2005 declared that "the rank and precedence of the President of the Queen's Bench Division shall be so placed as to be in order immediately before the President of the Family Division".[33]
  25. Rank and precedence set by Royal Warrant, dated 21 July 1958.[37]
  26. Baronetcies belong to either of five baronetages, namely the Baronetages of England (1611–1705), Nova Scotia (1625–1706), Ireland (1620–1799), Great Britain (1707–1800) and the United Kingdom (1801–present); this does not affect their precedence in relation to each other.
  27. The last Knight Grand Commander, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, Maharaja of Travancore, died in 1991.
  28. The last Knight Commander, Tej Singh Prabhakar, Maharaja of Alwar, died in 2009.
  29. The last Knight Commander, Meghrajji III, Maharaja of Dhrangadhra-Halvad, died in 2010.
  30. 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.[38]
  31. The last Companion, Ronald Brockman, died in 1999.
  32. The last Companion, Ian Dixon Scott, died in 2002.
  33. Excepting The Baroness Evans of Bowes Park, who ranks higher as the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal.
  34. Also titled Dame Norma Major, a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in her own right but with lower precedence.
  35. The most recent, Anne Maxwell Macdonald, died in 2011.

References

  1. Squibb, G.D. (1981). "The Lord Chamberlain's Order of 1520, as amended in 1595". Order of Precedence in England and Wales. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press. pp. 99–101.
  2. "No. 39657". The London Gazette. 30 September 1952. p. 5147.
  3. Also Lord High Admiral since 10 June 2011.
  4. House of Lords Precedence Act (31 Henry VIII C. 10), Section 4
  5. Ordered according to the rules of primogeniture
  6. Legally HRH Prince James of Wessex according to the 1917 Letters Patent as a male-line grandchild of a monarch, but styled as an earl's son per his parents' wishes on their wedding day and the will of the Queen.
  7. "Order of Precedence in England and Wales". Heraldica. 2001. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  8. House of Lords Precedence Act 1539House of Lords Precedence Act (31 Henry VIII C. 10), Section 10
  9. The Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope was the recent Lord High Steward in the 1953 Coronation
  10. Brazier, Rodney (1997). Ministers of the Crown. Oxford: Clarendon Press. pp. 5–6. ISBN 0-19-825988-3.
  11. "No. 27860". The London Gazette. 5 December 1905. p. 8735.
  12. "No. 31380". The London Gazette. 3 June 1919. p. 7059.
  13. "The College of Arms Newsletter, No. 11". College of Arms. December 2006. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  14. "No. 58050". The London Gazette. 21 July 2006. p. 9986.
  15. "No. 59201". The London Gazette. 1 October 2009.
  16. "No. 58529". The London Gazette. 30 November 2007. p. 17439.
  17. "No. 38487". The London Gazette. 24 December 1948. p. 6670.
  18. The Viscount Alanbrooke was the recent Lord High Constable in the 1953 Coronation
  19. "No. 28019". The London Gazette. 7 May 1907. pp. 3080–3081.
  20. The Marquess of Londonderry (Earl Vane and Viscount Seaham in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, Baron Stewart in the Peerage of the United Kingdom and The Marquess Conyngham (Baron Minster in the Peerage of the United Kingdom) was created after the Acts of Union 1800. They take precedence after earlier Marquessates of the United Kingdom.
  21. The Earl of Limerick (The Baron Foxford in the Peerage of the United Kingdom), The Earl of Clancarty (The Viscount Clancarty in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, The Baron Trench in the Peerage of the United Kingdom), The Earl of Rosse, The Earl of Gosford (The Baron Worlington in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, The Baron Acheson in the Peerage of the United Kingdom), The Earl of Normanton (The Baron Mendip in the Peerage of Great Britain, The Baron Somerton in the Peerage of the United Kingdom), The Earl of Kilmorey, The Earl of Listowel (The Baron Hare in the Peerage of the United Kingdom), The Earl of Norbury and The Earl of Ranfurly (The Baron Ranfurly in the Peerage of the United Kingdom) was created after the Acts of Union 1800. It takes precedence after earlier Earldoms of the United Kingdom.
  22. The Viscount Monck (The Baron Monck in the Peerage of the United Kingdom) and The Viscount Gort was created after the Acts of Union 1800. It takes precedence after earlier Viscountcies of the United Kingdom.
  23. Excepting The Archbishops of Canterbury and York who ranks higher as the Primate of All England and the Primate of England respectively.
  24. The Baron Rendlesham, The Baron Castlemaine, The Baron Decies, The Baron Garvagh, The Baron Talbot of Malahide, The Baron Carew (The Baron Carew in the Peerage of the United Kingdom), The Baron Oranmore and Browne (The Baron Mereworth in the Peerage of the United Kingdom), The Baron Bellew, The Baron Fermoy and The Baron Rathdonnell was created after the Acts of Union 1800. They take precedence after earlier Barons of the United Kingdom.
  25. "Press Notice – Courtesy titles for Justices of the Supreme Court" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  26. "No. 59746". The London Gazette. 1 April 2011. pp. 6177–6178.
  27. He ranks higher as Lord High Chancellor.
  28. Cabinet Office (2011). The Cabinet Manual (PDF). p. 35. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  29. "Ministers". Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  30. Who are not already ranked higher in precedence as peers or royalty.
  31. He ranks higher as a non-royal duke.
  32. He ranks higher as a Privy Counsellor.
  33. "No. 57794". The London Gazette. 24 October 2005. p. 13701.
  34. "President of the Queen's Bench Division". www.judiciary.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  35. Lords Justices of Appeal are customarily made Privy Counsellors, and thus rank accordingly.
  36. Judges of the High Court are customarily made Knights Bachelor and thus rank accordingly, when they retire.
  37. "No. 41454". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 July 1958. pp. 4641–4642.
  38. "General information". Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  39. He ranks higher as a High Court judge;, it is customary for a High Court judge to be named to this position
  40. In order of appointment
  41. "Senior Circuit Judge Appointment – Stockdale". www.judiciary.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  42. "Resident Judge Appointment: HHJ Andrew Menary QC". www.judiciary.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  43. "Common Serjeant Appointment: Marks". www.judiciary.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  44. "Precedence Amongst Ladies in England and Wales". Debrett's. n.d. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  45. Does not use the title Princess of Wales as its association with the previous holder, Diana, Princess of Wales.
  46. Legally HRH Princess Louise of Wessex according to the 1917 Letters Patent as a male-line grandchild of a monarch, but styled as an earl's son per his parents' wishes on their wedding day and the will of the Queen.
  47. If not accompanying their husbands
  48. If accompanying their husbands
  49. If accompanying their husbands; ordered according to their husbands' precedence
  50. Excepting Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor (daughter of the Earl of Wessex), who ranks higher as member of the royal family.
  51. Widow of Sir Ninian Stephen who is an Australian Citizen may use this when visiting the United Kingdom.
  52. Widow of Sir Edmund Hillary who is a New Zealand Citizen may use this when visiting the United Kingdom.
  53. Widow of Sir William
  54. Widow of Sir Garth Morrison
  55. Judges of the High Court are customarily made Dame and thus rank accordingly, when they retire.
  56. Dame Norma Major DBE also has a higher precedence as the wife of Sir John Major KG
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