Order of precedence in Scotland

The order of precedence in Scotland was fixed by Royal Warrant in 1905.[1] Amendments were made by further Warrants in 1952, 1958, 1999 to coincide with the establishment of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government and most recently in 2012.[2][3]

The relative precedence of peers of Scotland is determined by the Act of Union 1707.

Gentlemen

Royalty, archbishops, et al.

Royal family

Title	Holder	Ref
The Sovereign (regardless of sex)	The Queen	[1]
The Spouse of the Sovereign	The Duke of Edinburgh	[nb 1]
The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly	The Earl of Strathearn	[5]
Eldest son of the Sovereign	The Duke of Rothesay	[1]
Younger sons of the Sovereign	The Earl of Inverness	[1]
	The Earl of Forfar
Grandsons of the Sovereign	The Earl of Strathearn	[6][1]
	The Earl of Dumbarton
	Viscount Severn[7]
	Peter Phillips
Brothers of the Sovereign	None at present	[1]
Uncles of the Sovereign	None at present	[1]
Nephews of the Sovereign	The Earl of Snowdon	[1]
Cousins of the Sovereign	The Lord Culloden The Earl of St. Andrews Prince Michael of Kent

High Officers of State, et al.

Title	Holder	Ref
The Lord-Lieutenants	See list below	[8][1][3]
The Sheriffs Principal	See list here	[1][3]
The Lord High Chancellor	Robert Buckland, MP	[1]
The Moderator of the General Assembly	Dr Martin Fair	[9]
The Prime Minister	Boris Johnson MP
The Keeper of the Great Seal	Nicola Sturgeon MSP	[10][3][11]
The Presiding Officer	Ken Macintosh MSP	[3]
The Secretary of State	Alister Jack MP
The Lord High Constable	The Earl of Erroll	[1]
The Master of the Household	The Duke of Argyll	[1]

Nobility, et al.

Dukes, et al.

	Note	Ref
England	Ordered according to date of creation	[1]
Scotland	Ordered according to date of creation
Great Britain	Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland	The 9th Duke of Leinster
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland	Ordered according to date of creation
Eldest sons of Royal Dukes who are not already ranked higher	Prince George of Cambridge (son of the Earl of Strathearn) Earl of Ulster (son of the Duke of Gloucester) Earl of St Andrews (son of the Duke of Kent) Archie Mountbatten-Windsor (son of the Duke of Sussex)

Marquesses, et al.

	Note	Ref
England	The 18th Marquess of Winchester	[1]
Scotland	Ordered according to date of creation
Great Britain	Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland	Ordered according to date of creation
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland	Ordered according to date of creation
Eldest sons of Dukes according to the precedence of the peerage holders

Earls, et al.

	Note	Ref
England	Ordered according to date of creation	[1]
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 of Great Britain and Ireland	Ordered according to date of creation
Younger sons of Royal Dukes who are not already ranked higher	Prince Louis of Cambridge (second son of the Earl of Strathearn) Lord Nicholas Windsor (second son of the Duke of Kent)
Eldest sons of Marquesses according to the precedence of the peerage holders
Younger sons of Dukes according to the precedence of the peerage holders

Judiciary, et al.

1. Lord Justice General (Lord Carloway)[1]
2. Lord Clerk Register (The Lord Mackay of Clashfern)[1]
3. Lord Advocate (James Wolffe)[1]
4. Advocate General for Scotland (The Lord Keen of Elie)[3]
5. Lord Justice Clerk (Lady Dorrian)[1]

1. Viscounts
2. Eldest sons of earls[1]
3. Lord Frederick Windsor
4. Younger sons of marquesses[1]

Viscounts, et al.

	Note	Ref
England	The 19th Viscount Hereford	[1]
Scotland	Ordered according to date of creation
Great Britain	Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland	Ordered according to date of creation
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland	Ordered according to date of creation
Eldest sons of Earls according to the precedence of the peerage holders
Younger sons of Marquesses ordered according to the precedence of the peerage holders

1. Barons and Lords of Parliament[1]
2. Eldest sons of viscounts[1]
3. Younger sons of earls[1]
4. Eldest sons of barons[1]
5. Knights of the Garter[1]
6. Knights of the Thistle[3]
7. Privy Counsellors[1]
8. Senators of the College of Justice and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court[1]
9. Younger sons of viscounts[1]
10. Younger sons of barons[1]
11. Sons of Law Life Peers[1]
12. Baronets[1]
13. Knights of St Patrick (none, order dormant)[1]
14. Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath[1]
15. Knights Grand Commanders of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)[1]
16. Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George[1]
17. Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)[1]
18. Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order[1]
19. Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
20. Knights Commanders of the Order of the Bath[1]
21. Knights Commanders of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)[1]
22. Knights Commanders of the Order of St Michael and St George[1]
23. Knights Commanders of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)[1]
24. Knights Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order[1]
25. Knights Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
26. Solicitor General for Scotland (Alison Di Rollo – see Order of Precedence for Ladies below)[1]
27. Lyon King of Arms (Joseph Morrow)[1]
28. Scottish Barons
29. Sheriffs-Principal[1]
30. Knights Bachelor[1]
31. Sheriffs[1] as amended by[3]
32. Companions of the Order of the Bath[1]
33. Companions of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)[1]
34. Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George[1]
35. Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)[1]
36. Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
37. Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
38. Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order
39. Companions of the Distinguished Service Order[1]
40. Officers of the Order of the British Empire
41. Companions of the Imperial Service Order
42. Eldest sons of younger sons of peers[1]
43. Eldest sons of baronets[1]
44. Eldest sons of Knights of the Garter[1]
45. Eldest sons of Knights of the Thistle[1]
46. Eldest sons of Knights of St Patrick[1]
47. Eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
48. Eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India
49. Eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
50. Eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
51. Eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
52. Eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
53. Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
54. Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
55. Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
56. Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
57. Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
58. Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
59. Members of the Royal Victorian Order
60. Members of the Order of the British Empire
61. Younger sons of baronets[1]
62. Younger sons of Knights of the Garter
63. Younger sons of Knights of the Thistle
64. Younger sons of Knights of St Patrick
65. Younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
66. Younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India
67. Younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
68. Younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
69. Younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
70. Younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
71. Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
72. Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
73. Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
74. Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
75. Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
76. Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
77. Queen's Counsel[1] as amended by[3]
78. Esquires[1]
79. Gentlemen[1]

Ladies

1. The Queen, Elizabeth II
2. Queens dowager (none living; ordered according to husband's death, earliest first)
3. Wife of the Heir Apparent
   1. Camilla, Duchess of Rothesay
4. Wives of the Sovereign's younger sons
   1. Sophie, Countess of Forfar
5. Daughters of the Sovereign
   1. Anne, Princess Royal
6. Wife of the Sovereign's eldest grandson in male line
   1. Catherine, Countess of Strathearn
7. Other Granddaughters-in-law of the Sovereign
   1. Meghan, Countess of Dumbarton
   2. Autumn Phillips
8. Granddaughters of the Sovereign
   1. Princess Beatrice of York
   2. Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank
   3. Lady Louise Windsor
   4. Zara Phillips
9. Sisters-in-law of the Sovereign (none)
10. Sisters of the Sovereign (none living)
11. Aunts (by marriage) of the Sovereign (none living)
12. Aunts (by blood) of the Sovereign (none living)
13. Nieces (by marriage) of the Sovereign (Serena Armstrong-Jones, Countess of Snowdon)
14. Nieces (by blood) of the Sovereign (Lady Sarah Chatto)
15. Granddaughters-in-law of former Sovereigns (whose husbands are Dukes)
    1. Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester
    2. Katharine, Duchess of Kent
16. Granddaughters-in-law of former Sovereigns (whose husbands are not Dukes)
    1. Princess Michael of Kent
17. Cousins of the Sovereign
    1. Princess Alexandra, The Hon Lady Ogilvy
18. Lords Lieutenant (see list below)
19. Sheriff Principal (during term of office and with bounds of Sheriffdom)
20. Commonwealth Prime Ministers, while visiting the UK, in order of appointment
21. The President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (Brenda Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond)
22. Ambassadors of foreign countries and High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries according to date of arrival
23. Duchesses
24. Claire Booth, wife of Earl of Ulster
25. Sylvana Tomaselli, wife of Earl of St Andrews
26. Lady Davina Windsor, elder daughter of the Duke of Gloucester
27. Lady Rose Gilman, younger daughter of the Duke of Gloucester
28. Lady Helen Taylor, only daughter of the Duke of Kent
29. Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, only daughter of the Earl of Strathearn
30. Marchionesses
31. Wives of dukes' eldest sons
32. Daughters of dukes not married to peers
33. Countesses
34. Wives of marquesses' eldest sons
35. Lady Gabriella Windsor
36. Marquesses' daughters not married to peers
37. Wives of dukes' younger sons
38. Viscountesses
39. Wives of eldest sons of earls or of countesses in their own right
40. Earls' daughters not married to peers
41. Sophie Winkleman, wife of Lord Frederick Windsor
42. Wives of marquesses' younger sons
43. Baronesses, wives of Lords of Parliament and female holders of Lordships of Parliament
44. Wives of viscounts' eldest sons
45. Viscounts' daughters not married to peers
46. Wives of younger sons of earls or of countesses in their own right
47. Wives of eldest sons of barons or baronesses
48. Daughters of barons or baronesses
49. Ladies of the Garter
    1. Anne Princess Royal
    2. Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
    3. Eliza Manningham-Buller, Baroness Manningham-Buller
50. Ladies of the Thistle
    1. Anne Princess Royal
51. Wives of Knights of the Garter

• • all rank higher, except:

1. 1. Valerie Stephen
   2. Mary Colman
   3. June Hillary
   4. Jennifer Acland
   5. Norma Major
2. Wives of Knights of the Thistle

• • all rank higher, except:

1. 1. Poppy Anderson
2. Privy Counsellors
3. Senators of the College of Justice
4. Wives of viscounts' younger sons
5. Wives of younger sons of barons or baronesses
6. Wives of baronets
7. Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
8. Dames Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
9. Dames Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
10. Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
11. Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
12. Wives of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India
13. Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
14. Wives of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
15. Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
16. Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
17. Dames Commander of the Order of the Bath
18. Dames Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
19. Dames Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
20. Dames Commandes of the Order of the British Empire
21. Solicitor General for Scotland (Alison Di Rollo)
22. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
23. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
24. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
25. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
26. Wives of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
27. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
28. Companions of the Order of the Bath
29. Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
30. Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
31. Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
32. Wives of Companions of the Order of the Bath
33. Wives of Companions of the Order of the Star of India
34. Wives of Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
35. Wives of Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire
36. Wives of Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
37. Wives of Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
38. Wives of Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
39. Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order
40. Officers of the Order of the British Empire
41. Wives of Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order
42. Wives of Officers of the Order of the British Empire
43. Wives of Senators of the College of Justice
44. Wives of Knights Bachelor
45. Companions of the Imperial Service Order
46. Wives of Companions of the Imperial Service Order
47. Wives of the eldest sons of sons of peers or peeresses
48. Daughters of sons of peers or peeresses
49. Wives of the eldest sons of baronets
50. Daughters of baronets
51. Wives of eldest sons of Knights of the Garter
52. Wives of eldest sons of Knights of the Thistle
53. Wives of eldest sons of Knights of St Patrick
54. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
55. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India
56. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
57. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
58. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
59. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
60. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
61. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
62. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
63. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
64. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
65. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
66. Daughters of Knights of the Garter
67. Daughters of Knights of the Thistle
68. Daughters of Knights of St Patrick
69. Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
70. Daughters of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India
71. Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
72. Daughters of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
73. Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
74. Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
75. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
76. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
77. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
78. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
79. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
80. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
81. Members of the Royal Victorian Order
82. Members of the Order of the British Empire
83. Wives of Members of the Royal Victorian Order
84. Wives of Members of the Order of the British Empire
85. Wives of younger sons of baronets
86. Wives of younger sons of Knights of the Garter
87. Wives of younger sons of Knights of the Thistle
88. Wives of younger sons of Knights of St Patrick
89. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
90. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India
91. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
92. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
93. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
94. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
95. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
96. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
97. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
98. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
99. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order

Local Precedence

1. The Lord Lieutenant of the lieutenancy areas (the Lord Provost is Lord Lieutenant in the 4 largest cities):
   • The Lord Provost of Aberdeen (Barney Crockett)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire (Sandy Manson)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Angus (Patricia Ann Sawers)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute (Patrick Stewart)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran (Iona McDonald)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire (Andrew Simpson)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire (Alexander Trotter)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Caithness (John Sinclair, 3rd Viscount Thurso)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Clackmannanshire (George Reid)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries (Fiona Armstrong)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire (Jill Williamina Young)[12]
   • The Lord Provost of Dundee (Robert Duncan)
   • Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian (Garth Morrison)
   • The Lord Provost of Edinburgh (Donald Wilson)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Fife (Robert William Balfour)
   • The Lord Provost of Glasgow (Sadie Docherty)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Inverness (Donald Cameron)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire (Carol Kinghorn)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire (Mushtaq Ahmad)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Midlothian (Richard Callander)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Moray (Seymour Monro)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Nairn (George Russell Asher)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Orkney (Anthony Trickett)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Perth and Kinross (Melville Stewart Jameson)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire (Col. Peter McCarthy)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty (Janet Bowen)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Richard Scott, 10th Duke of Buccleuch)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Shetland (Bobby Hunter)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk (Alan Simpson)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland (Monica Main)
   • Lord Lieutenant of The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright (Malcolm Ross)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Tweeddale (Hew Strachan)
   • Lord Lieutenant of the Western Isles (Alexander Mathisson)
   • Lord Lieutenant of West Lothian (Isobel Brydie) (Moira Niven from 20 Sep 2017)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Wigtown (Aileen Brewis)
2. The Provost
3. The Deputy Provost
4. Justices of the Peace
5. The Chief Constable

Notes

1. 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.[4]

References

1. "No. 27774". The London Gazette. 14 March 1905. p. 2012.
2. The Table of Precedence Amongst Ladies in Scotland from Debretts's
3. The Scale of General Precedence in Scotland, Appendix, Note 5
4. "No. 39657". The London Gazette. 30 September 1952. p. 5147.
5. "Prince William is appointed Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2020". gov.uk. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
6. ordered according to the rules of primogeniture
7. Legally Prince James of Wessex according to the 1917 Letters Patent as a male-line grandchildren of a monarch, but styled as an earl's son per his parents' wishes on their wedding day and the will of the Queen.
8. during term of office and within bounds of counties and cities
9. "The current Moderator". 21 July 2019.
10. Scotland Act 1998, Section 45(7)
11. Ex officio held by the First Minister of Scotland since 1999
12. "Lord-Lieutenant for Dunbartonshire: 12 August 2020". gov.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2020.

External links

• The Scale of General Precedence in Scotland