CHAPTER 1
THE TABLE OF PRECEDENCE AMONGST GENTLEMEN IN ENGLAND & WALES
THE KING
The Heir Apparent
The Sovereign’s Younger Son
The Sovereign’s Grandsons
The Sovereign’s Brothers
The Sovereign’s Nephews
The Sovereign’s Cousins
Archbishop of Canterbury
Lord High Chancellor
Archbishop of York
Archbishop of Wales
The Prime Minister*
Lord High Treasurer (when existing)
Lord President of the Council
Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the House of Lords
President of the Supreme Court
Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
Lord Privy Seal
Ambassadors and High Commissioners
Lord Great Chamberlain (when in performance of official duty)
Lord High Constable (when existing)
Earl Marshal
Lord Steward of the Household
Lord Chamberlain of the Household
Master of the Horse
Dukes of England
Dukes of Scotland
Dukes of Great Britain
Dukes of Ireland
Dukes of UK and Ireland since the Union
Eldest Sons of Dukes of the Blood Royal
Ministers, Envoys, and other very important visitors from foreign countries
Marquesses of England
Marquesses of Scotland
Marquesses of Great Britain
Marquesses of Ireland
Marquesses of UK and Ireland since the Union
Eldest Sons of Dukes
Earls of England
Earls of Scotland
Earls of Great Britain
Earls of Ireland
Earls of UK and Ireland since the Union
Younger Sons of Dukes of the Blood Royal
Marquesses’ Eldest Sons
Dukes’ Younger Sons
Viscounts of England
Viscounts of Scotland
Viscounts of Great Britain
Viscounts of Ireland
Viscounts of UK and Ireland since the Union
Earls’ Eldest Sons
Marquesses’ Younger Sons
Bishop of London
Bishop of Durham
Bishop of Winchester
Other English Diocesan Bishops according to seniority of consecration
Retired Church of England Diocesan Bishops according to seniority of consecration
Suffragan Bishops according to seniority of consecration
Secretaries of State if of Baronial rank
Barons of England
Lords of Parliament, Scotland
Barons of Great Britain
Barons of Ireland
Barons of UK and Ireland since the Union, including Life Barons
Master of the Rolls
Deputy President of the Supreme Court
Justices of the Supreme Court
Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal (when existing)
Treasurer of the Household
Comptroller of the Household
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
Secretaries of State, being under Baronial rank
Viscounts’ Eldest Sons
Earls’ Younger Sons
Barons’ Eldest Sons
Knights of the Garter
Privy Counsellors
Chancellor of the Order of the Garter
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
President of the King’s Bench Division
President of the Family Division
Chancellor of the High Court
Lord Justices of Appeal according to seniority of appointment
Judges of High Court of Justice according to seniority of appointment
Viscounts’ Younger Sons
Barons’ Younger Sons
Sons of Life Peers and Lords of Appeal in Ordinary
Baronets, according to date of Patent
Knights of the Thistle
Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India
Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Knights Bachelor
Circuit Judges in England and Wales
Master of the Court of Protection
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
Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Companions of the Imperial Service Order
Eldest Sons of the Younger Sons of Peers
Eldest Sons of Baronets
Eldest Sons of Knights of the Orders of Chivalry (according to the precedence of their fathers)
Members of the Royal Victorian Order
Members of the Order of the British Empire
Younger Sons of Baronets
Younger Sons of Knights
Esquires
Gentlemen
*When a senior position is held by a woman, such as Prime Minister etc, her place in the order of precedence is the same as it would be were the incumbent male.
CHAPTER 2
TABLE OF PRECEDENCE AMONGST LADIES IN ENGLAND & WALES
Protocol dictates that when the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Sussex are not accompanied by their husbands, Princesses of the Royal Blood, such as Princess Beatrice and Eugenie, rank above them. However, when the Duchesses are accompanied by their husbands, the roles are reversed with the duchesses outrank the princesses.
THE QUEEN CONSORT
The Sovereign's Sister
The Sovereign’s Granddaughters
The Sovereign's Nieces
The Sovereign’s Cousin
The Wife of the Heir Apparent
Wife of the Younger Son of the Sovereign
Wives of Dukes of the Blood Royal
Wives of Princes of the Blood Royal
Duchesses of England
Duchesses of Scotland
Duchesses of Great Britain
Duchesses of Ireland
Duchesses of UK and Ireland since the Union
Wives of Eldest Sons of Dukes of the Blood Royal
Marchionesses of England
Marchionesses of Scotland
Marchionesses of Great Britain
Marchionesses of Ireland
Marchionesses of UK and Ireland since the Union
Wives of Eldest Sons of Dukes
Daughters of Dukes
Countesses of England
Countesses of Scotland
Countesses of Great Britain
Countesses of Ireland
Countesses of UK and Ireland since the Union
Wives of Younger Sons of Dukes of the Blood Royal
Wives of Eldest Sons of Marquesses
Daughters of Marquesses
Wives of Younger Sons of Dukes
Viscountesses of England
Viscountesses of Scotland
Viscountesses of Great Britain
Viscountesses of Ireland
Viscountesses of UK and Ireland since the Union
Wives of Eldest Sons of Earls
Daughters of Earls
Wives of Younger Sons of Marquesses
Baronesses of England
Ladies of Parliament, Scotland
Baronesses of Great Britain
Baronesses of Ireland
Baronesses of UK and Ireland since the Union, including Life Baronesses and Wives of Life Barons
Wives of the Eldest Sons of Viscounts
Daughters of Viscounts
Wives of Younger Sons of Earls
Wives of the Eldest Sons of Barons
Daughters of Barons
Ladies of the Garter
Wives of Knights of the Garter
Privy Counsellors (Women)
Wives of Younger Sons of Viscounts
Wives of Younger Sons of Barons
Wives of Sons of Life Peers
Wives of Baronets, according to their husbands’ Patents
Wives of Knights of the Thistle
Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Dames Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
Dames Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
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
Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Wives of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Wives of Knights Bachelor
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 Order of the Bath
Wives of Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
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 Members of the Royal Victorian Order (4th Class)
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 of the Eldest Sons of the Younger Sons of Peers
Daughters of the Younger Sons of Peers
Wives of the Eldest Sons of Baronets
Daughters of Baronets
Wives of the Eldest Sons of Knights of the Garter
Wives of the Eldest Sons of Knights
Daughters of Knights
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 the Younger Sons of Baronets
Wives of the Younger Sons of Knights
Wives of Esquires
Wives of Gentlemen
In Scotland the Prince and Princess of Wales are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay (see Scottish Tables of Precedence).
Same Sex Partners/Spouses
If an office holder is in a same-sex partnership/marriage, the same rule of precedence for their partner apply as for wives.
CHAPTER 3
TABLE OF PRECEDENCE AMONGST GENTLEMEN IN SCOTLAND
THE KING
Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (during sitting of the General Assembly)
Duke of Rothesay
The Sovereign’s Younger Son
The Sovereign’s Grandsons
The Sovereign’s Brothers
The Sovereign’s Cousins
Lord-Lieutenants of Counties
Lord Provosts of Cities being ex-officio Lord-Lieutenants of those Cities
Sheriffs Principal
Lord Chancellor of Great Britain
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (during office)
Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland (the First Minister)
Presiding Officer
Secretary of State for Scotland
Hereditary High Constable of Scotland
Hereditary Master of the Household in Scotland
Dukes (as in English Table)
Eldest Sons of Dukes of the Blood Royal
Marquesses (as in English Table)
Eldest Sons of Dukes
Earls (as in English Table)
Younger Sons of Dukes of the Blood Royal
Eldest Sons of Marquesses
Younger Sons of Dukes
Lord Justice-General
Lord Clerk Register
Lord Advocate
Advocate General
Lord Justice-Clerk
Viscounts (as in English Table)
Eldest Sons of Earls
Younger Sons of Marquesses
Barons or Lords of Parliament (Scotland) (as in English Table)
Eldest Sons of Viscounts
Younger Sons of Earls
Eldest Sons of Barons or Lords of Parliament
Knights of the Garter
Knights of the Thistle
Privy Counsellors
Senators of the College of Justice (Lords of Session), including
Chair of the Scottish Land Court
Younger Sons of Viscounts
Younger Sons of Barons or Lords of Parliament
Baronets
Knights Grand Cross and Knights Grand Commanders of
Orders (as in English Table)
Knights Commanders of Orders (as in English Table)
Solicitor-General for Scotland
Lord Lyon King of Arms
Sheriffs Principal (when not within own county)
Knights Bachelor
Sheriffs
Companions of the Order of the Bath
Thence as in English Table
CHAPTER 4
TABLE OF PRECEDENCE AMONGST LADIES IN SCOTLAND
THE QUEEN CONSORT
Duchess of Rothesay
The Wife of the Younger Son of the Sovereign
Granddaughters of the Sovereign
Wives of Grandsons of the Sovereign
Nieces of the Sovereign
Wives of nephews of the Sovereign
Duchesses (as in English Table)
Wives of Eldest Sons of Dukes of the Blood Royal
Marchionesses (as in English Table)
Wives of Eldest Sons of Dukes
Daughters of Dukes
Wives of Younger Sons of Dukes of the Blood Royal
Wives of Eldest Sons of Marquesses
Daughters of Marquesses
Wives of Younger Sons of Dukes
Countesses (as in English Table)
Viscountesses (as in English Table)
Wives of Eldest Sons of Earls
Daughters of Earls
Wives of Younger Sons of Marquesses
Baronesses, or Ladies of Parliament (Scotland) (as in English Table)
Wives of Eldest Sons of Viscounts
Daughters of Viscounts
Wives of Younger Sons of Earls
Wives of Eldest Sons of Barons or Lords of Parliament
Daughters of Barons or Lords of Parliament
Ladies of the Order of the Garter
Wives of Knights of the Garter
Ladies of the Order of the Thistle
Wives of Knights of the Thistle
Privy Counsellors (Women)
Wives of the Younger Sons of Viscounts
Wives of the Younger Sons of Barons
Wives of Baronets
Dames Grand Cross of Orders (as in English Table)
Wives of Knights Grand Cross and Knights Grand Commanders
of Orders (as in English Tables)
Wives of Knights Bachelor, and Wives of Senators of the College
of Justice (Lords of Session) including the wife of the Chair
of the Scottish Land Court
Companions of the Order of the Bath
Thence as in English Table
