Order of precedence in England and Wales

The following is the order of precedence in England and Wales as of November 2015. 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.

• The sovereign (regardless of gender)
  • The Queen
• The Duke of Edinburgh (the sovereign's spouse)
• The Prince of Wales (eldest son of the sovereign)
• Younger sons of the sovereign
  • The Duke of York
  • The Earl of Wessex
• Grandsons of the sovereign (ordered according to the rules of primogeniture)
  • The Duke of Cambridge
  • Prince Harry of Wales
  • Viscount Severn
  • Peter Phillips
• Brothers of the sovereign (none at present)
• Uncles of the sovereign (none at present)
• Nephews of the sovereign
  • Viscount Linley
• Grandsons of former sovereigns who are dukes
  • The Duke of Gloucester
  • The Duke of Kent
• Grandsons of former sovereigns who are not dukes
  • Prince Michael of Kent

Archbishops, High Officers of State, et al.

• The Archbishop of Canterbury (Justin Welby)
• The Lord High Steward (none; ceremonial and only appointed for coronations)
• The Lord High Chancellor (Michael Gove MP)
• The Archbishop of York (John Sentamu)
• The Prime Minister (David Cameron MP)
• Commonwealth Prime Ministers (while visiting the UK, in order of appointment)
• The Lord High Treasurer (none; in commission since 1714)
• The Lord President of the Council (Chris Grayling MP)
• The Speaker of the House of Commons (John Bercow MP)
• The Lord Speaker (office held by a woman, Baroness D'Souza)
• The President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury)
• The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd)
• The Lord Privy Seal (office held by a woman, Baroness Stowell of Beeston)
• Ambassadors and High Commissioners (in order of arrival)
• The Lord High Constable of England (none; ceremonial and only appointed for coronations)
• The Earl Marshal (The Duke of Norfolk)
• The Lord High Admiral (The Duke of Edinburgh, who ranks higher as the sovereign's spouse)

Nobility, bishops, et al.

Dukes, et al.

• Royal dukes not grandsons of sovereign (none at present)
• Dukes of England (ordered according to date of creation), excepting:
  • The Duke of Norfolk, who ranks higher as Earl Marshal
• Dukes of Scotland (ordered according to date of creation)
• Dukes of Great Britain (ordered according to date of creation)
• Dukes of Ireland created before 1801 (The Duke of Leinster)
• Non-royal Dukes of the United Kingdom and of Ireland created after 1801 (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)
  • Earl of St Andrews (son of the Duke of Kent)
  • Prince George of Cambridge (son of the Duke of Cambridge)
• Ministers, envoys, and other very important visitors from foreign countries

Marquesses, et al.

• The Lord Great Chamberlain (The Marquess of Cholmondeley)
• Marquesses of England (The Marquess of Winchester)
• Marquesses of Scotland (ordered according to date of creation)
• Marquesses of Great Britain (ordered according to date of creation)
• Marquesses of Ireland created before 1801 (ordered according to date of creation)
• Marquesses of the United Kingdom and of Ireland created after 1801 (ordered according to date of creation), excepting:
  • The Marquess of Cholmondeley, who ranks higher as Lord Great Chamberlain
• Eldest sons of non-royal dukes (ordered according to the precedence of the peerage holders)

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)
• Earls of England (ordered according to date of creation)
• Earls of Scotland (ordered according to the Decreet of Ranking of 1606 and the date of creation), excepting:
  • The Earl of Dalhousie, who ranks higher as Lord Steward of the Household
• Earls of Great Britain (ordered according to date of creation)
• Earls of Ireland created before 1801 (ordered according to date of creation)
• Earls of the United Kingdom and of Ireland created after 1801 (ordered according to date of creation), excepting:
  • 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
• Younger sons of royal dukes (who are not already ranked higher)
  • Lord Nicholas Windsor (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.

• Viscounts of England (The Viscount Hereford)
• Viscounts of Scotland (ordered according to date of creation)
• Viscounts of Great Britain (ordered according to date of creation)
• Viscounts of Ireland created before 1801 (ordered according to date of creation)
• Viscounts of the United Kingdom and of Ireland created after 1801 (ordered according to date of creation)
• Eldest sons of earls and of countesses in their own right (ordered according to the precedence of the peerage holders), excepting:
  • Viscount Severn (son of the Earl of Wessex), who ranks higher as a member of the Royal Family
• Lord Frederick Windsor (only son of Prince Michael of Kent)
• Younger sons of marquesses (ordered according to the precedence of the peerage holders)

Bishops

• The Bishop of London (Richard Chartres)
• The Bishop of Durham (Paul Butler)
• The Bishop of Winchester (Tim Dakin)
• Other Church of England diocesan bishops with seats in the House of Lords (ordered according to seniority of confirmation of election)
• 14 other Church of England diocesan bishops (ordered according to seniority of confirmation of election)
• Suffragan bishops (ordered according to seniority of confirmation of election)
• Retired Church of England diocesan archbishops and bishops (ordered according to original date of confirmation of election)

Barons

• Secretaries of State being of the degree of a baron (none at present)
• Barons of England (ordered according to date of creation)
• Scottish Lords of Parliament (ordered according to date of creation)
• Barons of Great Britain (ordered according to date of creation)
• Barons of Ireland created before 1801 (ordered according to date of creation)
• Hereditary barons of the United Kingdom and of Ireland created after 1801, and barons for life of the United Kingdom (ordered according to date of creation), excepting:
  • Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, who ranks higher as President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom;
  • Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, who ranks higher as Lord Chief Justice;
  • Lord Vestey, who ranks higher as Master of the Horse;
  • Lord Carey of Clifton and Lord Williams of Oystermouth, who rank higher as retired Archbishops of Canterbury;
  • Lord Habgood and Lord Hope of Thornes, who rank higher as retired Archbishops of York; and
  • Lord Harries of Pentregarth, who ranks higher as a retired Bishop of Oxford

Gentry, et al.

Master of the Rolls and Supreme Court Justices

• The Master of the Rolls (Lord Dyson)
• The Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (office held by a woman, Baroness Hale of Richmond)
• Justices of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom other than the President and the Deputy President
  • Lord Mance (ranks higher as a life peer)
  • Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore (ranks higher as a life peer)
  • Lord Clarke of Stone-cum-Ebony (ranks higher as a life peer)
  • Lord Wilson of Culworth
  • Lord Sumption
  • Lord Reed
  • Lord Carnwath of Notting Hill
  • Lord Hughes of Ombersley
  • Lord Toulson
  • Lord Hodge

Royal Household officials

• Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal (none; last appointed in 1850)
• The Treasurer of the Household (office held by a woman, Anne Milton MP)
• The Comptroller of the Household (Gavin Barwell MP)
• The Vice-Chamberlain of the Household (Kris Hopkins MP)

Cabinet, et al.

• Secretaries of State under the degree of a baron
  • The First Secretary of State (George Osborne MP)
  • The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Philip Hammond MP)
  • The Secretary of State for Justice (Michael Gove MP, who ranks higher as Lord Chancellor)
  • The Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon MP)
  • The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Stephen Crabb MP)
  • The Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt MP)
  • The Secretary of State for Transport (Patrick McLoughlin MP)
  • The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Sajid Javid MP)
  • The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Greg Clark MP)
  • The Secretary of State for Wales (Alun Cairns MP)
  • The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (John Whittingdale MP)
  • The Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell MP)
  • The Secretaries of State for the Home Department; for International Development; for Education; for Northern Ireland; for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and for Energy and Climate Change are women
• Eldest sons of viscounts (ordered according to the precedence of the peerage holders)
• Younger sons of earls and of countesses 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 the Garter (KG) (who are not already ranked higher in precedence as peers or royalty)
  • Sir Ninian Stephen
  • Sir Timothy Colman
  • Sir William Gladstone, Bt
  • Sir Antony Acland
  • Sir John Major
  • Sir Thomas Dunne
• Knights of the Thistle (KT) (who are not already ranked higher in precedence as peers or royalty)
  • Sir Eric Anderson
• Knights of St Patrick (none; order dormant)

Privy Counsellors, et al.

• Privy Counsellors (PC) (ordered according to date of oath-taking)
• The Chancellor of the Order of the Garter (The Duke of Abercorn, who ranks higher as a non-royal duke)
• The Chancellor of the Exchequer (George Osborne MP, who ranks higher as First Secretary of State)
• The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Oliver Letwin MP, who ranks higher as a Privy Counsellor)

Senior judges, et al.

• Senior judges
  • The President of the Queen's Bench Division (Sir Brian Leveson, who ranks higher as a Privy Counsellor)
  • The President of the Family Division of the High Court (Sir James Munby, who ranks higher as a Privy Counsellor)
  • The Chancellor of the High Court (Sir Terence Etherton, who ranks higher as a Privy Counsellor)
  • Lords Justices of Appeal (ordered according to seniority of appointment; Lords Justices of Appeal are customarily made Privy Counsellors, and thus rank accordingly)
• Judges of the High Court (ordered according to seniority of appointment; Judges of the High Court are customarily made Knights Bachelor and thus rank accordingly, when they retire)
• 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)

Baronets

• Baronets (Bt) (ordered according to date of creation), excepting:
  • Sir William Gladstone, who ranks higher as a Knight of the Garter; and
  • Sir George Young, who ranks higher as a Privy Counsellor

Knights

• 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) (none; order dormant)
  • Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)
  • Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) (none; order dormant)
  • 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) (none; order dormant)
  • Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)
  • Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) (none; order dormant)
  • Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO)
  • Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)
• Knights Bachelor (Kt)

Lower level judges, et al.

• The Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster (Mr Justice Norris, 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 (HH Judge Hilliard QC)
• The Recorders of Manchester and of Liverpool (in order of appointment)
  • The Recorder of Liverpool (HH Judge Goldstone QC)
  • The Recorder of Manchester (HH Judge Stockdale QC)
• The Common Serjeant of London (HH Judge Marks QC)
• Judges junior to those of the High Court
  • Circuit judges
  • The Senior Judge of the Court of Protection (Denzil Lush)

Other lower ranks, including Esquires and Gentlemen

Companions, commanders, lieutenants and officers of various orders

• Companions of the Order of the Bath (CB)
• Companions of the Order of the Star of India (CSI) (none; order dormant)
• Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)
• Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) (none; order dormant)
• 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

• 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)
• Eldest sons of knights (ordered according to the precedence of the knights)

Members of orders

• Members of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO)
• Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Younger sons of various grades

• 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 ladies of the royal family differs depending on whether or not they are accompanied by a husband who is accorded higher precedence. When unaccompanied, blood relations of the sovereign are always accorded higher precedence. For example, when not accompanied by The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall ranks after Princess Alexandra; when with her husband, the Duchess of Cornwall ranks above all ladies other than the reigning sovereign and any queens dowager.

• The sovereign
  • The Queen
• Queen dowager
  • None
• The sovereign’s daughter
  • The Princess Royal
• The sovereign’s granddaughters
  • Princess Beatrice of York
  • Princess Eugenie of York
  • Lady Louise Windsor
  • Zara Tindall
• Daughters of the former sovereign
  • None
• Granddaughters of the former sovereign
  • Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy
• The Wife of the Heir Apparent
  • The Duchess of Cornwall
• Wives of sons of the Heir Apparent
  • The Duchess of Cambridge
• Wives of the younger sons of the sovereign
  • The Countess of Wessex
• Wives of the sons of former sovereigns
  • None
• Wives of the grandsons of former sovereigns (whose husbands are dukes)
  • The Duchess of Gloucester
  • The Duchess of Kent
• Wives of the grandsons of former sovereigns (whose husbands are not dukes)
  • Princess Michael of Kent
  • Patricia Lascelles

High Officers of State, et al.

• Commonwealth Prime Ministers (while visiting the UK, in order of appointment)
• The Lord Speaker (The Baroness D'Souza)
• The Lord Privy Seal (The Baroness Stowell of Beeston)
• Ambassadors and High Commissioners (in order of arrival)

Nobility, et al.

• Wives of non-royal Dukes (Duchesses)
• Wives of Eldest Sons of Royal Dukes
  • Countess of Ulster, wife of Earl of Ulster
  • Countess of St Andrews, wife of Earl of St Andrews
• Daughters of Royal Dukes
  • Lady Davina Lewis, elder daughter of the Duke of Gloucester
  • 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
• Marchionesses
• Wives of dukes' eldest sons
• Daughters of dukes not married to peers
• Countesses (ordered according to the year the earldom was created; whether in her own or her husband's right)
• Wives of younger sons of Royal Dukes
  • The Lady Nicholas Windsor
• Wives of marquesses' eldest sons
• Marquesses' daughters not married to peers
• Wives of dukes' younger sons
• Viscountesses
• Wives of eldest sons of earls or of countesses in their own right
• Earls' daughters not married to peers
• Wives of marquesses' younger sons
• Secretaries of State being of the degree of a baron (none at present)
• Baronesses in their own right, Ladies of Parliament and wives of Barons

Gentry, et al.

• The Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (Baroness Hale of Richmond, who ranks higher as a life peer)
• Justices of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom other than the President and the Deputy President. (none at present)
• The Royal Household
  • Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal (none)
  • The Treasurer of the Household (Anne Milton MP)
• Secretaries of State under the degree of baroness:
  • The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Theresa May MP)
  • The Secretary of State for International Development (Justine Greening MP)
  • The Secretary of State for Education (Nicky Morgan MP)
  • The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Theresa Villiers MP)
  • The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Elizabeth Truss MP)
  • The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Amber Rudd MP)

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 rank higher in precedence)
• Ladies of the Thistle (who are not already ranked higher)
  • Lady Marion Fraser
• Wives of Knights of the Garter (who are not already ranked higher)
  • Lady Stephan
  • Lady Colman
  • Lady Gladstone
  • Lady Acland
  • Lady Major (also titled Dame Norma Major, a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in her own right but with lower precedence)
  • Lady Dunne
• Wives of Knights of the Thistle (who are not already ranked higher)
  • Lady Anderson
  • Lady Morrison
• Privy Counsellors (PC) (ordered according to date of oath-taking)
• Senior judges
  • Lords Justices of Appeal
  • Judges of the High Court
• Wives of viscounts' younger sons
• Wives of younger sons of barons or baronesses
• Baronetesses in their own right (none at present)
• Wives of baronets
• Dames Grand Cross
  • 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 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 Commander of the Order of the Bath
  • Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
  • Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
  • Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
  • Wives of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
  • Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
• 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 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
  • 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 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 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