Order of precedence in Scotland

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Orders of precedence

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The order of precedence in Scotland was fixed by Royal Warrant in 1905.[1] Amendments were made by further Warrants in 1912,[2] 1952, 1958,[3] 1999 to coincide with the establishment of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government and most recently in 2012.[4][5]

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

Gentlemen

Royalty, high officials, 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.

Position Holder Ref
The sovereign (regardless of gender) HM The King
The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
(only while the Assembly is meeting, during which he is treated as a regent and addressed as 'Your Grace') 		HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
Sons of the sovereign HRH The Duke of Rothesay [6]
The Earl of Dumbarton
Grandsons of the sovereign HRH Prince George of Wales [7][nb 1]
HRH Prince Louis of Wales
Prince Archie of Sussex
Brothers of the sovereign The Earl of Inverness [6][9]
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
Uncles of the sovereign none at present [6]
Nephews of the sovereign Earl of Wessex[10] [6]
Mr Peter Phillips
Grandsons of former
sovereigns who are dukes 		HRH The Duke of Gloucester [9][nb 2]
HRH The Duke of Kent
Grandsons of former
sovereigns who are not dukes 		The Rt Hon. The Earl of Snowdon
HRH Prince Michael of Kent

High Officers of State, et al.

Title Holder Ref
The Lord-Lieutenants see list below [12][1][5]
The Sheriffs Principal see list here [1][5]
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain office held by a woman [1]
The Moderator of the General Assembly Shaw Patterson [13]
The Prime Minister The Rt Hon. Sir Keir Starmer
The Keeper of the Great Seal (First Minister) The Rt Hon. John Swinney [14][5][15]
The Presiding Officer office held by a woman [5]
The Secretary of State The Rt Hon. Ian Murray
The Lord High Constable The Rt Hon. The Earl of Erroll [1]
The Master of the Household HG The Duke of Argyll [1]

Nobility, et al.

Dukes, et al.

Note Ref
England England Ordered according to date of creation [1]
Scotland Scotland Ordered according to date of creation
Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland Ireland HG The Duke of Leinster
United Kingdom United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 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)

Marquesses, et al.

Note Ref
England England The Most Hon. The Marquess of Winchester [1]
Scotland Scotland Ordered according to date of creation
Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland Ireland Ordered according to date of creation
United Kingdom 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 England Ordered according to date of creation [1]
Scotland Scotland Ordered according to the Decreet of Ranking of 1606 according to date of creation
Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland Ireland Ordered according to date of creation
United Kingdom United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Ordered according to date of creation
Younger sons of royal dukes
who are not already ranked higher 		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 (The Rt Hon. Lord Carloway)[1]
  2. Lord Clerk Register (office held by a woman)[1]
  3. Lord Advocate (office held by a woman)[1]
  4. Advocate General for Scotland (office held by a woman)
  5. Lord Justice Clerk (office held by a woman)[1]
  1. Viscounts
  2. Eldest sons of earls[1]
  3. Lord Frederick Windsor (only son of Prince Michael of Kent)
  4. Younger sons of marquesses[1]

Viscounts, et al.

Note Ref
England England The Rt Hon. The Viscount Hereford [1]
Scotland Scotland Ordered according to date of creation
Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland Ireland Ordered according to date of creation
United Kingdom 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 Companion of the Order of the Garter[1]
  6. Knights of the Order of the Thistle[5]
  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 the Order of St Patrick (none, order dormant)[1]
  14. Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath[1]
  15. Knights Grand Commander 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 Commander of the Order of the Bath[1]
  21. Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)[1]
  22. Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George[1]
  23. Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)[1]
  24. Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order[1]
  25. Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
  26. Solicitor General for Scotland (Ruth Charteris – see Order of Precedence for Ladies below)[1]
  27. Lord Lyon King of Arms (The Revd Canon Joseph Morrow)[1]
  28. Scottish Barons[16]
  29. Sheriffs-Principal[1]
  30. Knights Bachelor[1]
  31. Sheriffs[1] as amended by[5]
  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 Companion of the Order of the Garter[1]
  45. Eldest sons of Knights of the Order of the Thistle[1]
  46. Eldest sons of Knights of the Order of St Patrick (none, order dormant)[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 (none, order dormant)
  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 (none, order dormant)
  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 (none, order dormant)
  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 (none, order dormant)
  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 Companion of the Order of the Garter
  63. Younger sons of Knights of the Order of the Thistle
  64. Younger sons of Knights of the Order of St Patrick (none, order dormant)
  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 (none, order dormant)
  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 (none, order dormant)
  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 (none, order dormant)
  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 (none, order dormant)
  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. King's Counsel[1] as amended by[5]
  78. Esquires[1]
  79. Gentlemen[1]

Ladies

Royal Family

The order of precedence accorded to women of the royal family:

Position Holder
Consort of the sovereign [17] HM The Queen
Queens Dowager none at present
Daughters-in-law of the sovereign HRH The Duchess of Rothesay
The Countess of Dumbarton
Daughters of the sovereign none at present
Wives of grandsons of the sovereign none at present
Granddaughters of the sovereign HRH Princess Charlotte of Wales
Princess Lilibet of Sussex
Sisters-in-law of the sovereign HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh
Sisters of the sovereign HRH The Princess Royal
Wives of uncles of the sovereign none at present
Aunts of the sovereign none at present
Wives of nephews of the sovereign none at present
Nieces of the sovereign HRH Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
HRH Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank
Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor[18]
Mrs Zara Tindall
Wives of grandsons of former
sovereigns who are dukes 		HRH The Duchess of Gloucester
HRH The Duchess of Kent
Wives of grandsons of former
sovereigns who are not dukes 		The Rt Hon. The Countess of Snowdon
HRH Princess Michael of Kent
Granddaughters of former sovereigns Lady Sarah Chatto
HRH Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy
  1. Lord-Lieutenants (see list below)
  2. Sheriffs-Principal (during term of office and with bounds of Sheriffdom)
  3. Commonwealth Prime Ministers, while visiting the UK, in order of appointment[dubious – discuss]
  4. Ambassadors of foreign countries and High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries according to date of arrival[dubious – discuss]
  5. Duchesses
  6. Countess of Ulster, wife of Earl of Ulster
  7. Countess of St Andrews, wife of Earl of St Andrews
  8. Lady Davina Windsor, elder daughter of the Duke of Gloucester
  9. Lady Rose Gilman, younger daughter of the Duke of Gloucester
  10. Lady Helen Taylor, only daughter of the Duke of Kent
  11. Marchionesses
  12. Wives of dukes' eldest sons
  13. Daughters of dukes not married to peers
  14. Countesses
  15. Lady Nicholas Windsor, wife of Lord Nicholas Windsor
  16. Wives of marquesses' eldest sons
  17. Lady Gabriella Kingston, only daughter of Prince Michael of Kent
  18. Marquesses' daughters not married to peers
  19. Wives of dukes' younger sons
  20. Viscountesses
  21. Wives of eldest sons of earls or of countesses in their own right
  22. Earls' daughters not married to peers
  23. Lady Frederick Windsor, wife of Lord Frederick Windsor
  24. Wives of marquesses' younger sons
  25. Baronesses, wives of Lords of Parliament and female holders of Lordships of Parliament
  26. Wives of viscounts' eldest sons
  27. Viscounts' daughters not married to peers
  28. Wives of younger sons of earls or of countesses in their own right
  29. Wives of eldest sons of barons or baronesses
  30. Daughters of barons or baronesses
  31. Ladies Companion of the Order of the Garter
    1. Lady Mary Fagan
    2. Lady Mary Peters
  32. Ladies of the Order of the Thistle
    1. The Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini
  33. Wives of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter (all rank higher, except)
    1. June, Lady Hillary
    2. Jennifer, Lady Acland
    3. Dame Norma, Lady Major
    4. Cherie, Lady Blair
  34. Wives of Knights of the Order of the Thistle (all rank higher, except)
    1. Lady (Helen) Wood
    2. Lady (Daphne) Reid
    3. Lady (Margaret) Palmer
  35. Wives of Knights of the Order of St Patrick (none, order dormant)
  36. Privy Counsellors
  37. Senators of the College of Justice
  38. Wives of viscounts' younger sons
  39. Wives of younger sons of barons or baronesses
  40. Wives of baronets
  41. Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
  42. Dames Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
  43. Dames Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
  44. Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
  45. Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
  46. Wives of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
  47. Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
  48. Wives of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
  49. Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
  50. Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
  51. Dames Commander of the Order of the Bath
  52. Dames Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
  53. Dames Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
  54. Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire
  55. Solicitor General for Scotland (Ruth Charteris)
  56. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
  57. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
  58. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
  59. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
  60. Wives of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
  61. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
  62. Companions of the Order of the Bath
  63. Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
  64. Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
  65. Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
  66. Wives of Companions of the Order of the Bath
  67. Wives of Companions of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
  68. Wives of Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
  69. Wives of Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
  70. Wives of Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
  71. Wives of Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
  72. Wives of Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
  73. Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order
  74. Officers of the Order of the British Empire
  75. Wives of Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order
  76. Wives of Officers of the Order of the British Empire
  77. Wives of Senators of the College of Justice
  78. Wives of Knights Bachelor
  79. Companions of the Imperial Service Order
  80. Wives of Companions of the Imperial Service Order
  81. Wives of the eldest sons of sons of peers
  82. Daughters of sons of peers
  83. Wives of the eldest sons of baronets
  84. Daughters of baronets
  85. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter
  86. Wives of eldest sons of Knights of the Order of the Thistle
  87. Wives of eldest sons of Knights of the Order of St Patrick (none, order dormant)
  88. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
  89. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
  90. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
  91. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
  92. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
  93. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
  94. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
  95. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
  96. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
  97. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
  98. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
  99. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
  100. Daughters of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter
  101. Daughters of Knights of the Order of the Thistle
  102. Daughters of Knights of the Order of St Patrick (none, order dormant)
  103. Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
  104. Daughters of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
  105. Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
  106. Daughters of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
  107. Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
  108. Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
  109. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
  110. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
  111. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
  112. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
  113. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
  114. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
  115. Members of the Royal Victorian Order
  116. Members of the Order of the British Empire
  117. Wives of Members of the Royal Victorian Order
  118. Wives of Members of the Order of the British Empire
  119. Wives of younger sons of baronets
  120. Wives of younger sons of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter
  121. Wives of younger sons of Knights of the Order of the Thistle
  122. Wives of younger sons of Knights of the Order of St Patrick (none, order dormant)
  123. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
  124. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
  125. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
  126. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
  127. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
  128. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
  129. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
  130. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
  131. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
  132. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
  133. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order

Local precedence

  1. Lord-Lieutenants of the lieutenancy areas (the Lord Provost is Lord Lieutenant in the four largest cities):
  2. The Provost
  3. The Deputy Provost
  4. Justices of the peace
  5. The Chief Constable

Notes

  1. ^ "From [1726] onwards it has been the settled practice to place the male members of the Royal Family in the following order: the Sovereign's son, grandsons, brothers, uncles and nephews"[8]
  2. ^ "in the outcome [in 1850] The Duke of Cambridge was not only placed in Garter's Roll above all the other dukes, but also above the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Chancellor, despite his not falling within the ambit of s. 4 of the Act of 1539. This precedent has been followed in all subsequent similar cases."[11]

16. The scales annexed to the royal warrant of 1905, unfortunately, are not exhaustive of all rights of precedence, and appear to have been drawn up without a proper consideration of the Scots law of precedence. Where a person has been omitted from the scales, but has an undoubted precedence by the law of Scotland (such as barons, ambassadors and Irish peers created prior to 1801), the Lord Lyon, in seeing that the warrant is observed and kept, has a duty to give that person an appropriate place in the order of precedence on the appropriate occasion"

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be "No. 27774". The London Gazette. 14 March 1905. p. 2012.
  2. ^ "No. 28600". The London Gazette. 19 April 1912. p. 2787.
  3. ^ "No. 17630". The Edinburgh Gazette. 25 July 1958. p. 425.
  4. ^ "Table of Precedence, Ladies in Scotland - Debrett's Forms of Address, Scottish Women". 18 October 2013. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Burke's Peerage - Article Library". 24 December 2010. Archived from the original on 24 December 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d House of Lords Precedence Act 1539–House of Lords Precedence Act (31 Hen. 8. c. 10), Section 4
  7. ^ Ordered according to the rules of primogeniture
  8. ^ Squibb, G.D. (1981). "General Precedence among Men since 1534". Order of Precedence in England and Wales. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press. p. 28.
  9. ^ a b "Order of Precedence in England and Wales". Heraldica. 2001. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  10. ^ Legally HRH Prince James of Edinburgh according to the 1917 Letters Patent as a male-line grandchild of a monarch, but styled as the duke's son per his parents' wishes on their wedding day and the will of the Queen.
  11. ^ Squibb, G.D. (1981). "General Precedence among Men since 1534". Order of Precedence in England and Wales. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press. p. 29.
  12. ^ during term of office and within bounds of counties and cities
  13. ^ "The current Moderator". 24 May 2022.
  14. ^ Scotland Act 1998, Section 45(7)
  15. ^ Ex officio held by the First Minister of Scotland since 1999
  16. ^ Stair Memorial Encyclopedia,vol.16,2013
  17. ^ Alastair Bruce [@AlastairBruce_] (24 August 2024). "The Queen's arms and scottish banner (standard) hung St. Giles Kirk" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ Legally HRH Princess Louise of Edinburgh according to the 1917 Letters Patent as a male-line grandchild of a monarch, but styled as the duke's daughter per her parents' wishes on their wedding day and the will of the Queen.
  19. ^ "Lord-Lieutenant for Argyll and Bute: 14 July 2020". gov.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  20. ^ "Lord-Lieutenant for Dunbartonshire: 12 August 2020". gov.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  21. ^ Lord Provost of Dundee
  22. ^ Edinburgh appoints new Lord Provost
  23. ^ New Lord Provost of Glasgow announced