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Order of precedence in Scotland

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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

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Royalty, high officials, et al.

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Royal family

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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) Charles III
Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
[a] 		office held by a woman (Lady Elish Angiolini)
Sons of the sovereign Prince William, Duke of Rothesay [6]
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
Grandsons of the sovereign Prince George of Wales [7][nb 1]
Prince Louis of Wales
Prince Archie of Sussex
Brothers of the sovereign Prince Andrew, Duke of York [6][9]
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh
Uncles of the sovereign none at present [6]
Nephews of the sovereign James, Earl of Wessex[10] [6]
Peter Phillips
Grandsons of former
sovereigns who are dukes 		Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester [9][nb 2]
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
Grandsons of former
sovereigns who are not dukes 		David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon
Prince Michael of Kent

High Officers of State, et al.

[edit]
Title Holder Ref
Lord-Lieutenants see list below [12][1][5]
Sheriffs Principal see list here [1][5]
Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain David Lammy [1]
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland office held by a woman [13]
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland (First Minister) John Swinney [14][5][15]
Presiding Officer office held by a woman [5]
Secretary of State Douglas Alexander
Lord High Constable Merlin Hay, 24th Earl of Erroll [1]
Master of the Household Torquhil Campbell, 13th Duke of Argyll [1]

Nobility, et al.

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Dukes, et al.

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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 Maurice FitzGerald, 9th 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 		Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster (son of the Duke of Gloucester)
George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews (son of the Duke of Kent)

Marquesses, et al.

[edit]
Note Ref
England England 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.

[edit]
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.

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  1. Lord Justice General (Paul Cullen, Lord Pentland)[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 (John Beckett, Lord Beckett)[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.

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Note Ref
England England Robin Devereux, 19th 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

Barons, et al.

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  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]

Knights and below

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  1. Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter[1]
  2. Knights of the Order of the Thistle[5]
  3. Privy Counsellors[1]
  4. Senators of the College of Justice and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court[1]
  5. Younger sons of viscounts[1]
  6. Younger sons of barons[1]
  7. Sons of law life peers[1]
  8. Baronets[1]
  9. Knights of the Order of St Patrick[1]
  10. Knights Grand Cross/Commander (KGCs)
    1. Order of the Bath[1]
    2. Order of the Star of India[1]
    3. Order of St Michael and St George[1]
    4. Order of the Indian Empire[1]
    5. Royal Victorian Order[1]
    6. Order of the British Empire
  11. Knights Commander of such orders
  12. Solicitor General for Scotland (Ruth Charteris – see Order of Precedence for Ladies below)[1]
  13. Lord Lyon King of Arms (The Revd Canon Joseph Morrow)[1]
  14. Sheriffs-Principal[1]
  15. Knights Bachelor[1]
  16. Sheriffs[1] as amended by[5]
  17. Companions
    1. Order of the Bath[1]
    2. Order of the Star of India[1]
    3. Order of St Michael and St George[1]
    4. Order of the Indian Empire[1]
  18. Commanders
    1. Royal Victorian Order[1]
    2. Order of the British Empire
  19. Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order
  20. Companions of the Distinguished Service Order[1]
  21. Officers of the Order of the British Empire
  22. Companions of the Imperial Service Order
  23. Eldest sons of younger sons of peers[1]
  24. Eldest sons of baronets[1]
  25. Eldest sons of knights, ordered by their father
  26. Members of the Royal Victorian Order
  27. Members of the Order of the British Empire
  28. Younger sons of baronets[1]
  29. Younger sons of knights, ordered by their father
  30. King's Counsel[1] as amended by[5]
  31. Esquires[1]
  32. Gentlemen[1]

Ladies

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Royal Family

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

Position Holder
Consort of the sovereign [16] Queen Camilla
Queens Dowager none at present
Daughters-in-law of the sovereign Catherine, Duchess of Rothesay
Meghan, Countess of Dumbarton
Daughters of the sovereign none at present
Wives of grandsons of the sovereign none at present
Granddaughters of the sovereign Princess Charlotte of Wales
Princess Lilibet of Sussex
Sisters-in-law of the sovereign Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh
Sisters of the sovereign Anne, 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 Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank
Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor[17]
Zara Tindall
Wives of grandsons of former
sovereigns who are dukes 		Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester
Wives of grandsons of former
sovereigns who are not dukes 		Serena Armstrong-Jones, Countess of Snowdon
Princess Michael of Kent
Granddaughters of former sovereigns Lady Sarah Chatto
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy

High Officers or their wives

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  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]

Peers

[edit]
  1. Duchesses
    1. Claire Booth, Countess of Ulster
    2. Sylvana Tomaselli, Countess of St Andrews, wife of Earl of St Andrews
    3. Lady Davina Windsor, elder daughter of the Duke of Gloucester
    4. Lady Rose Gilman, younger daughter of the Duke of Gloucester
    5. Lady Helen Taylor, only daughter of the Duke of Kent
  2. Marchionesses
  3. Wives of dukes' eldest sons
  4. Daughters of dukes not married to peers
  5. Countesses
    1. Lady Nicholas Windsor, wife of Lord Nicholas Windsor
  6. Wives of marquesses' eldest sons
    1. Lady Gabriella Kingston, only daughter of Prince Michael of Kent
  7. Marquesses' daughters not married to peers
  8. Wives of dukes' younger sons
  9. Viscountesses
  10. Wives of earls' eldest sons
    1. Sophie Winkleman, wife of Lord Frederick Windsor
  11. Wives of marquesses' younger sons
  12. Earls' daughters not married to peers
  13. Baronesses, wives of Lords and Ladies of Parliament
  14. Wives of viscounts' eldest sons
  15. Viscounts' daughters not married to peers
  16. Wives of earls' younger sons
  17. Wives of barons' eldest sons
  18. Barons' Daughters

Ladies of orders

[edit]
  1. Ladies Companion of the Order of the Garter
    1. Lady Mary Fagan
    2. Lady Mary Peters
  2. Ladies of the Order of the Thistle (all rank higher)
    Lady Elish Angiolini
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Wives of Knights of the Order of St Patrick (none, order dormant)
  6. Privy Counsellors
  7. Senators of the College of Justice
  8. Wives of viscounts' younger sons
  9. Wives of barons' younger sons
  10. Baronettes
  11. Dames Grand Cross
    1. Order of the Bath
    2. Order of St Michael and St George
    3. Royal Victorian Order
    4. Order of the British Empire
  12. Wives of Knights Grand Crosses of such orders
  13. Dames Commander of such orders
  14. Solicitor General for Scotland (Ruth Charteris)
  15. Wives of Knights Commander of such orders
  16. Companions of such orders
  17. Wives of Companions of such orders
  18. Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
  19. Wives of DSO Companions
  20. Lieutenantes of the Royal Victorian Order
  21. Officers of the Order of the British Empire
  22. Wives of RVO Lieutenants
  23. Wives of OBE Officers
  24. Senatrices of the College of Justice
  25. Wives of CoJ Senators
  26. Wives of Knights Bachelor
  27. Companions of the Imperial Service Order
  28. Wives of ISO Companions
  29. Wives of the eldest sons of sons of peers
  30. Daughters of sons of peers
  31. Wives of the eldest sons of baronets
  32. Daughters of baronets
  33. Wives of eldest sons of knights/dames
  34. Daughters of knights/dames
  35. Members
    1. Royal Victorian Order
    2. Order of the British Empire
  36. Wives of Members of such orders
  37. Wives of younger sons of baronets
  38. Wives of younger sons of knights/dames
  39. King's Counsel[1] as amended by[5]
  40. Gentlewomen

Local precedence

[edit]
  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

[edit]
  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]
  1. ^ Only while the Assembly is meeting, during which they are treated as a regent and addressed as 'Your Grace'

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

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  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 "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 i "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". 27 June 2025.
  14. ^ Scotland Act 1998, Section 45(7)
  15. ^ Ex officio held by the First Minister of Scotland since 1999
  16. ^ Alastair Bruce [@AlastairBruce_] (24 August 2024). "The Queen's arms and scottish banner (standard) hung St. Giles Kirk" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "Lord-Lieutenant for Argyll and Bute: 14 July 2020". gov.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  19. ^ "Lord-Lieutenant for Dunbartonshire: 12 August 2020". gov.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  20. ^ Lord Provost of Dundee
  21. ^ Edinburgh appoints new Lord Provost
  22. ^ New Lord Provost of Glasgow announced
  23. ^ Appointment of Lord Lieutenant for Midlothian
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