Styles and titles of peers

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In the United Kingdom, Peers of the Realm are entitled to certain special styles and titles. Titles actually held by peers and peeresses are called substantive titles. Some children of peers customarily use courtesy titles; such titles are not recognised in the law, but are commonly used nonetheless. Courtesy peers, as they are sometimes called, are referred to the same way as substantive peers, but do not enjoy any of the rights and privileges of peers.

Peers and peeresses

The various ranks of the Peerage are, in descending order of rank, duke, marquess, earl, viscount and baron, whose feminine equivalents are duchess, marchioness, countess, viscountess and baroness respectively (technically, the Principality of Wales is also a peerage dignity, though not often regarded as such). In Scotland, however, "baron" is a feudal rank, and not one of the Peerage. The Scottish equivalent to the English barony is the "lordship of Parliament," the male holder thereof being known as a lord of Parliament.

The word "duke" traces its origin to the Latin word dux, meaning leader. "Marquess" comes from the Germanic word "Mark" (for "border"), referring to the border between England and either Wales or Scotland; the relationship is more evident in the feminine form, Marchioness. The term "earl" derives from the Old Norse jarl, meaning warrior or nobleman. There being no Norse feminine equivalent for the term, the word "countess" is used, which itself derives from the Latin comes, or "Count" (the equivalent of an earl in continental Europe). Similarly, the term "viscount" comes from the Latin vicecomes, or vice-count. Finally, "baron" comes ultimately from the Old Germanic Baro, meaning freeman.

The various titles are in the form of Rank Name or Rank of Name. The name of the title can either be a place name or a surname. The precise usage depends on the rank of the peerage and on certain other general considerations. Dukes always use of. Marquesses and earls whose titles are based on place names normally use of, while those whose titles are based on surnames normally do not. Viscounts, barons and lords of Parliament do not use of. However, there are several exceptions to the rule. For instance, Scottish viscomitial titles theoretically include of, though in practice, most of them drop the word. Also, of is normally not used when the place in question is outside British territory, as using of might imply that the nation has sovereignty over such a place. For instance, the title Marquess Douro is based on the River Douro in Portugal, over which the British monarch has neither sovereignty nor of Alamein. Furthermore, when necessary, territorial designations may be used when multiple peerages have the same main title, except for the most senior peer, whose title remains unchanged: for example, Baron Harris, Baron Harris of High Cross and Baroness Harris of Richmond. These rules, however, have several exceptions, such as Earl Nelson rather than Earl Nelson of Trafalgar (a reference to a military victory) and Baron Grey rather than Baron Grey of Codnor (while there is a more senior peer with the same title, the Earl Grey). Territorial designations in titles are not updated with local government reforms, but new creations do take them into account. Thus there is a Baroness Airey, of Abingdon in the County of Oxford, and a Baron Johnston of Rockport, of Caversham in the Royal County of Berkshire.

It was once the case that a peer administered the place associated with his title. However, such has not been true since the Middle Ages. The only remaining peerage with associated lands controlled by the holder is the Duchy of Cornwall, which is associated with the Dukedom of Cornwall, a dukedom held by the eldest son and heir to the Sovereign.

The wife of a peer is known by the feminine equivalent of that peer's title; the reverse is not true for husbands of suo jure peeresses. According to a decision made by the House of Lords in Cowley (Earl) v. Cowley (Countess), divorcées may keep their title if they marry a commoner. If they marry peers, however, they cease to use the title of their ex-husband and use that of their new one. Widows of peers are also entitled to keep their styles. If the widow is also the ancestor of the present peer, then she may use the style of Dowager before to the rank and title, as in Dowager Countess of London. Only the most senior widow who is an ancestor of the present peer may use the style of Dowager. All other widows of peers, as well as divorcées thereof, whether ancestors of the present peer or not, may use their forename in conjunction with the title, as in Mary, Countess of London. Many Dowager peeresses prefer not to use the old-fashioned term "Dowager," and instead prefer this latter option.

A duke is styled His Grace, a duchess Her Grace, a marquess or marchioness The Most Honourable and an earl, countess, viscount, viscountess, baron, baroness, lord of Parliament, wife of a lord of Parliament or female holder of a lordship of Parliament The Right Honourable.

Courtesy titles

Main article: Courtesy title

Some children of peers receive titles through social custom; such titles are known as courtesy titles. If a peer has the rank of earl or above, and has more than one title, his eldest son uses one of the lesser titles. The eldest son, however, remains a commoner; only the father is a peer. If the eldest son's courtesy title is of the rank of earl or higher, his eldest son may use the a still lower subsidiary title of the actual peer as a courtesy title; this process may be continued one further generation, so that the senior son, grandson and great-grandson have titles in the case of dukes, the senior son and grandson in the case of marquesses and the senior son in the case of earl (in each case, only if sufficient titles are available). For instance, the Duke of Devonshire is also Marquess of Hartington, Earl of Burlington and Baron Cavendish; the eldest son, therefore, is styled Marquess of Hartington, the senior grandson is styled Earl of Burlington and the senior great-grandson is styled Lord Cavendish. But in the case of the Duke of Somerset, only one subsidiary title—Baron Seymour—is available, so that title is used by the eldest son, and none are used for the eldest son's eldest son.

Always, the courtesy peer's rank must be lower than the substantive peer's rank. Also, the courtesy peer's title must differ from his father's: for example, though the higher title of Earl of Manchester is available, the eldest son of the Duke of Manchester uses the title Viscount Mandeville. The actual title used, though it is generally the highest subsidiary title following the aforementioned rules, is a matter of family tradition. For instance, the eldest son of the Marquess of Londonderry is Viscount Castlereagh, even though the Marquess is also the Earl Vane.

If a peer of the rank of earl or above does not have any subsidiary titles of a different name to his main title, his eldest son usually uses an invented courtesy title of "Lord Surname". For instance, the eldest son of the Earl of Devon is Lord Courtenay, even though the Earl has no barony of that name, and similarly the eldest son of the Earl of Guilford is Lord North. Titles are also invented in order to avoid confusion between courtesy peers and other substantive peers with titles similar to the subsidiary title. The eldest son of the Earl of Huntingdon, who has no subsidiary titles, is styled Viscount Hastings to avoid confusion with the substantive peer Lord Hastings.

Another title applied to eldest children of peers exists only in the Peerage of Scotland. The eldest son of a Scottish peer (whether substantive or by courtesy) is known as The Master of the peer's title: for instance, the son of the Viscount of Arbuthnott is The Master of Arbuthnott. If the parent of the individual using the title is a substantive peer, then the title Master is deemed a substantive title, but if the parent is a courtesy peer, then the title of Master is considered a courtesy title. Though the eldest sons of all Scottish peers are entitled to such a rank, the eldest sons of dukes, marquesses and earls generally do not use them, instead preferring a courtesy title. In the case of peerages that can be inherited by women, an eldest daughter substitutes Mistress for Master.

Courtesy titles are also given to the younger sons and daughters of some peers. Younger sons of dukes and marquesses prefix the style Lord to their first and last names, while all daughters of dukes, marquesses and earls similarly use the style Lady. Wives of younger sons of dukes and marquesses may use Lady, prefixed to their husbands' first and last names.

Younger sons of peers below the rank of marquess and wives of such younger sons, and daughters of peers below the rank of earl, are entitled to the style The Honourable. This style is never used in conjunction with Mr or Mrs, except in the case of wives of younger sons of peers below the rank of marquess, as in The Honourable Mrs John Smith.

Formal styles

In formal documents, such as court documents, only the forenames and title of a peer are employed. For example, a peer named John William Smith and titled Baron London would be referred to as John William, Baron London. In the case of courtesy peers, however, the full name is used, followed by an indication of the courtesy title. For instance, a courtesy peer named George Charles Jones and titled by courtesy Earl of Exeter would be referred to as The Honourable George Charles Jones, commonly called Earl of Exeter.

In some documents, such as letters patent, the Sovereign uses certain special styles to refer to peers:

• Duke: Our right trusty and right entirely beloved cousin (and counsellor) John William, Duke of London
• Marquess: Our right trusty and entirely beloved cousin (and counsellor) John William, Marquess of London
• Earl: Our right trusty and entirely beloved cousin (and counsellor) John William, Earl of London
• Viscount: Our right trusty and well-beloved cousin (and counsellor) John William, Viscount London
• Baron: Our right trusty and well-beloved (counsellor) John William, Baron London

The phrase "counsellor" is used only if the peer is a member of the Privy Council. The term "cousin" was used originally by Henry IV, who was actually a cousin by blood or marriage to every earl in the Kingdom. Now, the term is used regardless of the relationship between the Sovereign and peer, except that those who are actually related to the Sovereign may have their relationships mentioned; the Prince Andrew, for example, would be referred to as Our right trusty and right entirely beloved son Andrew Albert Christian Edward, Duke of York.

Peers have certain extended and grandiloquent titles that are used almost exclusively by heralds in extremely formal circumstances:

• Duke: The Most High, Potent and Noble Prince, John William, Duke of London
• Marquess: The Most Noble and Potent Prince, John William, Marquess of London
• Earl: The Most Noble and Potent Lord, John William, Earl of London
• Viscount: The Right Noble and Potent Lord, John William, Viscount London
• Baron: The Right Noble Lord, John William, Baron London

During debates of the House of Lords, peers must use certain special appellations to refer to each other:

• Duke: The Noble Duke, the Duke of London
• Marquess: The Noble Marquess, Lord London
• Earl: The Noble Earl, Lord London
• Viscount: The Noble Viscount, Lord London
• Baron or Lord of Parliament: The Noble Lord, Lord London
• Baroness: The Noble Baroness, Lady London
• Female holder of a Lordship of Parliament: The Noble Lady, Lady London

The term noble and gallant (instead of just noble) is used if the peer in question holds the rank of Field Marshal, Admiral of the Fleet or Marshal of the Royal Air Force, holds or previously held the office of Chief of the Defence Staff or has been awarded the Victoria Cross or the George Cross. Similarly, the term noble and learned is used if the peer holds or previously held the office of Lord Chancellor, Lord of Appeal, Attorney-General, Solicitor-General, Advocate General for Scotland or judge of a British superior court.

Forms of Address and Reference

Position	Correspondence		Speech
	Envelope	Salutation	Second Person Address	Third Person Reference
Peers
Duke	His Grace The Duke of London	Dear Duke of London	Your Grace	His Grace
Marquess	The Most Hon. The Marquess of London	Dear Lord London	My Lord	Lord London
Earl	The Rt Hon. The Earl of London	Dear Lord London	My Lord	Lord London
Viscount	The Rt Hon. The Viscount London	Dear Lord London	My Lord	Lord London
Baron	The Rt Hon. The Lord London	Dear Lord London	My Lord	Lord London
Peeresses
Duchess	Her Grace The Duchess of London	Dear Duchess of London	Your Grace	Her Grace
Marchioness	The Most Hon. The Marchioness of London	Dear Lady London	My Lady	Lady London
Countess	The Rt Hon. The Countess of London	Dear Lady London	My Lady	Lady London
Viscountess	The Rt Hon. The Viscountess London	Dear Lady London	My Lady	Lady London
Baroness	The Rt Hon. The Lady London	Dear Lady London	My Lady	Lady London
Eldest son of a(n)...
Duke	Marquess of London	Dear Lord London	My Lord	Lord London
Marquess	Earl of London	Dear Lord London	My Lord	Lord London
Earl	Viscountess London	Dear Lord London	My Lord	Lord London
Viscount or Baron	The Hon. Mr Smith	Dear Mr Smith	Mr Smith	Mr Smith
Scottish Viscount or Lord	The Master of London	Dear Mr Smith	Mr Smith	Mr Smith
Wife of eldest son of a(n)...
Duke	Marchioness of London	Dear Lady London	My Lady	Lady London
Marquess	Countess of London	Dear Lady London	My Lady	Lady London
Earl	Viscount London	Dear Lady London	My Lady	Lady London
Viscount or Baron	The Hon. Mrs John Smith	Dear Mrs Smith	Mrs Smith	Mrs Smith
Younger son of a(n)...
Duke or Marquess	The Lord John Smith	Dear Lord John	Lord John	Lord John
Earl, Viscount or Baron	The Hon. John Smith	Dear Mr Smith	Mr Smith	Mr Smith
Wife of younger son of a(n)...
Duke or Marquess	The Lady John Smith	Dear Lady John	Lady John	Lady John
Earl, Viscount or Baron	The Hon. Mrs John Smith	Dear Mrs Smith	Mrs Smith	Mrs Smith
Daughter of a(n)...
Duke, Marquess or Earl	The Lady Mary Smith	Dear Lady Smith	My Lady	Lady Smith
Viscount or Baron	The Hon. Mary Smith	Dear Miss Smith	Miss Smith	Miss Smith

Notes:

• The term baron includes lord of Parliament unless the context requires otherwise.
• For forms of address for the eldest sons of Dukes, Marquesses and Earls, it is assumed that the courtesy title is one degree below the subsidiary title.

References