The following is the order of precedence in England and Wales as of April 2024. Separate orders exist for men and women.

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.

Archbishops, High Officers of State, et al.

Nobility, bishops, et al.

Dukes, et al.

Marquesses, et al.

Earls, et al.

Viscounts, et al.

Bishops

Barons/Lords of Parliament

Gentry, et al.

Master of the Rolls and Supreme Court Justices

Royal Household officials

Cabinet, et al.

The Prime Minister determines the order of precedence for Secretaries of State as part of the ministerial ranking (also known as the order of precedence in Cabinet).

Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter and Knights of the Order of the Thistle

Privy Counsellors, et al.

Senior judges, et al.

Baronets

Knights

Lower level judges, et al.

Other lower ranks, including esquires and gentlemen

Companions, commanders, lieutenants and officers of various orders

Eldest sons of various grades

Members of various orders

Younger sons of various grades

Ladies

Royal Family

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

High Officers of State, et al.

Nobility and bishops

Duchesses, et al.

Marchionesses, et al.

Countesses, et al.

Viscountesses, et al.

Female bishops

Baronesses

Gentry, et al.

Supreme Court Justices

Royal Household officials

Cabinet, et al.

The Prime Minister determines the order of precedence for Secretaries of State as part of the ministerial ranking (also known as the order of precedence in Cabinet).

Ladies and dames, et al.

Ladies Companion of the Order of the Garter and Ladies of the Order of the Thistle

Wives of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter

Wives of Knights of the Order of the Thistle

Privy Counsellors, et al.

Senior judges, et al.

Dames

Lower level judges

Members of orders, et al.

• Members of the following 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 Companions of the following orders:
  • Order of the Bath
  • Order of the Star of India
  • Order of St Michael and St George
  • Order of the Indian Empire
  • Royal Victorian Order
  • 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:
  • Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter
  • Knights of the Order of the Thistle
  • Knights of the Order of St Patrick
  • Knights Grand Cross or Grand Commander
  • Knights Commander
• Daughters of knights:
  • Daughters of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter
  • Daughters of Knights of the Order 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:
  • Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter
  • Knights of the Order of the Thistle
  • Knights of the Order of St Patrick
  • Knights Grand Cross or Knights Grand Commander
  • Knights Commander

Notes

References