Order of precedence in England and Wales


The following is the order of precedence in England and Wales as of . 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. 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.
TitleHolderRef
The Sovereign HM The Queen
The Spouse of the Sovereign HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
Eldest son of the Sovereign HRH The Prince of Wales
Younger sons of the Sovereign HRH The Duke of York
Younger sons of the Sovereign HRH The Earl of Wessex
Grandsons of the Sovereign HRH The Duke of Cambridge
Grandsons of the Sovereign HRH The Duke of Sussex
Grandsons of the Sovereign Viscount Severn
Grandsons of the SovereignPeter Phillips
Brothers of the SovereignNone at present
Uncles of the SovereignNone at present
Nephews of the SovereignThe Rt. Hon. The Earl of Snowdon
Grandsons of former Sovereigns
who are Dukes		 HRH The Duke of Gloucester
Grandsons of former Sovereigns
who are Dukes		 HRH The Duke of Kent
Grandsons of former Sovereigns
who are not Dukes		 HRH Prince Michael of Kent

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. If he or she is absent from a Cabinet meeting, the chair is assumed by the highest-ranking Secretary of State present; the same rule is followed in Cabinet committees when both their chair and deputy chair are absent. The current order of precedence can be found in the website of the Prime Minister's Office.

Knights of the Garter and Knights of the Thistle

Privy Counsellors, et al.

Senior judges, et al.

Baronets

Knights

Lower level judges, et al.

Other lower ranks, including [Esquire]s and Gentlemen">Gentleman">Gentlemen

Companions, commanders, lieutenants and officers of various orders

Eldest sons of various grades

Members of various orders

Younger sons of various grades

Ladies

Royalty

The order of precedence accorded to women of the royal family differs depending on whether or not they are accompanied by a husband who is of higher precedence by birthright. Thus two tables are given below: the first outlines the order of precedence for women of the royal family when unaccompanied by a more senior ranking spouse. The second shows the order of precedence when female members of the royal family are joined by their spouses of the blood Royal. This is done because when unaccompanied, blood relations of the sovereign are always accorded higher precedence than those who are married in. For example, when not accompanied by the Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, ranks after Princess Alexandra, The Honorable Lady Ogilvy; when with him, she ranks above all women other than the reigning sovereign and any queens dowager. The same goes for spouses of the Queen’s grandsons and their positioning with the Queen’s granddaughters. For example, as a Princess of the blood Royal, Princess Beatrice of York outranks Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge if Catherine is unaccompanied by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.

Order of Precedence for female members of the royal family when not accompanying their husbands

Order of Precedence for female members of the royal family when accompanying their husbands

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

Cabinet, et al.

Ladies and Dames, et al.

Ladies of the Garter and Ladies of the Thistle

Wives of Knights of the Garter

Wives of Knights of the Thistle

Privy Counsellors, et al.

Senior judges, et al.

Dames

Lower level judges

Members of orders, et al.