Order of precedence in Scotland
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Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Precedence The order of precedence in Scotland was fixed by Royal Warrant in 1905.<ref name="1905Warrant">Template:London Gazette</ref> Amendments were made by further Warrants in 1912,<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> 1952, 1958,<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> 1999 (to coincide with the establishment of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government) and most recently in 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Burke">Template:Cite web</ref>
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) | Template:Flagicon image Charles III | |
| Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Template:Efn |
office held by a woman (Lady Elish Angiolini) | |
| Sons of the sovereign | Template:Flagicon image Prince William, Duke of Rothesay | <ref name="1539Act4">House of Lords Precedence Act 1539–House of Lords Precedence Act (31 Hen. 8. c. 10), Section 4</ref> |
| Template:Flagicon image Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex | ||
| Grandsons of the sovereign | Template:Flagicon image Prince George of Wales | <ref name="primogeniture">Ordered according to the rules of primogeniture</ref><ref group="nb">"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"<ref name="squibbA">Template:Cite book</ref> </ref> |
| Template:Flagicon image Prince Louis of Wales | ||
| Template:Flagicon image Prince Archie of Sussex | ||
| Brothers of the sovereign | Template:Flagicon image Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor | <ref name="1539Act4"/><ref name="Heraldica">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Template:Flagicon image Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh | ||
| Uncles of the sovereign | none at present | <ref name="1539Act4"/> |
| Nephews of the sovereign | Template:Flagicon image James, Earl of Wessex<ref>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.</ref> | <ref name="1539Act4"/> |
| Peter Phillips | ||
| Grandsons of former sovereigns who are dukes |
Template:Flagicon image Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester | <ref name="Heraldica"/><ref group="nb">"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."<ref name="squibbB">Template:Cite book</ref> </ref> |
| Template:Flagicon image Prince Edward, Duke of Kent | ||
| Grandsons of former sovereigns who are not dukes |
David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon | |
| Template:Flagicon image Prince Michael of Kent |
High Officers of State, et al.
| Title | Holder | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Lord-Lieutenants | see list below | <ref>during term of office and within bounds of counties and cities</ref><ref name="1905Warrant"/><ref name="Burke"/> |
| Sheriffs Principal | see list here | <ref name="1905Warrant"/><ref name="Burke"/> |
| Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain | David Lammy | <ref name="1905Warrant"/> |
| Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland | office held by a woman | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Prime Minister | Sir Keir Starmer | |
| Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland (First Minister) | John Swinney | <ref>Scotland Act 1998, Section 45(7)</ref><ref name="Burke"/><ref>Ex officio held by the First Minister of Scotland since 1999</ref> |
| Presiding Officer | office held by a woman | <ref name="Burke"/> |
| Secretary of State | Douglas Alexander | |
| Lord High Constable | Merlin Hay, 24th Earl of Erroll | <ref name="1905Warrant"/> |
| Master of the Household | Torquhil Campbell, 13th Duke of Argyll | <ref name="1905Warrant"/> |
Nobility, et al.
Dukes, et al.
| Note | Ref | |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagicon England | Ordered according to date of creation | <ref name="1905Warrant"/> |
| Template:Flagicon Scotland | Ordered according to date of creation | |
| Template:Flagicon Great Britain | Ordered according to date of creation | |
| Template:Flagicon Ireland | Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Duke of Leinster | |
| Template:Flagicon 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.
| Note | Ref | |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagicon England | Marquess of Winchester | <ref name="1905Warrant"/> |
| Template:Flagicon Scotland | Ordered according to date of creation | |
| Template:Flagicon Great Britain | Ordered according to date of creation | |
| Template:Flagicon Ireland | Ordered according to date of creation | |
| Template:Flagicon 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagicon England | Ordered according to date of creation | <ref name="1905Warrant"/> |
| Template:Flagicon Scotland | Ordered according to the Decreet of Ranking of 1606 according to date of creation | |
| Template:Flagicon Great Britain | Ordered according to date of creation | |
| Template:Flagicon Ireland | Ordered according to date of creation | |
| Template:Flagicon 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.
- Lord Justice General (Paul Cullen, Lord Pentland)<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Lord Clerk Register (office held by a woman)<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Lord Advocate (office held by a woman)<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Advocate General for Scotland (office held by a woman)
- Lord Justice Clerk (John Beckett, Lord Beckett)<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Viscounts
- Eldest sons of earls<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Lord Frederick Windsor (only son of Prince Michael of Kent)
- Younger sons of marquesses<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
Viscounts, et al.
| Note | Ref | |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagicon England | Robin Devereux, 19th Viscount Hereford | <ref name="1905Warrant"/> |
| Template:Flagicon Scotland | Ordered according to date of creation | |
| Template:Flagicon Great Britain | Ordered according to date of creation | |
| Template:Flagicon Ireland | Ordered according to date of creation | |
| Template:Flagicon 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.
- Barons and Lords of Parliament<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Eldest sons of viscounts<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Younger sons of earls<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Eldest sons of barons<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
Knights and below
- Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Knights of the Order of the Thistle<ref name="Burke"/>
- Privy Counsellors<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Senators of the College of Justice and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Younger sons of viscounts<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Younger sons of barons<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Sons of law life peers<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Baronets<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
Knights of the Order of St Patrick<ref name="1905Warrant"/>- Knights Grand Cross/Commander (KGCs)
- Order of the Bath<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
Order of the Star of India<ref name="1905Warrant"/>- Order of St Michael and St George<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
Order of the Indian Empire<ref name="1905Warrant"/>- Royal Victorian Order<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Order of the British Empire
- Knights Commander of such orders
- Solicitor General for Scotland (Ruth Charteris – see Order of Precedence for Ladies below)<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Lord Lyon King of Arms (The Revd Canon Joseph Morrow)<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Sheriffs-Principal<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Knights Bachelor<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Sheriffs<ref name="1905Warrant"/> as amended by<ref name="Burke"/>
- Companions
- Order of the Bath<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
Order of the Star of India<ref name="1905Warrant"/>- Order of St Michael and St George<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
Order of the Indian Empire<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Commanders
- Royal Victorian Order<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Order of the British Empire
- Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order
- Companions of the Distinguished Service Order<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- Companions of the Imperial Service Order
- Eldest sons of younger sons of peers<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Eldest sons of baronets<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Eldest sons of knights, ordered by their father
- Members of the Royal Victorian Order
- Members of the Order of the British Empire
- Younger sons of baronets<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Younger sons of knights, ordered by their father
- King's Counsel<ref name="1905Warrant"/> as amended by<ref name="Burke"/>
- Esquires<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
- Gentlemen<ref name="1905Warrant"/>
Ladies
Royal Family
The order of precedence accorded to women of the royal family:
| Position | Holder |
|---|---|
| Consort of the sovereign | Template:Flagicon image<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> Queen Camilla |
| Queens Dowager | none at present |
| Daughters-in-law of the sovereign | Template:Flagicon image Catherine, Duchess of Rothesay |
| Template:Flagicon image Meghan, Countess of Dumbarton | |
| Daughters of the sovereign | none at present |
| Wives of grandsons of the sovereign | none at present |
| Granddaughters of the sovereign | Template:Flagicon image Princess Charlotte of Wales |
| Template:Flagicon image Princess Lilibet of Sussex | |
| Sisters-in-law of the sovereign | Template:Flagicon image Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh |
| Sisters of the sovereign | Template:Flagicon image 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 | Template:Flagicon image Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi |
| Template:Flagicon image Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank | |
| Template:Flagicon image Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor<ref>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.</ref> | |
| Zara Tindall | |
| Wives of grandsons of former sovereigns who are dukes |
Template:Flagicon image Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester |
| Wives of grandsons of former sovereigns who are not dukes |
Serena Armstrong-Jones, Countess of Snowdon |
| Template:Flagicon image Princess Michael of Kent | |
| Granddaughters of former sovereigns | Lady Sarah Chatto |
| Template:Flagicon image Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy |
High Officers or their wives
- Lord-Lieutenants (see list below)
- Sheriffs-Principal (during term of office and with bounds of Sheriffdom)
- Commonwealth Prime Ministers, while visiting the UK, in order of appointment{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||date=__DATE__ |$B=
Template:Fix }}
- Ambassadors of foreign countries and High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries according to date of arrival{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||date=__DATE__ |$B=
Template:Fix }}
Peers
- Duchesses
- Claire Booth, Countess of Ulster
- Sylvana Tomaselli, Countess of St Andrews, wife of Earl of St Andrews
- Lady Davina Windsor, elder daughter of the Duke of Gloucester
- Lady Rose Gilman, younger daughter of the Duke of Gloucester
- Lady Helen Taylor, only daughter of the Duke of Kent
- Marchionesses
- Wives of dukes' eldest sons
- Daughters of dukes not married to peers
- Countesses
- Lady Nicholas Windsor, wife of Lord Nicholas Windsor
- Wives of marquesses' eldest sons
- Lady Gabriella Kingston, only daughter of Prince Michael of Kent
- Marquesses' daughters not married to peers
- Wives of dukes' younger sons
- Viscountesses
- Wives of earls' eldest sons
- Sophie Winkleman, wife of Lord Frederick Windsor
- Wives of marquesses' younger sons
- Earls' daughters not married to peers
- Baronesses, wives of Lords and Ladies of Parliament
- Wives of viscounts' eldest sons
- Viscounts' daughters not married to peers
- Wives of earls' younger sons
- Wives of barons' eldest sons
- Barons' Daughters
Ladies of orders
- Ladies Companion of the Order of the Garter
- Ladies of the Order of the Thistle (all rank higher)
- Lady Elish Angiolini
- Wives of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter (all rank higher, except)
- June, Lady Hillary
- Jennifer, Lady Acland
- Dame Norma, Lady Major
- Cherie, Lady Blair
- Wives of Knights of the Order of the Thistle (all rank higher, except)
- Wives of Knights of the Order of St Patrick (none, order dormant)
- Privy Counsellors
- Senators of the College of Justice
- Wives of viscounts' younger sons
- Wives of barons' younger sons
- Baronettes
- Dames Grand Cross
- Wives of Knights Grand Crosses of such orders
- Dames Commander of such orders
- Solicitor General for Scotland (Ruth Charteris)
- Wives of Knights Commander of such orders
- Companions of such orders
- Wives of Companions of such orders
- Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
- Wives of DSO Companions
- Lieutenantes of the Royal Victorian Order
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- Wives of RVO Lieutenants
- Wives of OBE Officers
- Senatrices of the College of Justice
- Wives of CoJ Senators
- Wives of Knights Bachelor
- Companions of the Imperial Service Order
- Wives of ISO Companions
- Wives of the eldest sons of sons of peers
- Daughters of sons of peers
- Wives of the eldest sons of baronets
- Daughters of baronets
- Wives of eldest sons of knights/dames
- Daughters of knights/dames
- Members
- Wives of Members of such orders
- Wives of younger sons of baronets
- Wives of younger sons of knights/dames
- King's Counsel<ref name="1905Warrant"/> as amended by<ref name="Burke"/>
- Gentlewomen
Local precedence
- Lord-Lieutenants of the lieutenancy areas (the Lord Provost is Lord Lieutenant in the four largest cities):
- Lord Provost of Aberdeen (Dr David Cameron)
- Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire (Sandy Manson)
- Lord Lieutenant of Angus (Patricia Ann Sawers)
- Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute (Jane Margaret MacLeod )<ref name="gov.uk_AB">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran (Iona McDonald)
- Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire (Andrew Simpson)
- Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire (Jeanna Swan)
- Lord Lieutenant of Caithness (John Thurso, 3rd Viscount Thurso)
- Lord Lieutenant of Clackmannanshire (Johnny Stewart)
- Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries (Fiona Armstrong)
- Lord Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire (Jill Williamina Young)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Lord Provost of Dundee (Bill Campbell)<ref>Lord Provost of Dundee</ref>
- Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian (Roderick Urquhart)
- Lord Provost of Edinburgh (Robert Aldridge)<ref>Edinburgh appoints new Lord Provost</ref>
- Lord Lieutenant of Fife (Robert William Balfour)
- Lord Provost of Glasgow (Jacqueline McLaren)<ref>New Lord Provost of Glasgow announced</ref>
- Lord Lieutenant of Inverness (James Wotherspoon)
- Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire (Alastair Macphie)
- Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire (Susan Haughey, Baroness Haughey)
- Lord Lieutenant of Midlothian (Sarah Barron)<ref>Appointment of Lord Lieutenant for Midlothian</ref>
- Lord Lieutenant of Moray (Air Commodore Alistair Monkman)
- Lord Lieutenant of Nairn (George Russell Asher)
- Lord Lieutenant of Orkney (Elaine Grieve)
- Lord Lieutenant of Perth and Kinross (Stephen Leckie)
- Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire (Colonel Peter McCarthy)
- Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty (Joanie Whiteford)
- Lord Lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Richard Scott, 10th Duke of Buccleuch)
- Lord Lieutenant of Shetland (Lindsay Tulloch)
- Lord Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk (Colonel Charles Wallace)
- Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland (Major-General Patrick Marriott)
- Lord Lieutenant of The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright (Lord Sinclair)
- Lord Lieutenant of Tweeddale (Catherine Maxwell Stuart, 21st Lady of Traquair)
- Lord Lieutenant of the Western Isles (Iain Macaulay)
- Lord Lieutenant of West Lothian (Moria Niven)
- Lord Lieutenant of Wigtown (Aileen Brewis)
- The Provost
- The Deputy Provost
- Justices of the peace
- The Chief constable
Notes
Template:Reflist <references group="lower-alpha" />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
<references />