Order of precedence in Scotland

The order of precedence in Scotland was fixed by Royal Warrant in 1905. Amendments were made by further Warrants in 1912, 1952, 1958, 1999 to coincide with the establishment of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government and most recently in 2012.

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)	HM The King
The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (only while the Assembly is meeting, during which he is treated as a regent and addressed as 'Your Grace')	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
Sons of the sovereign	HRH The Duke of Rothesay
	The Earl of Dumbarton
Grandsons of the sovereign	HRH Prince George of Wales
	HRH Prince Louis of Wales
	Prince Archie of Sussex
Brothers of the sovereign	The Earl of Inverness
	HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
Uncles of the sovereign	none at present
Nephews of the sovereign	Earl of Wessex
	Mr Peter Phillips
Grandsons of former sovereigns who are dukes	HRH The Duke of Gloucester
	HRH The Duke of Kent
Grandsons of former sovereigns who are not dukes	The Rt Hon. The Earl of Snowdon
	HRH Prince Michael of Kent

High Officers of State, et al.

Title	Holder	Ref
The Lord-Lieutenants	see list below
The Sheriffs Principal	see list here
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain	office held by a woman
The Moderator of the General Assembly	Shaw Patterson
The Prime Minister	The Rt Hon. Sir Keir Starmer
The Keeper of the Great Seal (First Minister)	The Rt Hon. John Swinney
The Presiding Officer	office held by a woman
The Secretary of State	The Rt Hon. Ian Murray
The Lord High Constable	The Rt Hon. The Earl of Erroll
The Master of the Household	HG The Duke of Argyll

Nobility, et al.

Dukes, et al.

	Note	Ref
England	Ordered according to date of creation
Scotland	Ordered according to date of creation
Great Britain	Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland	HG The Duke of Leinster
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland	Ordered according to date of creation
Eldest sons of royal dukes who are not already ranked higher	Earl of Ulster (son of the Duke of Gloucester) Earl of St Andrews (son of the Duke of Kent)

Marquesses, et al.

	Note	Ref
England	The Most Hon. The Marquess of Winchester
Scotland	Ordered according to date of creation
Great Britain	Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland	Ordered according to date of creation
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
England	Ordered according to date of creation
Scotland	Ordered according to the Decreet of Ranking of 1606 according to date of creation
Great Britain	Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland	Ordered according to date of creation
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.

1. Lord Justice General (The Rt Hon. Lord Carloway)
2. Lord Clerk Register (office held by a woman)
3. Lord Advocate (office held by a woman)
4. Advocate General for Scotland (office held by a woman)
5. Lord Justice Clerk (office held by a woman)

1. Viscounts
2. Eldest sons of earls
3. Lord Frederick Windsor (only son of Prince Michael of Kent)
4. Younger sons of marquesses

Viscounts, et al.

	Note	Ref
England	The Rt Hon. The Viscount Hereford
Scotland	Ordered according to date of creation
Great Britain	Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland	Ordered according to date of creation
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

1. Barons and Lords of Parliament
2. Eldest sons of viscounts
3. Younger sons of earls
4. Eldest sons of barons
5. Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter
6. Knights of the Order of the Thistle
7. Privy Counsellors
8. Senators of the College of Justice and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court
9. Younger sons of viscounts
10. Younger sons of barons
11. Sons of law life peers
12. Baronets
13. Knights of the Order of St Patrick (none, order dormant)
14. Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
15. Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
16. Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
17. Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
18. Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
19. Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
20. Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
21. Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
22. Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
23. Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
24. Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
25. Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
26. Solicitor General for Scotland (Ruth Charteris – see Order of Precedence for Ladies below)
27. Lord Lyon King of Arms (The Revd Canon Joseph Morrow)
28. Scottish Barons
29. Sheriffs-Principal
30. Knights Bachelor
31. Sheriffs as amended by
32. Companions of the Order of the Bath
33. Companions of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
34. Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
35. Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
36. Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
37. Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
38. Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order
39. Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
40. Officers of the Order of the British Empire
41. Companions of the Imperial Service Order
42. Eldest sons of younger sons of peers
43. Eldest sons of baronets
44. Eldest sons of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter
45. Eldest sons of Knights of the Order of the Thistle
46. Eldest sons of Knights of the Order of St Patrick (none, order dormant)
47. Eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
48. Eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
49. Eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
50. Eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
51. Eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
52. Eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
53. Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
54. Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
55. Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
56. Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
57. Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
58. Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
59. Members of the Royal Victorian Order
60. Members of the Order of the British Empire
61. Younger sons of baronets
62. Younger sons of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter
63. Younger sons of Knights of the Order of the Thistle
64. Younger sons of Knights of the Order of St Patrick (none, order dormant)
65. Younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
66. Younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
67. Younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
68. Younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
69. Younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
70. Younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
71. Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
72. Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
73. Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
74. Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
75. Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
76. Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
77. King's Counsel as amended by
78. Esquires
79. Gentlemen

Ladies

Royal Family

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

Position	Holder
Consort of the sovereign	HM The Queen
Queens Dowager	none at present
Daughters-in-law of the sovereign	HRH The Duchess of Rothesay
	The Countess of Dumbarton
Daughters of the sovereign	none at present
Wives of grandsons of the sovereign	none at present
Granddaughters of the sovereign	HRH Princess Charlotte of Wales
	Princess Lilibet of Sussex
Sisters-in-law of the sovereign	HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh
Sisters of the sovereign	HRH The 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	HRH Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
	HRH Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank
	Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor
	Mrs Zara Tindall
Wives of grandsons of former sovereigns who are dukes	HRH The Duchess of Gloucester
	HRH The Duchess of Kent
Wives of grandsons of former sovereigns who are not dukes	The Rt Hon. The Countess of Snowdon
	HRH Princess Michael of Kent
Granddaughters of former sovereigns	Lady Sarah Chatto
	HRH Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy

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
4. Ambassadors of foreign countries and High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries according to date of arrival
5. Duchesses
6. Countess of Ulster, wife of Earl of Ulster
7. Countess of St Andrews, wife of Earl of St Andrews
8. Lady Davina Windsor, elder daughter of the Duke of Gloucester
9. Lady Rose Gilman, younger daughter of the Duke of Gloucester
10. Lady Helen Taylor, only daughter of the Duke of Kent
11. Marchionesses
12. Wives of dukes' eldest sons
13. Daughters of dukes not married to peers
14. Countesses
15. Lady Nicholas Windsor, wife of Lord Nicholas Windsor
16. Wives of marquesses' eldest sons
17. Lady Gabriella Kingston, only daughter of Prince Michael of Kent
18. Marquesses' daughters not married to peers
19. Wives of dukes' younger sons
20. Viscountesses
21. Wives of eldest sons of earls or of countesses in their own right
22. Earls' daughters not married to peers
23. Lady Frederick Windsor, wife of Lord Frederick Windsor
24. Wives of marquesses' younger sons
25. Baronesses, wives of Lords of Parliament and female holders of Lordships of Parliament
26. Wives of viscounts' eldest sons
27. Viscounts' daughters not married to peers
28. Wives of younger sons of earls or of countesses in their own right
29. Wives of eldest sons of barons or baronesses
30. Daughters of barons or baronesses
31. Ladies Companion of the Order of the Garter
    1. Lady Mary Fagan
    2. Lady Mary Peters
32. Ladies of the Order of the Thistle
    1. The Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini
33. 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
34. 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
35. Wives of Knights of the Order of St Patrick (none, order dormant)
36. Privy Counsellors
37. Senators of the College of Justice
38. Wives of viscounts' younger sons
39. Wives of younger sons of barons or baronesses
40. Wives of baronets
41. Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
42. Dames Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
43. Dames Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
44. Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
45. Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
46. Wives of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
47. Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
48. Wives of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
49. Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
50. Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
51. Dames Commander of the Order of the Bath
52. Dames Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
53. Dames Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
54. Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire
55. Solicitor General for Scotland (Ruth Charteris)
56. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
57. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
58. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
59. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
60. Wives of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
61. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
62. Companions of the Order of the Bath
63. Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
64. Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
65. Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
66. Wives of Companions of the Order of the Bath
67. Wives of Companions of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
68. Wives of Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
69. Wives of Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
70. Wives of Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
71. Wives of Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
72. Wives of Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
73. Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order
74. Officers of the Order of the British Empire
75. Wives of Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order
76. Wives of Officers of the Order of the British Empire
77. Wives of Senators of the College of Justice
78. Wives of Knights Bachelor
79. Companions of the Imperial Service Order
80. Wives of Companions of the Imperial Service Order
81. Wives of the eldest sons of sons of peers
82. Daughters of sons of peers
83. Wives of the eldest sons of baronets
84. Daughters of baronets
85. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter
86. Wives of eldest sons of Knights of the Order of the Thistle
87. Wives of eldest sons of Knights of the Order of St Patrick (none, order dormant)
88. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
89. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
90. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
91. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
92. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
93. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
94. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
95. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
96. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
97. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
98. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
99. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
100. Daughters of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter
101. Daughters of Knights of the Order of the Thistle
102. Daughters of Knights of the Order of St Patrick (none, order dormant)
103. Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
104. Daughters of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
105. Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
106. Daughters of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
107. Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
108. Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
109. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
110. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
111. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
112. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
113. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
114. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
115. Members of the Royal Victorian Order
116. Members of the Order of the British Empire
117. Wives of Members of the Royal Victorian Order
118. Wives of Members of the Order of the British Empire
119. Wives of younger sons of baronets
120. Wives of younger sons of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter
121. Wives of younger sons of Knights of the Order of the Thistle
122. Wives of younger sons of Knights of the Order of St Patrick (none, order dormant)
123. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
124. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
125. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
126. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
127. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
128. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
129. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
130. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)
131. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
132. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)
133. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order

Local precedence

1. Lord-Lieutenants of the lieutenancy areas (the Lord Provost is Lord Lieutenant in the four largest cities):
   • The 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 )
   • Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran (Iona McDonald)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire (Andrew Simpson)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire (Jeanna Swan)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Caithness (The Rt Hon. The Viscount Thurso)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Clackmannanshire (Johnny Stewart)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries (Fiona Armstrong)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire (Jill Williamina Young)
   • The Lord Provost of Dundee (Bill Campbell)
   • Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian (Roderick Urquhart)
   • The Lord Provost of Edinburgh (Robert Aldridge)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Fife (Robert William Balfour)
   • The Lord Provost of Glasgow (Jacqueline McLaren)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Inverness (James Wotherspoon)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire (Alastair Macphie)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire (The Rt Hon. The Lady Haughey)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Midlothian (Richard Callander)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Moray (Major-General Seymour Monro)
   • 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 (HG The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensbury)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Shetland (Lindsay Tulloch)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk (Alan Simpson)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland (Major-General Patrick Marriott)
   • Lord Lieutenant of The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright (The Rt Hon. The Lord Sinclair)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Tweeddale (The Much Hon. Lady of Traquair)
   • Lord Lieutenant of the Western Isles (Iain Macaulay)
   • Lord Lieutenant of West Lothian (Moria Niven)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Wigtown (Aileen Brewis)
2. The Provost
3. The Deputy Provost
4. Justices of the peace
5. The Chief Constable

Notes

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"

External links

• The Scale of General Precedence in Scotland