Order of precedence in Scotland

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The order of precedence in Scotland was fixed by Royal Warrant in 1905.^[1] Amendments were made by further Warrants in 1912,^[2] 1952, 1958,^[3] 1999 to coincide with the establishment of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government and most recently in 2012.^[4][5]

The relative precedence of peers of Scotland is determined by the Act of Union 1707.

Gentlemen[]

Royalty, high officials, et al.[]

Royal family[]

Title	Holder	Ref
The Sovereign (regardless of sex)	HM The Queen	[1]
The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland	HRH The Earl of Strathearn	[6]
Eldest son of the Sovereign	HRH The Duke of Rothesay and Edinburgh	[1]
Younger sons of the Sovereign	HRH The Earl of Inverness	[1]
	HRH The Earl of Forfar
Grandsons of the Sovereign	HRH The Earl of Strathearn	[7][1]
	HRH The Earl of Dumbarton
	Viscount Severn[8]
	Peter Phillips
Brothers of the Sovereign	None at present	[1]
Uncles of the Sovereign	None at present	[1]
Nephews of the Sovereign	The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Snowdon	[1]
Cousins of the Sovereign	HRH The Lord Culloden HRH The Earl of St Andrews HRH Prince Michael of Kent

High Officers of State, et al.[]

Title	Holder	Ref
The Lord-Lieutenants	See list below	[9][1][5]
The Sheriffs Principal	See list here	[1][5]
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain	The Rt. Hon. Dominic Raab MP	[1]
The Moderator of the General Assembly	The Rt. Hon. The Lord Wallace of Tankerness PC QC FRSE	[10]
The Prime Minister	The Rt. Hon. Boris Johnson MP
The Keeper of the Great Seal	Office held by a woman	[11][5][12]
The Presiding Officer	Office held by a woman	[5]
The Secretary of State	The Rt. Hon. Alister Jack MP
The Lord High Constable	The Earl of Erroll	[1]
The Master of the Household	The Duke of Argyll	[1]

Nobility, et al.[]

Dukes, et al.[]

	Note	Ref
England	Ordered according to date of creation	[1]
Scotland	Ordered according to date of creation
Great Britain	Ordered according to date of creation
Ireland	The 9th 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	Prince George of Cambridge (son of the Earl of Strathearn) Earl of Ulster (son of the Duke of Gloucester) Earl of St Andrews (son of the Duke of Kent) Archie Mountbatten-Windsor (son of the Duke of Sussex)

Marquesses, et al.[]

	Note	Ref
England	The 18th Marquess of Winchester	[1]
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	[1]
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	Prince Louis of Cambridge (second son of the Earl of Strathearn) 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 (Lord Carloway)^[1]
2. Lord Clerk Register (The Lord Mackay of Clashfern)^[1]
3. Lord Advocate (Office held by a woman)^[1]
4. Advocate General for Scotland (The Lord Stewart of Dirleton)^[5]
5. Lord Justice Clerk (Lady Dorrian)^[1]

1. Viscounts
2. Eldest sons of earls^[1]
3. Lord Frederick Windsor
4. Younger sons of marquesses^[1]

Viscounts, et al.[]

	Note	Ref
England	The 19th Viscount Hereford	[1]
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^[1]
2. Eldest sons of viscounts^[1]
3. Younger sons of earls^[1]
4. Eldest sons of barons^[1]
5. Knights of the Garter^[1]
6. Knights of the Thistle^[5]
7. Privy Counsellors^[1]
8. Senators of the College of Justice and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court^[1]
9. Younger sons of viscounts^[1]
10. Younger sons of barons^[1]
11. Sons of Law Life Peers^[1]
12. Baronets^[1]
13. Knights of St Patrick (none, order dormant)^[1]
14. Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath^[1]
15. Knights Grand Commanders of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)^[1]
16. Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George^[1]
17. Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)^[1]
18. Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order^[1]
19. Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
20. Knights Commanders of the Order of the Bath^[1]
21. Knights Commanders of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)^[1]
22. Knights Commanders of the Order of St Michael and St George^[1]
23. Knights Commanders of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)^[1]
24. Knights Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order^[1]
25. Knights Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
26. Solicitor General for Scotland (Ruth Charteris – see Order of Precedence for Ladies below)^[1]
27. Lyon King of Arms (Joseph Morrow)^[1]
28. Scottish Barons
29. Sheriffs-Principal^[1]
30. Knights Bachelor^[1]
31. Sheriffs^[1] as amended by^[5]
32. Companions of the Order of the Bath^[1]
33. Companions of the Order of the Star of India (none, order dormant)^[1]
34. Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George^[1]
35. Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire (none, order dormant)^[1]
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^[1]
40. Officers of the Order of the British Empire
41. Companions of the Imperial Service Order
42. Eldest sons of younger sons of peers^[1]
43. Eldest sons of baronets^[1]
44. Eldest sons of Knights of the Garter^[1]
45. Eldest sons of Knights of the Thistle^[1]
46. Eldest sons of Knights of St Patrick^[1]
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
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
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
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
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^[1]
62. Younger sons of Knights of the Garter
63. Younger sons of Knights of the Thistle
64. Younger sons of Knights of St Patrick
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
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
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
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
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. Queen's Counsel^[1] as amended by^[5]
78. Esquires^[1]
79. Gentlemen^[1]

Ladies[]

1. The Queen, Elizabeth II
2. Queens dowager (none living; ordered according to husband's death, earliest first)
3. Wife of the Heir Apparent
   1. Camilla, Duchess of Rothesay and Edinburgh
4. Wives of the Sovereign's younger sons
   1. Sophie, Countess of Forfar
5. Daughters of the Sovereign
   1. Anne, Princess Royal
6. Wife of the Sovereign's eldest grandson in male line
   1. Catherine, Countess of Strathearn
7. Other Granddaughters-in-law of the Sovereign
   1. Meghan, Countess of Dumbarton
8. Granddaughters of the Sovereign
   1. Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
   2. Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank
   3. Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor
   4. Zara Tindall
9. Sisters-in-law of the Sovereign (none)
10. Sisters of the Sovereign (none living)
11. Aunts (by marriage) of the Sovereign (none living)
12. Aunts (by blood) of the Sovereign (none living)
13. Nieces (by marriage) of the Sovereign (Serena Armstrong-Jones, Countess of Snowdon)
14. Nieces (by blood) of the Sovereign (Lady Sarah Chatto)
15. Granddaughters-in-law of former Sovereigns (whose husbands are Dukes)
    1. Birgitte, Lady Culloden
    2. Katharine, Countess of St Andrews
16. Granddaughters-in-law of former Sovereigns (whose husbands are not Dukes)
    1. Princess Michael of Kent
17. Cousins of the Sovereign
    1. Princess Alexandra, The Hon Lady Ogilvy
18. Lords Lieutenant (see list below)
19. Sheriff Principal (during term of office and with bounds of Sheriffdom)
20. Commonwealth Prime Ministers, while visiting the UK, in order of appointment^{[dubious – discuss]}
21. Ambassadors of foreign countries and High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries according to date of arrival^{[dubious – discuss]}
22. Duchesses
23. Claire Booth, wife of Earl of Ulster
24. Sylvana Tomaselli, wife of Earl of St Andrews
25. Lady Davina Windsor, elder daughter of the Lord Culloden
26. Lady Rose Gilman, younger daughter of the Lord Culloden
27. Lady Helen Taylor, only daughter of the Earl of St Andrews
28. Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, only daughter of the Earl of Strathearn
29. Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, only daughter of the Earl of Dumbarton
30. Marchionesses
31. Wives of dukes' eldest sons
32. Daughters of dukes not married to peers
33. Countesses
34. Wives of marquesses' eldest sons
35. Lady Gabriella Windsor
36. Marquesses' daughters not married to peers
37. Wives of dukes' younger sons
38. Viscountesses
39. Wives of eldest sons of earls or of countesses in their own right
40. Earls' daughters not married to peers
41. Sophie Winkleman, wife of Lord Frederick Windsor
42. Wives of marquesses' younger sons
43. Baronesses, wives of Lords of Parliament and female holders of Lordships of Parliament
44. Wives of viscounts' eldest sons
45. Viscounts' daughters not married to peers
46. Wives of younger sons of earls or of countesses in their own right
47. Wives of eldest sons of barons or baronesses
48. Daughters of barons or baronesses
49. Ladies of the Garter
    1. Anne Princess Royal
    2. Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
    3. Eliza Manningham-Buller, Baroness Manningham-Buller
    4. Lady Mary Fagan
    5. Lady Mary Peters
50. Ladies of the Thistle
    1. Anne Princess Royal
51. Wives of Knights of the Garter

    all rank higher, except:

    1. Valerie Stephen
    2. Mary Colman
    3. June Hillary
    4. Jennifer Acland
    5. Norma Major
    6. Cherie Blair
52. Wives of Knights of the Thistle

    all rank higher, except:

    1. Poppy Anderson
53. Privy Counsellors
54. Senators of the College of Justice
55. Wives of viscounts' younger sons
56. Wives of younger sons of barons or baronesses
57. Wives of baronets
58. Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
59. Dames Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
60. Dames Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
61. Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
62. Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
63. Wives of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India
64. Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
65. Wives of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
66. Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
67. Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
68. Dames Commander of the Order of the Bath
69. Dames Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
70. Dames Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
71. Dames Commandes of the Order of the British Empire
72. Solicitor General for Scotland (Ruth Charteris)
73. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
74. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
75. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
76. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
77. Wives of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
78. Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
79. Companions of the Order of the Bath
80. Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
81. Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
82. Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
83. Wives of Companions of the Order of the Bath
84. Wives of Companions of the Order of the Star of India
85. Wives of Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
86. Wives of Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire
87. Wives of Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
88. Wives of Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
89. Wives of Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
90. Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order
91. Officers of the Order of the British Empire
92. Wives of Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order
93. Wives of Officers of the Order of the British Empire
94. Wives of Senators of the College of Justice
95. Wives of Knights Bachelor
96. Companions of the Imperial Service Order
97. Wives of Companions of the Imperial Service Order
98. Wives of the eldest sons of sons of peers or peeresses
99. Daughters of sons of peers or peeresses
100. Wives of the eldest sons of baronets
101. Daughters of baronets
102. Wives of eldest sons of Knights of the Garter
103. Wives of eldest sons of Knights of the Thistle
104. Wives of eldest sons of Knights of St Patrick
105. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
106. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India
107. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
108. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
109. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
110. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
111. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
112. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
113. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
114. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
115. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
116. Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
117. Daughters of Knights of the Garter
118. Daughters of Knights of the Thistle
119. Daughters of Knights of St Patrick
120. Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
121. Daughters of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India
122. Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
123. Daughters of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
124. Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
125. Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
126. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
127. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
128. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
129. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
130. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
131. Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
132. Members of the Royal Victorian Order
133. Members of the Order of the British Empire
134. Wives of Members of the Royal Victorian Order
135. Wives of Members of the Order of the British Empire
136. Wives of younger sons of baronets
137. Wives of younger sons of Knights of the Garter
138. Wives of younger sons of Knights of the Thistle
139. Wives of younger sons of Knights of St Patrick
140. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
141. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India
142. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
143. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
144. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
145. Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
146. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
147. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
148. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
149. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
150. Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order

Local precedence[]

1. The Lord Lieutenant of the lieutenancy areas (the Lord Provost is Lord Lieutenant in the 4 largest cities):
   • The Lord Provost of Aberdeen (Barney Crockett)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire ()
   • Lord Lieutenant of Angus ()
   • Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute ()^[13]
   • Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran (Iona McDonald)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire ()
   • Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire ()
   • Lord Lieutenant of Caithness (John Sinclair, 3rd Viscount Thurso)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Clackmannanshire (Johnny Stewart)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries (Fiona Armstrong)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire ()^[14]
   • The Lord Provost of Dundee (Robert Duncan)
   • Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian (Garth Morrison)
   • The Lord Provost of Edinburgh (Frank Ross)^[15]
   • Lord Lieutenant of Fife ()
   • The Lord Provost of Glasgow (Sadie Docherty)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Inverness ()
   • Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire (Carol Kinghorn)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire (Mushtaq Ahmad)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Midlothian ()
   • Lord Lieutenant of Moray (Seymour Monro)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Nairn (George Russell Asher)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Orkney (Anthony Trickett)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Perth and Kinross (Melville Stewart Jameson)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire (Col. 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 ()
   • Lord Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk ()
   • Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland ()
   • Lord Lieutenant of The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright (Matthew Murray Kennedy St Clair, 18th Lord Sinclair)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Tweeddale (Hew Strachan)
   • Lord Lieutenant of the Western Isles ()
   • Lord Lieutenant of West Lothian () (Moira Niven from 20 Sep 2017)
   • Lord Lieutenant of Wigtown ()
2. The Provost
3. The Deputy Provost
4. Justices of the Peace
5. The Chief Constable

Notes[]

References[]

External links[]

• The Scale of General Precedence in Scotland