Order of Precedence

A hierarchy established according to the degree, rank or station in life of every class in society. It may serve as the order of succession to determine who succeeds the sovereign in a Monarchy or, in a Republic, who replaces the head of state in the event he is removed from office or incapacitated. It is more often an indication of ceremonial or historical relevance which operates on state occasions or, quite simply, to establish where dignitaries are seated at formal dinners. The Order of Precedence in the United Kingdom is as follows:

A TABLE OF PRECEDENCE OF MEN
The Sovereign or Consort, when the Sovereign is a Queen.

Prince of Wales.
Sovereign’s Sons.

Sovereign’s Grandsons.
Sovereign’s Brothers.
Sovereign’s Uncles.
Sovereign’s Nephews.
Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Primate of all England.
Lord High Chancellor, or Lord Keeper.
Archbishop of York, Primate of England.*
Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury
Lord President of the Privy Council.*

 Speaker of the House of Commons.

Lord Speaker of the House of Lords.

Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.
Lord Privy Seal.*

Lord Great Chamberlain.*
Earl Marshal.+
Lord Steward. +
Lord Chamberlain.+

Master of the Horse.#

*Being of the degree of Barons by stat. 31 Henry VIII.
+Above all of their degree, viz, if Dukes, above Dukes; Earls above Earls, etc. by stat. 31 Henry VIII.

#The precedence of the Master of the Horse is linked directly to that of the Lord Chamberlain, for the Master follows immediately after the Lord Chamberlain. However, if the Master is of a higher degree of peerage than the Lord Chamberlain, he would rank among his fellow peers of that degree, and not below the Lord Chamberlain.

Dukes according to their Patents.
Eldest Sons of Dukes of the Blood Royal.
Marquesses according to their Patents.
Dukes’ eldest Sons.
Earls according to their Patents.
Younger Sons of Dukes of the Blood Royal.
Marquesses’ eldest Sons.

Dukes’ younger Sons.
Viscounts according to their Patents.
Earls’ eldest Sons.
Marquesses’ younger Sons.
Secretary of State.
Bishops of London, Durham, Winchester, and all other Bishops according to their seniority of Consecration.*
Barons according to their Patents. +
Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal.
Treasurer of the Household.
Comptroller of the Household.
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household.
Viscounts’ eldest Sons.
Earls’ youngest Sons.
Barons’ eldest Sons.
Knights of the Garter.
Privy Counsellors.
Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.
Master of the Rolls.
Vice-Chancellor.
Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.
Judges of the King’s Bench.
Judges of the Common Pleas.
Barons of the Exchequer.
Bannerets made by the Sovereign in person, under the royal standard, displayed in an army royal, in open war.
Viscounts’ younger Sons.
Barons’ younger Sons.
Baronets.
Banneret not made by the Sovereign in person.
Knights of the Thistle.
Knights Grand Crosses of the Bath.
Knights of St. Patrick.
Knights Commanders of the Bath.
Companions of the Bath.
Knights Bachelors.
Eldest Sons of the younger Sons of Peers.
Knights of the Garter’s eldest Sons.
Bannerets’ eldest Sons.
Baronets’ eldest Sons.
Knights of the Thistle and Bath’s eldest Sons.
Knights’ eldest Sons.
Baronets’ younger Sons.
Esquires of the King’s Body.
Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber.
Esquires of the Knights of the Bath.
Esquires by Creation.
Esquires by Office.
Yonnger Sons of Knights of the Garter.
Younger Sons of Bannerets.
Younger Sons of Knights of the Bath.
Younger Sons of Knights Bachelors.

A TABLE OF PRECEDENCE OF WOMEN
The Queen when Consort to the King.
Princess of Wales.
Princesses, Daughters of the King.
Princesses and Duchesses, Wives of the King’s Sons.
Wives of the King’s Brothers.
Wives of the King’s Uncles.
Wives of the eldest Sons of Dukes of the Blood Royal.
Daughters of Dukes of the Blood Royal.
Wives of the King’s Brothers’ or Sisters’ Sons.
Duchesses.
Marchionesses.
Wives of the eldest Sons of Dukes.
Daughters of Dukes.
Countesses.
Wives of the eldest Sons of Marquesses.
Daughters of Marquesses.
Wives of the youngest Sons of Dukes.
Viscountesses.
Wives cf the eldest Sons of Earls.
Daughters of Earls.
Wives of the younger Sons of Marquesses.
Baronesses.
Wives of the eldest Sons of Viscounts. Daughters of Viscounts.
Wives of the youngest Sons of Earls, Wives of the eldest Sons of Barons.
Daughters of Barons.
Maids of Honour.
Wives of the younger Sons of Viscounts. Wives of the younger Sons of Barons.
Baronetesses.
Wives of Knights of the Garter.
Wives of Bannerets of each kind.
Wives of Knights of the Bath.
Wives of Knights Bachelors.
Wives of the eldest Sons of the younger Sons of Peers.
Wives of the eldest Sons of Baronets. Daughters of Baronets.
Wives of the eldest Sons of Knights of the Garter.
Daughters of Knights of the Garter.
Wives of the eldest Sons of Bannerets. Daughters of Bannerets.
Wives of the eldest Sons of Knights of the Bath. Daughters of Knights of the Bath.
Wives of the eldest Sons of Knights Bachelors.
Daughters of Knights Bachelors.
Wives of the youngest Sons of Baronets. Daughters of Knights.
Wives of the Esquires of the King’s Body.
Wives of the Esquires of the Knights of the Bath.
Wives of Esquires by Creation.
Wives of Esquires by Office.
Wives of the younger Sons of Knights of the Garter.
Wives of the youngest Sons of Bannerets.
Wives of the younger Sons of Knights of the Bath.
Wives of the younger Sons of Knights Bachelor
Wives of Gentlemen.
Daughters of Esquires.
Daughters of Gentlemen.
Note.—Married women and widows are entitled to the same rank among each other as their husbands respectively bear, or have borne and unmarried women to the same rank as their eldest brother would bear among men, during the life of their fathers.