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Titles
ROYAL FAMILY
the Queen not usually necessary to write Her Majesty or HM the Queen,
though occasionally Her Majesty can be used
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother no commas; at first mention now write
the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, thereafter the Queen Mother. She
died aged 101 on March 30, 2002
the Duke of Edinburgh, thereafter the Duke or (sparingly) Prince Philip
the Prince of Wales, thereafter the Prince or (sparingly) Prince Charles
Parker Bowles, Camilla no hyphen. With her marriage to the Prince of
Wales on April 9, 2005, she became Duchess of Cornwall. When in Scotland,
and when he is identified as the Duke of Rothesay, she is officially the
Duchess of Rothesay and may be referred to as such. If the Prince succeeds
to the throne, she will be known as the Princess Consort
Prince William at first mention, thereafter simply William (or for
variation the Prince, if not ambiguous); similarly, Prince Harry at first
mention, thereafter simply Harry (or for variation the Prince, if not
ambiguous)
the Duke of York, thereafter Prince Andrew or the Duke
the Earl of Wessex, thereafter the Earl or Prince Edward; similarly,
the Countess of Wessex, the Countess, or the former Sophie Rhys-Jones
the Princess Royal, thereafter the Princess; “Princess Anne” is no
longer acceptable except in historical context
Vice-Admiral Tim Laurence, the Princess Royal's husband. He was
appointed chief executive of Defence Estates in April 2007
Diana, Princess of Wales, at first mention, thereafter the Princess
(cap); the late Princess wherever appropriate. Never refer to Princess Diana
or (even worse) Princess Di or Lady Di
Duchess of York she ceased to be a member of the Royal Family on her
divorce. After her first mention as Duchess of York, refer to the duchess
(l/c) subsequently - not “Fergie” or indeed a construction overheard being
used by an American teenage tourist in London, "the Princess Ferguson", or
any other vulgarity
Royal dukes keep the cap at subsequent mentions (eg, the Duke of Kent,
later the Duke); other dukes do not retain the cap (see below)
PEERAGE AND KNIGHTS
Titles of nobility in descending order are as follows: duke, marquess
(not marquis, except in foreign contexts and occasional Scottish titles),
earl, viscount and baron. At first mention, give the formal title (as in
Who's Who) eg, the Marquess of Paddington, the Earl of Waterloo, but then
Lord Paddington, Lord Waterloo etc. This does not apply to barons, who are
always Lord except in the announcement of new baronies. Dukes are always
dukes and do not become Lord (eg, the Duke of Rutland). Note style of the
2nd Earl, the 3rd Viscount etc.
Baronesses in their own right or life peeresses are Baroness at first
mention, and then Lady (eg, Baroness Thatcher, then Lady Thatcher).
The wife of a duke is a duchess (and is always called Duchess, eg, the Duchess
of X); the wife of a marquess is a marchioness, of an earl a countess, of a
viscount a viscountess. Use Lady at second and subsequent mentions. The wife
of a baronet, eg, Sir John Euston, should be called Lady Euston from the
start. Widows or former wives of all these titles who have not remarried use
their Christian name before the title, eg, Margaret Duchess of Argyll (no
commas). A widow may also be known as the Dowager Duchess of Y, or the
Dowager Lady Z.
Apart from royalty (eg, the Duke of York), all these titles take l/c rather
than cap after the first mention (eg, the Duke of Argyll, thereafter the
duke).
Some titles include a place name, eg, Lord Turner of Ecchinswell, Baroness Jay
of Paddington, while others do not. Follow Who's Who, where those whose
place name must be included appear in bold caps; online, guidance on peers'
titles is on the House of Lords website
Always give the full title at first mention, thereafter the abbreviated form,
eg, Lord Bingham of Cornhill, thereafter Lord Bingham. Among titles spelt
differently from the place name are the Marquess of Ailesbury, Marquess of
Donegall, Earl of Guilford, Earl of Scarbrough.
Take great care with the use of first names with titles, especially the wives
of peers, baronets and knights. The wife of Lord St Pancras is simply Lady
St Pancras. The wife of Sir John Fenchurch is simply Lady Fenchurch
(together, Sir John and Lady Fenchurch). However, when the name is a common
one and there is no other convenient identification, or where there is some
other compelling reason to give the first name, it is permissible to say
Lady (John) Brown (brackets essential; see last sentence of next paragraph).
Baronets and knights are known as Sir John Smith, thereafter Sir John;
see Sir Mark Thatcher. Again, to repeat this essential point, no wife of a
baronet or knight takes her Christian name in her title unless she is the
daughter of a duke, a marquess or an earl. If a baronet has had more than
one wife, the first wife is, eg, Mary Lady Smith (no commas) - the same form
applies to the widow of a baron. If a knight has had more than one wife, the
former wife puts her Christian name in brackets, eg, Lady (Alice) Brown, to
distinguish her from the present wife, Lady Brown.
Also, if there are two baronets or knights with the same name, their wives
(when mentioned apart from their husbands), put his Christian name in
brackets, eg, Lady (Stephen) Brown, Lady (Andrew) Brown.
Dames of an order of chivalry take the same style as knights, eg, Dame
Felicity Brown, thereafter Dame Felicity. A dame who is married may prefer
to use her own style, eg, Dame Margaret Arrowroot, wife of Lord Arrowroot of
Nice; personal preferences should be respected.
CHILDREN OF PEERS
Eldest sons of a duke, marquess or earl use the father's second title
as a courtesy title (eg, the Duke of Bedford's son is the Marquess of
Tavistock). These people are not peers, even in headlines. Younger sons of
dukes and marquesses use their first names and the family surname (eg, Lord
John Worthington; subsequent mention, Lord John, never Lord Worthington; his
wife is Lady John Worthington).
A woman is Lady Olive York etc only if she is the daughter of a duke, marquess
or earl; in subsequent mentions, she is Lady Olive, never Lady York. Younger
sons of earls and all children of viscounts and barons have the style the
Hon, but it is unnecessary to use this except in Court Page copy; normally,
they are simply Mr, Miss, Ms etc (none is a peer).
ANNOUNCEMENT OF TITLES
Baronets, knights and dames take the appropriate title as soon as the
honour is announced. Peers have to submit their choice of title for
approval, so wait until the formal public announcement (usually in The
London Gazette) and then their formal introduction in the chamber of the
Upper House
Last edited: April 20, 2009
