His Majesty’s Stationery Office

Order of Precedence

This is the general order of social precedence, proclaimed by the Sovereign and employed by the Royal Household and by the Government. The armed forces, the legal profession and the universities employ somewhat different orders of professional precedence.

Spouses of persons having precedence do not automatically enjoy equal precedence, except where noted. Where spouses of a title- or office-holder do have equal precedence, spouses of former incumbents directly follow the current incumbent, in reverse chronological order. (For example, the 3rd Duke of Riverdale and his wife precede the widower of the 2nd Duchess, who precedes the widow of the 1st Duke.)

1. The Sovereign and spouse
2. The Prince Regent
3. Children of the Sovereign (in order of birth) and spouses
4. H.R.H. the Duchess of Normark (by warrant of 27 August 2011)
5. Grandchildren of the Sovereign (in order of parents’ seniority and then of birth) and spouses
6. Children of former Sovereigns (in reverse order of parents’ reign and then of birth) and spouses
7. Grandchildren of former Sovereigns (in order of parents’ seniority and then of birth) and spouses
8. The Lord High Steward
9. The Lord High Chancellor
10. The Speaker of the House of Commons
11. The Lord Chief Justice
12. The Lord High Treasurer
13. The Lord Privy Seal
14. The Lord High Chamberlain
15. The Lord High Constable
16. The Lord High Admiral
17. The Lord Mayor or Lord Lieutenant (within his or her city or county)
18. Ambassadors of foreign nations (in order of accreditation)
19. Dukes and Duchesses (in order of creation of peerage) and spouses
20. Marquesses and Marchionesses (in order of creation of peerage) and spouses
21. Ministers and Envoys of foreign nations (in order of accreditation)
22. Eldest children of Princes and Princesses (in order of parents’ seniority) and spouses
23. Earls and Countesses (in order of creation of peerage) and spouses
24. Younger children of Princes and Princesses (in order of parents’ seniority and then of birth) and spouses
25. Viscounts and Viscountesses (in order of creation of peerage) and spouses
26. Barons and Baronesses (in order of creation of peerage) and spouses
27. Eldest children of eldest children of Princes and Princesses (in order of parents’ seniority) and spouses
28. The Lord Advocate
29. Secretaries of State (in order of appointment)
30. Knights and Ladies of the Phoenix (in order of investiture)
31. Privy Counsellors (in order of appointment)
32. The Chief Justices of the King’s Bench and the Common Pleas (in order of appointment)
33. Members of Parliament (in order of election)
34. Lords Justices (in order of appointment)
35. Phoenix Principal Herald
36. Officers of the Royal Household (in order of appointment)
    • The Commissioner of the Crown Estate
    • The Comptroller of the Household
    • The Keeper of the Privy Purse
    • The Private Secretary to the Sovereign
37. Appellate Justices (in order of appointment)
38. The Lord Mayor of Riverdale (outside his or her city)
39. Knights Bachelor and Lady Knights (in order of investiture)
40. Children of Peers (in order of parents’ seniority, then reverse order of parents’ succession and then order of birth) and spouses
    1. Eldest children of Dukes and Duchesses
    2. Eldest children of Marquesses and Marchionesses
    3. Younger children of Dukes and Duchesses
    4. Eldest children of Earls and Countesses
    5. Younger children of Marquesses and Marchionesses
    6. Eldest children of Viscounts and Viscountesses
    7. Younger children of Earls and Countesses
    8. Eldest children of Barons and Baronesses
    9. Younger children of Viscounts and Viscountesses
    10. Younger children of Barons and Baronesses
41. Circuit Judges (in order of appointment)
42. King’s Counsel (in order of appointment)
43. The Chair of the City or County Council (within his or her city or county)
44. Justices of the Peace (within their cities or counties, in order of appointment)
45. Members of the City or County Council (within their cities or counties, in order of election)
46. Esquires (in order of attainment of title)
    • Barristers
    • Eldest children of eldest children of Peers and Peeresses
    • Holders of any office of trust under the Crown
    • Holders of university degrees
    • Officers of the armed forces
    • Others upon whom the Sovereign has conferred the title of Esquire
47. Gentry

Legal Precedence

The following order of precedence is that employed by the courts of law.

1. The Sovereign (as “fount of justice”)
2. The Lord Chief Justice
3. The Chief Justices of the King’s Bench and the Common Pleas (in order of appointment)
4. Lords Justices (in order of appointment)
5. Appellate Justices (in order of appointment)
6. The Lord Advocate
7. Circuit Judges (in order of appointment)
8. King’s Counsel (in order of appointment)
9. Doctors of Laws (in order of attainment of degree)
10. Justices of the Peace (within their cities or counties, in order of appointment)
11. Barristers (in order of call to the Bar)
12. Solicitors (in order of enrollment)

Military Precedence

The armed forces employ their own order of precedence.

1. The Sovereign (as Commander-in-Chief of the Naval and Military Forces)
2. The Lord High Admiral and Lord High Constable (in order of appointment)
3. The Parliamentary Secretaries to the Admiralty and the War Office (in order of appointment)
4. The First Sea Lord and Chief of the General Staff (in order of appointment)
5. The Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of the General Staff (in order of appointment)
6. The Commanders-in-Chief of the Naval Fleets and the Commanders of the Army Corps (in order of appointment)
   • The Adjutant General
   • The Captain General of the Royal Corps of Artillery
   • The Commander of the Royal Armored Corps
   • The Commander of the Royal Corps of Engineers
   • The Commander of the Royal Corps of Signals
   • The Provost Marshal
   • The Quartermaster General of the Forces
   • The Surgeon General of the Forces
7. Officers of the Armed Forces (in order of rank and then of promotion)
   1. Admirals of the Fleet and Field Marshals
   2. Admirals and Generals
   3. Vice Admirals and Lieutenant Generals
   4. Rear Admirals and Major Generals
   5. Commodores and Brigadiers
   6. Captains (Royal Navy) and Colonels
   7. Commanders and Lieutenant Colonels
   8. Lieutenant Commanders and Majors
   9. Lieutenants (Royal Navy) and Captains (Army)
   10. Sub-Lieutenants and Lieutenants (Army)
   11. Ensigns and Second Lieutenants
8. Midshipmen and Cadets (in order of promotion)
9. Non-commissioned Officers, Seamen and Soldiers (in order of rank and then of promotion)
   1. Fleet Chief Petty Officers and Sergeants Major
   2. Chief Petty Officers and Staff Sergeants
   3. Petty Officers and Sergeants
   4. Leading Seamen and Corporals
   5. Seamen and Lance Corporals
   6. Junior Seamen and Privates

University Precedence

The following order of precedence is used by the Royal University of Æfira.

1. The Chancellor
2. The Vice-Chancellor
3. The Registrar
4. Professors and the Librarian, if Doctors (in order of attainment of degree)
5. Doctors (in order of attainment of degree)
6. Professors and the Librarian, if not Doctors (in order of appointment)
7. Masters (in order of attainment of degree)
8. Bachelors (in order of attainment of degree)
9. Scholars without degree (in order of admission)