The

order of precedence An order of precedence is a sequential hierarchy of importance applied to individuals, groups, or organizations. For individuals, it is most often used for diplomats in attendance at very formal occasions. It can also be used in the context of ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

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 The Scottish Parliament ( ; ) is the Devolution in the United Kingdom, devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. It is located in the Holyrood, Edinburgh, Holyrood area of Edinburgh, and is frequently referred to by the metonym 'Holyrood'. ...

and

Scottish Government The Scottish Government (, ) is the executive arm of the devolved government of Scotland. It was formed in 1999 as the Scottish Executive following the 1997 referendum on Scottish devolution, and is headquartered at St Andrew's House in ...

) and most recently in 2012. The relative precedence of peers of Scotland is determined by the

Act of Union 1707 The Acts of Union refer to two acts of Parliament, one by the Parliament of Scotland in March 1707, followed shortly thereafter by an equivalent act of the Parliament of England. They put into effect the international Treaty of Union agree ...

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.

High Officers of State, et al.

Nobility, et al.

Dukes, et al.

Marquesses, et al.

Earls, et al.

Judiciary, et al.

# Lord Justice General (

Paul Cullen, Lord Pentland Paul Benedict Cullen, Lord Pentland, (born 11 March 1957) is the current Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General, the most senior judge in Scotland. He is a former Solicitor General for Scotland, Senator of the College of ...

) #

Lord Clerk Register The office of Lord Clerk Register (Scottish Gaelic: ''Clàr Morair Clèireach'') is the oldest remaining Great Officer of State in Scotland, with origins in the 13th century. It historically had important functions in relation to the maintenanc ...

''(office held by a woman)'' # Lord Advocate ''(office held by a woman)'' # Advocate General for Scotland ''(office held by a woman)'' # Lord Justice Clerk ( John Beckett, Lord Beckett) # Viscounts #Eldest sons of earls # Lord Frederick Windsor (only son of Prince Michael of Kent) #Younger sons of marquesses

Viscounts, et al.

# Barons and Lords of Parliament #Eldest sons of viscounts #Younger sons of earls #Eldest sons of barons #Knights Companion of the

Order of the Garter The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III of England in 1348. The most senior order of knighthood in the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British honours system, it is outranked in ...

#Knights of the

Order of the Thistle The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland, who asserted that he was reviving an earlier order. The ...

# Privy Counsellors # Senators of the College of Justice and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court #Younger sons of viscounts #Younger sons of barons #Sons of law life peers #

Baronet A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14th ...

s #Knights of the Order of St Patrick ''(none, order dormant)'' #Knights Grand Cross of the

Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by King George I of Great Britain, George I on 18 May 1725. Recipients of the Order are usually senior British Armed Forces, military officers or senior Civil Service ...

#Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India ''(none, order dormant)'' #Knights Grand Cross of the

Order of St Michael and St George The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince of Wales (the future King George IV), while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III ...

#Knights Grand Commander of the

Order of the Indian Empire The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria on 1 January 1878. The Order includes members of three classes: #Knight Grand Commander (:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire, ...

''(none, order dormant)'' #Knights Grand Cross of the

Royal Victorian Order The Royal Victorian Order () is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the monarch, members of the royal family, or to any viceroy or senior representative of the m ...

#Knights Grand Cross of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

#Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath #Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India ''(none, order dormant)'' #Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George #Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire ''(none, order dormant)'' #Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order #Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire # Solicitor General for Scotland ''( Ruth Charteris – see Order of Precedence for Ladies below)'' #

Lord Lyon King of Arms The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officer of State, Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scotland, Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry i ...

( The Revd Canon Joseph Morrow) # Scottish Barons # Sheriffs-Principal #

Knights Bachelor The title of Knight Bachelor is the basic rank granted to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not inducted as a member of one of the organised orders of chivalry; it is a part of the British honours system. Knights Bachelor are th ...

Sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland, the , which is common ...

s as amended by #Companions of the Order of the Bath #Companions of the Order of the Star of India ''(none, order dormant)'' #Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George #Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire ''(none, order dormant)'' #Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order #Commanders of the Order of the British Empire #Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order #Companions of the

Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a Military awards and decorations, military award of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth, awarded for operational gallantry for highly successful ...

#Officers of the Order of the British Empire #Companions of the Imperial Service Order #Eldest sons of younger sons of peers #Eldest sons of baronets #Eldest sons of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter #Eldest sons of Knights of the Order of the Thistle #Eldest sons of Knights of the Order of St Patrick ''(none, order dormant)'' #Eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath #Eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India ''(none, order dormant)'' #Eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George #Eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire ''(none, order dormant)'' #Eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order #Eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire #Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath #Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India ''(none, order dormant)'' #Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George #Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire ''(none, order dormant)'' #Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order #Eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire #Members of the Royal Victorian Order #Members of the Order of the British Empire #Younger sons of baronets #Younger sons of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter #Younger sons of Knights of the Order of the Thistle #Younger sons of Knights of the Order of St Patrick ''(none, order dormant)'' #Younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath #Younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India ''(none, order dormant)'' #Younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George #Younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire ''(none, order dormant)'' #Younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order #Younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire #Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath #Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India ''(none, order dormant)'' #Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George #Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire ''(none, order dormant)'' #Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order #Younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire #

King's Counsel A King's Counsel (Post-nominal letters, post-nominal initials KC) is a senior lawyer appointed by the monarch (or their Viceroy, viceregal representative) of some Commonwealth realms as a "Counsel learned in the law". When the reigning monarc ...

as amended by #

Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman ...

s # Gentlemen

Ladies

Royal Family

The order of precedence accorded to women of the royal family: # Lord-Lieutenants ''(see list below)'' # Sheriffs-Principal (during term of office and with bounds of

Sheriffdom A sheriffdom is a judicial district in Scotland, led by a sheriff principal. Since 1 January 1975, there have been six sheriffdoms. Each sheriffdom is divided into a series of sheriff court districts, and each sheriff court is presided over by a r ...

) # Commonwealth Prime Ministers, while visiting the UK, in order of appointment #Ambassadors of foreign countries and High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries according to date of arrival #Duchesses #Countess of Ulster, wife of Earl of Ulster # Sylvana Tomaselli, Countess of St Andrews, wife of Earl of St Andrews # Lady Davina Windsor, elder daughter of the Duke of Gloucester #Lady Rose Gilman, younger daughter of the Duke of Gloucester #

Lady Helen Taylor Lady Helen Marina Lucy Taylor (''née'' Windsor; born 28 April 1964) is a member of the British royal family. She is the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and Katharine, Duchess of Kent, and a great-granddaughter of George V. She is curre ...

, only daughter of the Duke of Kent #Marchionesses #Wives of dukes' eldest sons #Daughters of dukes not married to peers # Countesses # Lady Nicholas Windsor, wife of Lord Nicholas Windsor #Wives of marquesses' eldest sons # Lady Gabriella Kingston, only daughter of Prince Michael of Kent #Marquesses' daughters not married to peers #Wives of dukes' younger sons #Viscountesses #Wives of eldest sons of earls or of countesses in their own right #Earls' daughters not married to peers # Lady Frederick Windsor, wife of Lord Frederick Windsor #Wives of marquesses' younger sons # Baronesses, wives of Lords of Parliament and female holders of Lordships of Parliament #Wives of viscounts' eldest sons #Viscounts' daughters not married to peers #Wives of younger sons of earls or of countesses in their own right #Wives of eldest sons of barons or baronesses #Daughters of barons or baronesses #Ladies Companion of the

## Lady Mary Fagan ## Lady Mary Peters #Ladies of the

''(all rank higher)'' #Wives of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter ''(all rank higher, except)'' ##June, Lady Hillary ##Jennifer, Lady Acland ##Dame Norma, Lady Major ## Cherie, Lady Blair #Wives of Knights of the Order of the Thistle ''(all rank higher, except)'' ##Lady (Helen)

Wood Wood is a structural tissue/material found as xylem in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulosic fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin t ...

##Lady (Daphne) Reid ##Lady (Margaret) Palmer #Wives of Knights of the Order of St Patrick ''(none, order dormant)'' # Privy Counsellors # Senators of the College of Justice #Wives of viscounts' younger sons #Wives of younger sons of barons or baronesses #Wives of baronets #Dames Grand Cross of the

#Dames Grand Cross of the

#Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath #Wives of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India ''(none, order dormant)'' #Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George #Wives of Knights Grand Commander of the

''(none, order dormant)'' #Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order #Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire #Dames Commander of the Order of the Bath #Dames Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George #Dames Commander of the Royal Victorian Order #Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire # Solicitor General for Scotland ( Ruth Charteris) #Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath #Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India ''(none, order dormant)'' #Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George #Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire ''(none, order dormant)'' #Wives of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order #Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire #Companions of the Order of the Bath #Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George #Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order #Commanders of the Order of the British Empire #Wives of Companions of the Order of the Bath #Wives of Companions of the Order of the Star of India ''(none, order dormant)'' #Wives of Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George #Wives of Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire ''(none, order dormant)'' #Wives of Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order #Wives of Commanders of the Order of the British Empire #Wives of Companions of the

#Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order #Officers of the Order of the British Empire #Wives of Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order #Wives of Officers of the Order of the British Empire #Wives of Senators of the College of Justice #Wives of

#Companions of the Imperial Service Order #Wives of Companions of the Imperial Service Order #Wives of the eldest sons of sons of peers #Daughters of sons of peers #Wives of the eldest sons of baronets #Daughters of baronets #Wives of eldest sons of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter #Wives of eldest sons of Knights of the Order of the Thistle #Wives of eldest sons of Knights of the Order of St Patrick ''(none, order dormant)'' #Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath #Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India ''(none, order dormant)'' #Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George #Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire ''(none, order dormant)'' #Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order #Wives of eldest sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire #Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath #Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India ''(none, order dormant)'' #Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George #Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire ''(none, order dormant)'' #Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order #Wives of eldest sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire #Daughters of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter #Daughters of Knights of the Order of the Thistle #Daughters of Knights of the Order of St Patrick ''(none, order dormant)'' #Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath #Daughters of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India ''(none, order dormant)'' #Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George #Daughters of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire ''(none, order dormant)'' #Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order #Daughters of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire #Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath #Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India ''(none, order dormant)'' #Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George #Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire ''(none, order dormant)'' #Daughters of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order #Daughters of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire #Members of the Royal Victorian Order #Members of the Order of the British Empire #Wives of Members of the Royal Victorian Order #Wives of Members of the Order of the British Empire #Wives of younger sons of baronets #Wives of younger sons of Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter #Wives of younger sons of Knights of the Order of the Thistle #Wives of younger sons of Knights of the Order of St Patrick ''(none, order dormant)'' #Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath #Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Star of India ''(none, order dormant)'' #Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George #Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire ''(none, order dormant)'' #Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order #Wives of younger sons of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire #Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath #Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India ''(none, order dormant)'' #Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George #Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire ''(none, order dormant)'' #Wives of younger sons of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order

Local precedence

Lord Provost of Edinburgh The Right Honourable Lord Provost of Edinburgh is elected by and is the convener of the City of Edinburgh Council and serves not only as the chair of that body, but as a figurehead for the entire city, ex officio the Lord-Lieutenant of ...

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.

References

External links

The Scale of General Precedence in Scotland
{{Scotland topics 1905 establishments in Scotland

Scottish monarchy Society of Scotland Politics of Scotland