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Forms of address in the United Kingdom
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Forms of address used in the United Kingdom are given below.
Several terms have been abbreviated in the table below. The forms used in the table are given first, followed by alternative acceptable abbreviations in parentheses.
Contents |
[edit] Abbreviations
- His/Her Majesty: HM
- His/Her Royal Highness: HRH
- His Grace: HG
- The Most Honourable: The Most Hon. (The Most Honble)
- The Right Honourable: The Rt Hon. (The Rt Honble)
- The Honourable: The Hon. (The Honble)
- The Much Honoured: The Much Hon. (The Much Hon'd)
- The Most Reverend: The Most Rev. (The Most Revd or The Most Rev'd)
- The Right Reverend: The Rt. Rev. (The Rt Revd or The Rt Rev'd)
- The Very Reverend: The Very Rev. (The Very Revd or The Very Rev'd)
- The Reverend: The Rev. (The Revd or The Rev'd)
- The Venerable: The Ven. (The Venble)
[edit] Royalty
| Position | On envelopes | Salutation in letter | Oral address |
|---|---|---|---|
| King | HM The King | Your Majesty | Your Majesty, and thereafter as "Sir/Sire" |
| Queen | HM The Queen | Your Majesty | Your Majesty, and thereafter as "Ma'am" |
| Prince of Wales | HRH The Prince of Wales | Your Royal Highness | Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as "Sir" |
| Wife of the Prince of Wales | HRH The Princess of Wales | Your Royal Highness | Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as "Ma'am" |
| Princess Royal | HRH The Princess Royal | Your Royal Highness | Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as "Ma'am" |
| Royal Peer | HRH The Duke of London, e.g., HRH The Duke of Kent | Your Royal Highness | Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as "Sir" |
| Royal Peeress | HRH The Duchess of London, e.g., HRH The Duchess of Kent | Your Royal Highness | Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as "Ma'am" |
| Sovereign's son (unless a peer) |
HRH The Prince John, e.g., HRH The Prince Edward | Your Royal Highness | Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as "Sir" |
| Sovereign's son's wife (unless a peeress) |
HRH The Princess John | Your Royal Highness | Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as "Ma'am" |
| Sovereign's daughter (unless a peeress) |
HRH The Princess Mary, e.g., HRH The Princess Anne | Your Royal Highness | Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as "Ma'am" |
| Sovereign's son's son, Prince of Wales's eldest son's eldest son (unless a peer) |
HRH Prince John of London, e.g., Prince Michael of Kent | Your Royal Highness | Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as "Sir" |
| Sovereign's son's son's wife (unless a peeress) |
HRH Princess John of London, e.g., Princess Michael of Kent | Your Royal Highness | Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as "Ma'am" |
| Sovereign's son's daughter (unless a peeress) |
HRH Princess Mary of London, e.g., Princess Beatrice of York | Your Royal Highness | Your Royal Highness |
| Sovereign's son's son's son (unless a peer) |
Lord John Windsor, e.g., Lord Nicholas Windsor | Dear Lord John | Lord John |
| Sovereign's son's son's son's wife (unless a peeress) |
Lady John Windsor, e.g., Lady Nicholas Windsor | Dear Lady John | Lady John |
| Sovereign's son's son's daughter (unless a peeress) |
The Lady Mary Windsor, e.g., The Lady Helen Taylor | Dear Lady Mary | Lady Mary |
[edit] Nobility |
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[edit] Peers and peeresses |
|||
| Duke | His Grace The Duke of London | My Lord Duke or Dear Duke (of London) |
Your Grace or Duke[citation needed] |
| Duchess | Her Grace The Duchess of London | Madam or Dear Duchess (of London) |
Your Grace or Duchess[citation needed] |
| Marquess or Marquis | The Most Hon. The Marquess of London | My Lord Marquess or Dear Lord London |
My Lord or Your Lordship or Lord London |
| Marchioness | The Most Hon. The Marchioness of London | Madam or Dear Lady London |
My Lady[citation needed] or Your Ladyship or Lady London |
| Earl | The Rt Hon. The Earl of London | My Lord or Dear Lord London |
My Lord or Your Lordship or Lord London |
| Countess | The Rt Hon. The Countess of London | Madam or Dear Lady London |
My Lady[citation needed]or Your Ladyship or Lady London |
| Viscount | The Rt Hon. The Viscount London | My Lord or Dear Lord London |
My Lord or Your Lordship or Lord London |
| Viscountess | The Rt Hon. The Viscountess London | Madam or Dear Lady London |
My Lady[citation needed]or Your Ladyship or Lady London |
| Baron Lord of Parliament |
The Rt Hon. The Lord London | My Lord or Dear Lord London |
My Lord or Your Lordship or Lord London |
| Baroness (in her own right) | The Rt Hon. The Lady London or The Rt Hon. The Baroness London |
Madam or Dear Lady London or Dear Baroness London |
My Lady[citation needed]or Your Ladyship or Lady London or Baroness London |
| Baroness (in her husband's right) Lady of Parliament (in her or her husband's right) |
The Rt Hon. The Lady London | Madam or Dear Lady London |
My Lady[citation needed]or Your Ladyship or Lady London |
[edit] Eldest sons of dukes, marquesses and earls |
|||
| (Eldest sons of dukes, marquesses and earls use their fathers' highest secondary titles as courtesy titles. Eldest daughters do not have courtesy titles; all courtesy peeresses are wives of courtesy peers.) | |||
| Courtesy Marquess | Marquess of London | My Lord Marquess or Dear Lord London |
My Lord or Lord London |
| Courtesy Marchioness | Marchioness of London | Madam or Dear Lady London |
My Lady or Lady London |
| Courtesy Earl | Earl of London | My Lord or Dear Lord London |
My Lord or Lord London |
| Courtesy Countess | Countess of London | Madam or Dear Lady London |
My Lady or Lady London |
| Courtesy Viscount | Viscount London | My Lord or Dear Lord London |
My Lord or Lord London |
| Courtesy Viscountess | Viscountess London | Madam or Dear Lady London |
My Lady or Lady London |
| Courtesy Baron Courtesy Lord of Parliament |
Lord London | My Lord or Dear Lord London |
My Lord or Lord London |
| Courtesy Baroness Courtesy Lady of Parliament |
Lady London | Madam or Dear Lady London |
My Lady or Lady London |
[edit] Heirs-apparent and heirs-presumptive of Scottish peers |
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| (Heirs-apparent and heirs-presumptive of Scottish peers use the titles "Master" and "Mistress"; these are substantive, not courtesy titles. If, however, the individual is the eldest son of a Duke, Marquess or Earl, then he uses the appropriate courtesy title, as noted above.) | |||
| Scottish peer's heir-apparent or heir-presumptive | The Master of Edinburgh | Sir or Dear Master of Edinburgh |
Sir or Master |
| Scottish peer's heiress-apparent or heiress-presumptive | The Mistress of Edinburgh | Madam or Dear Mistress of Edinburgh |
Madam or Mistress |
[edit] Sons of peers |
|||
| Duke's younger son Marquess's younger son |
Lord John Smith | My Lord or Dear Lord John (Smith) |
My Lord or Lord John |
| Duke's younger son's wife Marquess's younger son's wife |
Lady John Smith | Madam or Dear Lady John |
My Lady or Lady John |
| Earl's younger son Viscount's son Baron's son Lord of Parliament's son |
The Hon. John Smith | Sir or Dear Mr Smith |
Sir or Mr Smith |
| Earl's younger son's wife Viscount's son's wife Baron's son's wife Lord of Parliament's son's wife |
The Hon. Mrs John Smith | Madam or Dear Mrs Smith |
Madam or Mrs Smith |
[edit] Daughters of peers |
|||
| (If a peer's daughter marries another peer or courtesy peer, she takes her husband's rank. If she marries anyone else, she keeps her rank and title, using her husband's surname instead of her maiden name.) | |||
| Duke's daughter Marquess's daughter Earl's daughter (unmarried or married to a commoner) |
The Lady Mary Smith (if unmarried), The Lady Mary Brown (Husband Surname, if Married) | Madam or Dear Lady Mary |
My Lady or Lady Mary |
| Viscount's daughter Baron's daughter Lord of parliament's daughter (unmarried) |
The Hon. Mary Smith | Madam or Dear Miss Smith |
Madam or Miss Smith |
| Viscount's daughter Baron's daughter Lord of parliament's daughter (married to a commoner) |
The Hon. Mrs Brown (Husband Surname) | Madam or Dear Mrs Brown |
Madam or Mrs Brown |
[edit] Scottish Barons (non-peerage Barons) |
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Scottish Baron |
The Much Honoured John Smith of Edinburgh or The Much Honoured Baron of Edinburgh | Sir or Dear Edinburgh |
Edinburgh or Baron |
Scottish Baroness |
The Much Honoured Baroness of Edinburgh | Madam or Baroness | As on envelope |
Scottish Baron's wife |
Lady Edinburgh or Madam | As on envelope | As on envelope |
[edit] Gentry |
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[edit] Baronets |
|||
| Baronet | (The Hon.) Sir John Smith, Bt (or Bart.) | Sir or Dear Sir John (Smith) |
Sir or Sir John |
| Baronetess in her own right | Dame Mary Smith, Btss | Madam or Dear Dame Mary (Smith) |
Madam or Dame Mary |
| Baronet's wife | Lady Smith | Madam or Dear Lady Smith |
My Lady or Lady Smith |
[edit] Knights |
|||
| Knight (of any order) | Sir John Smith | Sir or Dear Sir John (Smith) |
Sir or Sir John |
| Lady (of the Order of the Garter or the Thistle) | Lady Mary Smith | Madam or Dear Lady Mary (Smith) |
My Lady or Lady Mary |
| Dame (of an order other than the Garter or the Thistle) | Dame Mary Smith | Madam or Dear Dame Mary (Smith) |
Madam or Dame Mary |
| Knight's wife | Lady Smith | Madam or Dear Lady Smith |
My Lady or Lady Smith |
[edit] Scottish chiefs |
|||
| Chief | John Smith of Smith or John Smith of Edinburgh or John Smith of that Ilk or The Smith of Smith or The Smith of Edinburgh or The Smith (varies according to family) |
Sir or Dear Smith (if placename in title) or Dear Smith (otherwise) |
Edinburgh (if placename in title) or Smith (otherwise) |
Female Chief or Chief |
As Chief, substituting "Mrs" or "Madam" for first name or "The" |
Madam or as on envelope |
Madam or as on envelope |
| Chief (etc.)'s heir-apparent | John Smith of Edinburgh, yr or John Smith, yr of Edinburgh or John Smith of Edinburgh or (last only if different first name to father) |
Sir or Dear Mr Smith of Edinburgh |
Sir or Mr Smith of Edinburgh |
| Chief (etc.)'s heir-apparent's wife | Mrs Smith of Edinburgh, yr or Mrs Smith, yr of Edinburgh |
Madam or Dear Mrs Smith of Edinburgh |
Madam or Mrs Smith of Edinburgh |
| Chief (etc.)'s eldest daughter (if none senior) | Miss Smith of Edinburgh | Madam or Dear Miss Smith of Edinburgh |
Madam or Miss Smith of Edinburgh |
| Chief (etc.)'s younger daughter | Miss Mary Smith of Edinburgh | Madam or Dear Miss Smith of Edinburgh |
Madam or Miss Smith of Edinburgh |
[edit] Lairds [if recognized in their territorial designation by the Lord Lyon] |
|||
Laird |
The Much Honoured John Smith of Edinburgh or The Much Honoured The Laird of Edinburgh | Sir or Dear Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
Lady (Female Laird) |
The Much Honoured Jane Smith of Edinburgh or The Much Honoured The Lady of Edinburgh | Madam or Dear Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
The wife of a Laird |
The Much Honoured Jane Smith of Edinburgh or The Much Honoured The Lady of Edinburgh | Madam or Dear Lady Edinburgh | Lady Edinburgh or Edinburgh |
[edit] Sons of recognized Lairds |
|||
Eldest son of a Laird and Heir Apparent |
Mr John Smith of Edinburgh, Younger or (If abbreviated) Mr John Smith of Edinburgh, Yr. | Sir or Dear Mr Smith of Edinburgh | The Younger of Edinburgh or Mr Smith of Edinburgh |
Eldest son of a Laird and Heir Apparent's wife |
Mrs Jane Smith of Edinburgh, Younger or (If abbreviated) Mrs Jane Smith of Edinburgh, Yr. | Madam or Dear Mrs Smith of Edinburgh | Madam or Mrs Smith of Edinburgh |
Younger sons of a Laird |
Mr John Smith | Sir or Mr Smith | Sir or Mr Smith |
Wife of Younger sons of a Laird |
Mrs Jane Smith | Madam or Dear Mrs Smith | Madam or Mrs Smith |
[edit] Daughters of recognized Lairds |
|||
Eldest Daughter of a Laird and Heir Apparent |
Miss Jane Smith of Edinburgh, Younger or (If abbreviated) Miss Jane Smith of Edinburgh, Yr. or Miss Jane Smith, Maid of Edinburgh | Madam or Dear Miss Smith of Edinburgh | Madam or Miss Smith of Edinburgh |
Eldest Daughter of a Laird who is not Heir Apparent |
Miss Jane Smith, Maid of Edinburgh or Miss Jane Smith of Edinburgh | Madam or Dear Miss Smith of Edinburgh | Madam or Miss Smith of Edinburgh |
Younger Daughters of a Laird |
Miss Jane Smith of Edinburgh | Madam or Dear Miss Smith of Edinburgh | Madam or Miss Smith of Edinburgh |
[edit] Clergy |
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[edit] Church of England
|
|||
| Archbishop | The Most Rev. and Rt Hon. The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury | Dear Archbishop | Your Grace or Archbishop |
| Archbishop that is not in Privy Council | The Most Rev. John Smith | Dear Archbishop | Your Grace or Archbishop |
| Diocesan bishop in Privy Council | The Rt Rev. and Rt Hon. The Lord Bishop of London | Dear Bishop | My Lord or Bishop |
| Diocesan bishop | The Rt Rev. The Lord Bishop of London | Dear Bishop | My Lord or Bishop |
| Bishop | The Rt Rev. The Bishop of London or The Rt Rev. The Lord Bishop of London |
Dear Bishop | My Lord or Bishop |
| Dean | The Very Rev. The Dean of London | Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Dean | Dean |
| Provost | The Very Rev. The Provost of London | Dear Provost | Provost |
| Archdeacon | The Ven. The Archdeacon of London | Dear Archdeacon | Archdeacon |
| Prebendary | The Rev. Prebendary Smith | Dear Prebendary Smith | Prebend |
| Canon | The Rev. Canon John Smith | Dear Canon | Canon |
| Priest (a vicar or rector) | The Rev. John Smith or Father John Smith | Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Smith or Dear Father Smith |
Mr/Mrs/Ms Smith or Father John Smith/John/Smith or Vicar/Rector/Curate/Chaplain etc. as applicable |
| Deacon | The Rev. Deacon John Smith or The Rev. John Smith |
Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Smith or Dear Deacon Smith |
Deacon Smith or Mr/Mrs/Ms Smith |
|
The usage 'Lord' as applied to a bishop pre-dates the United Kingdom, and is a well-established convention. It is more usual to abbreviate Reverend to Rev'd rather than Rev. For further details see the excellent Crockford's Guide to addressing the Clergy: http://www.crockford.org.uk/standard.asp?id=116 [edit] Church of Scotland |
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| Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly | His Grace The Lord High Commissioner | Your Grace | Your Grace |
| Clergy | The Rev. John Smith | Dear Mr Smith | Mr Smith |
[edit] Notes
- The forms given under "Salutation in Letter" is for use in social correspondence only. In formal letters, "Sir" or "Madam" would be used instead.
- "London" represents any peerage title.
- "Smith" represents any surname.
- "Edinburgh" represents any Scottish place name.
- "of" may be omitted in the form of Marquessates and Earldoms and included in the form of Scottish Viscountcies. It is never present in peerage Baronies and Lordships of Parliament and always present in Dukedoms and Scottish feudal Baronies.
- Some sources do not recommend the use of the definite article before certain courtesy titles (particularly those who have prospects of promotion within the family's titles), but it is used by official Court publications such as the Court Circular (see below).
- The exact form of a Scottish chief's style varies from family to family, and is generally based on tradition rather than formal rules.
- Some styles that could represent more than one class of person are clarified by the use of post-nominal letters. For instance:
- Knights and Baronets are distinguished by the use of "Bt" (or, archaically, "Bart") after the latter's names (and by the use of the appropriate post-nominal letters if the former are members of an Order of Chivalry). Knights bachelor have no post-nominal letters.
- Substantive peers below the rank of Marquess and courtesy peers who are Privy Counsellors (both of whose titles are preceded by "The Rt Hon.") are distinguished by the use of "PC" after the former's names.
- If the definite article is not used before courtesy peerages (see above) and The Hon. Elizabeth Smith marries Sir William Brown, she becomes The Hon. Lady Brown, but if she marries the higher-ranked Lord Brown, a courtesy Baron, she becomes only Lady Brown. If this Sir William Brown's father is created Earl of London and Baron Brown, as a result of this ennoblement his wife's style will actually change, from "The Hon. Lady Brown" to "Lady Brown". It is important to note that while the style may appear diminished, the precedence taken increases from that of a wife of a knight to that of a wife of an earl's eldest son.
