Our quick study into how to address British aristocracy begins here, at the top of the tree.
The British peerage has five descending, hereditary degrees. They are Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts and Barons. A Duke is the highest grade of the peerage. Wives of Dukes are styled Duchesses.
Please note this page contains information about non-royal Dukes.
In conversation it is best to make as sparing a use as possible of titles.
Formally addressed as ‘Your Grace’, they are referred to as ‘His Grace’ and ‘Her Grace’.
The exception is if you are of the same social standing (i.e. a peer or spouse of a peer) – in such an instance you may refer to them as ‘Duke’ and ‘Duchess’.
My Lord Duke
I remain Your Grace’s most obedient servant
Envelope: His Grace the Duke of Decorum
Madam
I remain Your Grace’s most obedient servant
Envelope: Her Grace the Duchess of Decorum
My Lord Duke
Yours faithfully
Envelope: The Duke of Decorum
Madam
Yours faithfully
Envelope: The Duchess of Decorum
Dear Duke of Decorum or Dear Duke
Yours sincerely
Envelope: The Duke of Decorum
Dear Duchess of Decorum or Dear Duchess
Yours sincerely
Envelope: The Duchess of Decorum
The coronet of a Duke has eight strawberry leaves of which five are seen in two-dimensional representations.
A Duke’s coronation and parliament robes have five ermine tails / miniver bars.
The train of a Duchess’s coronation robe will be two-yards with five-inch edging. Their miniver cape will also have four rows of ermine, as with a Duke, to indicate their rank.
These peers’ vestments were not seen at The Coronation of Charles III in 2023.
The British peerage has five descending, hereditary degrees. They are Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts and Barons.
A Marquess (pronounced: Mar-kwiss) is the second highest grade of the peerage. Wives of Marquesses are styled Marchioness (pronounced: Marsh-on-ess).
Formally addressed as either ‘My Lord’/‘My Lady’ or ‘Lord Mannerism’/’Lady Mannerism’, they are referred to in speech as ‘Lord Mannerism’ and ‘Lady Mannerism’.
My Lord Marquess or My Lord
I have the honour to be Your Lordship’s obedient servant,
Envelope: The Most Hon. the Marquess of Mannerisms
Madam
I have the honour to be Your Ladyship’s obedient servant,
Envelope: The Most Hon. the Marchioness of Mannerisms
My Lord
Yours faithfully
Envelope: The Marquess of Mannerisms
Madam
Yours faithfully
Envelope: The Marchioness of Mannerisms
Dear Lord Mannerisms or Dear Mannerisms
Yours sincerely
Envelope: The Marquess of Mannerisms
Dear Lady Mannerisms
Yours sincerely
Envelope: The Marchioness of Mannerisms
The coronet of a Marquess has four strawberry leaves and four silver ‘pearls’ (note: not actually pearls), slightly raised on points above the rim.
A Marquess’s coronation and parliamentary robes have three and a half ermine tails / miniver bars.
The train of a Marchioness’s coronation robe will be one and three-quarter yards with four-inch edging. Their miniver cape will also have three and a half rows of ermine, as with a Marchioness, to indicate their rank.
These peers’ vestments were not seen at The Coronation of Charles III in 2023.
The British peerage has five descending, hereditary degrees. They are Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts and Barons.
An Earl is the third highest grade of the peerage. A wife of an Earl is styled Countess.
Formally addressed as ‘Lord Courtesy’ and ‘Lady Courtesy’.
My Lord
I have the honour to be Your Lordship’s obedient servant,
Envelope: The Right Hon. the Earl of Courtesy
Madam
I have the honour to be Your Ladyship’s obedient servant,
Envelope: The Right Hon. the Countess of Courtesy
My Lord
Yours faithfully
Envelope: The Earl of Courtesy
Madam
Yours faithfully
Envelope: The Countess of Courtesy
Dear Lord Courtesy or Dear Courtesy
Yours sincerely
Envelope: The Earl of Courtesy
Dear Lady Courtesy
Yours sincerely
Envelope: The Countess of Courtesy
The coronet of an Earl has eight strawberry leaves and eight ‘pearls’ (note: not actual pearls) raised on stalks.
An Earl’s coronation and parliamentary robes have three ermine tails / miniver bars.
The train of a Countess’s coronation robe will be one and a half yards with three-inch edging. Their miniver cape will also have three rows of ermine, as with an Earl, to indicate their rank.
These peers’ vestments were not seen at The Coronation of Charles III in 2023.
The British peerage has five descending, hereditary degrees. They are Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts and Barons.
A Viscount (do not pronounce the S) is the fourth highest grade of the peerage. A wife of a Viscount is styled Viscountess.
Formally addressed as ‘Lord Victory’ and ‘Lady Victory’.
My Lord
I have the honour to be Your Lordship’s obedient servant,
Envelope: The Right Hon. the Viscount of Victory
Madam
I have the honour to be Your Ladyship’s obedient servant,
Envelope: The Right Hon. the Viscountess of Victory
My Lord
Yours faithfully
Envelope: The Viscount of Victory
Madam
Yours faithfully
Envelope: The Viscountess of Victory
Dear Lord Victory or Dear Victory
Yours sincerely
Envelope: The Viscount of Victory
Dear Lady Victory
Yours sincerely
Envelope: The Viscountess of Victory
The coronet of a Viscount has sixteen ‘pearls’ (note: not actual pearls) touching each other.
A Viscount’s coronation and parliamentary robes have two and a half ermine tails / miniver bars.
The train of a Countess’s coronation robe will be one and a quarter yards with two-inch edging. Their miniver cape will also have two and a half rows of ermine, as with a Viscount, to indicate their rank.
These peers’ vestments were not seen at The Coronation of Charles III in 2023.
The British peerage has five descending, hereditary degrees. They are Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts and Barons.
A Baron is the lowest grade of the peerage. A wife of a Baron is styled Baroness.
Formally addressed as ‘Lord Bombast’ and ‘Lady Bombast’.
If a woman is a Baroness in their own right (e.g. women life peers) they are addressed as for the wife of a Baron.
Barons are always referred to, both verbally and in writing, as ‘Lord Bombast’ rather than ‘Baron Bombast’.
My Lord
I have the honour to be Your Lordship’s obedient servant,
Envelope: The Right Hon. Lord Bombast
Madam
I have the honour to be Your Ladyship’s obedient servant,
Envelope: The Right Hon. Lady Bombast
My Lord
Yours faithfully
Envelope: The Lord Bombast.
Madam
Yours faithfully
Envelope: The Lady Bombast.
Dear Lord Bombast or Dear Bombast
Yours sincerely
Envelope: The Lord Bombast
Dear Lady Bombast
Yours sincerely
Envelope: The Lady Bombast
The coronet of a Baron has six pearls (note: not actual pearls).
A Baron’s coronation and parliamentary robes have two ermine tails / miniver bars.
The train of a Baroness’s coronation robe will be one yard with two-inch edging. Their miniver cape will also have two rows of ermine, as with a Baron, to indicate their rank.
These peers’ vestments were not seen at The Coronation of Charles III in 2023.
The title of baronet, which has medieval origins, identified by the prefix Sir to Christian and surname, is a hereditary honour descending from father to son. It is not a rank of the British peerage.
A wife of a Baronet has the style Lady before her surname. A husband of a Baronet does not derive any style from their husband.
Formally addressed as ‘Sir James’ and referred to as ‘Sir James Robertson’. The same rules apply for knights.
Sir
I have the honour to remain your obedient servant,
Envelope: Sir James Robertson, Bt
Madam
I have the honour to be Your Ladyship’s obedient servant,
Envelope: Lady Robertson
Dear Sir
Yours faithfully
Envelope: Sir James Robertson, Bt
Madam
Yours faithfully
Envelope: Lady Robertson
Dear Sir James,
Yours sincerely
Envelope: Sir James Robertson, Bt
Dear Lady Robinson
Yours sincerely
Envelope: Lady Robertson
Baronet is shorted to Bt but the more old fashioned was Bart. Either is fine but Bt is more widely known.
For in-depth advice or matters that are not covered in our Forms of Address section, please feel free to contact us.
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