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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. For further information on courtesy titles see Courtesy titles in the United Kingdom.

Terminology

Abbreviations

Several terms have been abbreviated in the tables below. The forms used in the table are given first, followed by alternative acceptable abbreviations in parentheses.

Names and territorial designations

  • "London" represents the territorial designation of any peerage.
    • "Edinburgh" represents any territorial designation in Scotland.
  • "John" and "William" represent any male name
  • "Jane" and "Mary" represent any female name.
  • "Smith" and "Brown" represent any lastname, regardless of gender.

In regards to the nobility, Mary Brown represents a woman who married John Brown, while Jane Smith represents an unmarried woman.

Royalty

Position On envelopes Salutation in letter Oral address
King HM The King Your Majesty Your Majesty, and thereafter as "Sir"
(or the archaic "Sire")
Queen HM The Queen Your Majesty Your Majesty, and thereafter as "Ma'am"
(to rhyme with "jam" or "lamb")[1][2]
Prince of Wales HRH The Prince of Wales Your Royal Highness Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as
"Sir" (for males) or "Ma'am" (for females)
Wife of the Prince of Wales HRH The Princess of Wales (traditionally)
HRH The Duchess of Rothesay (in Scotland)
HRH The Duchess of Cornwall (an exception to tradition since 2005)
Princess Royal HRH The Princess Royal
Royal peer HRH The Duke of London, e.g. HRH The Duke of Cambridge
Royal peeress HRH The Duchess of London, e.g. HRH The Duchess of Cambridge
Sovereign's son
(unless a peer)		 HRH The Prince John
Sovereign's son's wife
(unless a peeress)		 HRH The Princess John
Sovereign's daughter
(unless a peeress)		 HRH The Princess Mary
Sons of the Prince of Wales
(unless a peer)		 HRH Prince John of Wales
Daughters of the Prince of Wales
(unless a peer)		 HRH Princess Mary of Wales
Sovereign's son's son
Prince of Wales's eldest son's sons
(unless a peer)		 HRH Prince John of London, e.g. HRH Prince Michael of Kent
Sovereign's son's son's wife
(unless a peeress)		 HRH Princess John of London, e.g. HRH Princess Michael of Kent
Sovereign's son's daughter
Prince of Wales's eldest son's daughters
(unless a peeress)		 HRH Princess Mary of London, e.g. HRH Princess Beatrice of York
Sovereign's son's son's son
(unless a peer)
(Except sons of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales)		 The Lord John Windsor, e.g. The Lord Nicholas Windsor Dear Lord John Lord John
Sovereign's son's son's son's wife
(unless a peeress)		 The Lady John Windsor, e.g. The Lady Nicholas Windsor Dear Lady John Lady John
Sovereign's son's son's daughter
(unless a peeress)
(Except daughters of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales)		 The Lady Mary Windsor, e.g. The Lady Helen Taylor Dear Lady Mary Lady Mary

A formal announcement in The London Gazette reads:

"The Queen has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 31 December 2012 to declare that all the children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales should have and enjoy the style, title and attribute of Royal Highness with the titular dignity of Prince or Princess prefixed to their Christian names or with such other titles of honour."

This refers to any children of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Nobility

Peers and peeresses

Position On envelopes[b] Salutation in letter[c] Oral address
Duke (The Most Noble)[d] (His Grace) The Duke of London My Lord Duke or
Dear Duke (of London)		 Your Grace or
Duke[7]
Duchess (The Most Noble)[d] (Her Grace) The Duchess of London Madam or
Dear Duchess (of London)		 Your Grace or
Duchess[8]
Marquess (The Most Hon) The Marquess (of) London[e] My Lord Marquess or
Dear Lord London		 My Lord or
Your Lordship or
Lord London
Marchioness (The Most Hon) The Marchioness (of) London[e] Madam or
Dear Lady London		 My Lady[9] or
Your Ladyship or
Lady London
Earl (The Rt Hon)[f] The Earl (of) London[e] My Lord or
Dear Lord London		 My Lord or
Your Lordship or
Lord London
Countess (The Rt Hon)[f] The Countess (of) London[e] Madam or
Dear Lady London		 My Lady[9]or
Your Ladyship or
Lady London
Viscount (The Rt Hon)[f] The Viscount (of) London[e] My Lord or
Dear Lord London		 My Lord or
Your Lordship or
Lord London
Viscountess (The Rt Hon)[f] The Viscountess (of) London[e] Madam or
Dear Lady London		 My Lady[9]or
Your Ladyship or
Lady London
Baron
Lord of Parliament		 (The Rt Hon)[f] The Lord (of) London[e] My Lord or
Dear Lord London		 My Lord or
Your Lordship or
Lord London
Baroness (in her own right) (The Rt Hon)[f] The Lady (of) London[e] or
(The Rt Hon)[f] The Baroness (of) London[e]		 Madam or
Dear Lady London		 My Lady[9]or
Your Ladyship or
Lady London
Baroness (in her husband's right)
Lady of Parliament (in her or her husband's right)		 (The Rt Hon)[f] The Lady (of) London[e] Madam or
Dear Lady London		 My Lady[9]or
Your Ladyship or
Lady London

Eldest sons of dukes, marquesses and earls

Eldest sons of dukes, marquesses and earls use their father's most senior subsidiary title as courtesy titles: note the absence of "The" before the title.[g] If applicable, eldest sons of courtesy marquesses or courtesy earls also use a subsidiary title from their (great) grandfather, which is lower ranking than the one used by their father. Eldest daughters do not have courtesy titles; all courtesy peeresses are wives of courtesy peers.[h]

Position On envelopes[e] Salutation in letter Oral address
Courtesy marquess Marquess (of) London My Lord or
Dear Lord London		 My Lord or
Lord London
Courtesy marquess's wife 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 earl's wife Countess (of) London Madam or
Dear Lady London		 My Lady or
Lady London
Courtesy viscount Viscount (of) London My Lord or
Dear Lord London		 My Lord or
Lord London
Courtesy viscount's wife Viscountess (of) 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 baron's wife
Wife of courtesy Lord of Parliament		 Lady London Madam or
Dear Lady London		 My Lady or
Lady London

Heirs of Scottish peers

(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.)

Position On envelopes Salutation in letter Oral address
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

Male descendants of peers

Position On envelopes Salutation in letter Oral address
Duke's younger son
(Courtesy) Marquess's younger son		 The Lord John Smith My Lord or
Dear Lord John (Smith)		 My Lord or
Lord John
Duke's younger son's wife
(Courtesy) Marquess's younger son's wife		 The Lady John Smith Madam or
Dear Lady John		 My Lady or
Lady John
(Courtesy) Earl's younger son
(Courtesy) Viscount's son
(Courtesy) Baron's son
(Courtesy) Lord of Parliament's son		 The Hon John Smith Sir or
Dear Mr Smith		 Sir or
Mr Smith
(Courtesy) Earl's younger son's wife
(Courtesy) Viscount's son's wife
(Courtesy) Baron's son's wife
(Courtesy) Lord of Parliament's son's wife		 The Hon Mrs John Smith Madam or
Dear Mrs Smith		 Madam or
Mrs Smith

Female descendants of peers

(If a daughter of a peer or courtesy peer 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.)

Position On envelopes Salutation in letter Oral address
Duke's daughter
(Courtesy) Marquess's daughter
(Courtesy) Earl's daughter
(unmarried or married to a commoner)		 The Lady Mary Smith (if unmarried),
The Lady Mary Brown (husband's surname, if married)		 Madam or
Dear Lady Mary		 My Lady or
Lady Mary
(Courtesy) Viscount's daughter
(Courtesy) Baron's daughter
(Courtesy) Lord of parliament's daughter
(unmarried)		 The Hon Mary Smith Madam or
Dear Miss Smith		 Madam or
Miss Smith
(Courtesy) Viscount's daughter
(Courtesy) Baron's daughter
(Courtesy) Lord of Parliament's daughter
(married to a commoner)		 The Hon Mrs Brown (husband's surname) Madam or
Dear Mrs Brown		 Madam or
Mrs Brown

Gentry and minor nobility[10]

Baronets

Position On envelopes Salutation in letter Oral address
Baronet Sir John Smith, Bt (or Bart)[i] Sir or
Dear Sir John (Smith)		 Sir or
Sir John
Baronetess in her own right Dame Mary Brown, Btss Madam or
Dear Dame Mary (Smith)		 Madam or
Dame Mary
Baronet's wife Lady Smith[j] Madam or
Dear Lady Smith		 My Lady or
Lady Smith
Baronet's divorced wife Mary, Lady Smith[j]
Baronet's widow Mary, Lady Smith[j]
Dowager Lady Smith,[j] or
Lady Smith[j] (if the heir incumbent is unmarried)

Scottish barons (Nobility title)

Position On envelopes Salutation in letter Oral address
Baron (The Much Hon) John Smith, or

(The Much Hon) John Smith, Baron of Edinburgh or
(The Much Hon) The Baron of Edinburgh[11]

Sir or
Dear Edinburgh or
Dear Baron		 Edinburgh or
Baron
Baroness or
Baron's wife		 As baron, substituting "Madam" for first name and
substituting "Baroness" for "Baron", or
Lady Edinburgh[12]		 Madam or
Dear Baroness or
Dear Lady Edinburgh		 Madam or
Baroness or
Lady Edinburgh

Knights

Position On envelopes Salutation in letter Oral address
Knight (of any order) Sir John Smith[i] Sir or
Dear Sir John (Smith)		 Sir or
Sir John
Lady (of the Order of the Garter or the Thistle) Lady Mary Brown Madam or
Dear Lady Mary (Smith)		 My Lady or
Lady Mary
Dame (of an order other than the Garter or the Thistle) Dame Mary Brown 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

Seigneurs of Fiefs

Position On envelopes Salutation in letter Oral address
Feudal Fief Seigneur The Much Hon John Smith of Fief de Sausmarez
or The Much Hon John Smith,
Seigneur of Fief de Sausmarez or
The Much Hon Seigneur of Fief de Sausmarez [11]		 Sir or
Dear Sausmarez or
Dear Sieur		 Sausmarez or
Seigneur or Abbreviated Sieur (Sgr.)
Female Feudal Dame of a Fief or
Feudal Seigneur's wife		 As feudal Seigneur,
substituting "Madam"
for first name and
substituting "Dame" for "Seigneur", or
Dame Sausmarez		 Madam or
Dear Dame or Dear Dame of Sausmarez		 Madam or
Sausmarez or
Dame Sausmarez

Chiefs, chieftains and lairds

Position On envelopes Salutation in letter Oral address
Chief, chieftain or laird

(Only lairds recognised in a
territorial designation by
the Lord Lyon)		 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[k]
(only the 2nd form of
address above applies
to lairds)		 Sir or
Dear Edinburgh (if placename in title) or
Dear Smith (otherwise)		 Edinburgh (if placename in title) or
Smith (otherwise)
Female Chief, chieftain or laird or
Chief, chieftain or laird's wife		 Chief, chieftain or laird's wife, substituting
"Madam" or "Mrs" for first
name or "The"
or Lady Edinburgh[13][14][15]		 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
(last only if different first name to father)		 Sir or
Dear Younger of Edinburgh or
Dear Mr Smith of Edinburgh		 Sir or
Young Edinburgh or
The Younger 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 the Younger		 Madam or
Mrs Smith of Edinburgh
Chief (etc.)'s eldest daughter (if none senior) Miss Smith of Edinburgh or
Jane Smith, Maid of Edinburgh		 Madam or
Dear Miss Smith of Edinburgh or
Dear Maid of Edinburgh		 Madam or
Miss Smith of Edinburgh or
Maid 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

Clergy

Church of England


Similar styles are also applied to clergy of equivalent status in other religious organisations. The words clergy and cleric/clerk are derived from the proper term for bishops, priests and deacons still used in legal documents: Clerk in Holy Orders (e.g. "Vivienne Frances Faull, Clerk in Holy Orders").

Position On envelopes Salutation in letter Oral address
Archbishop The Most Revd and Rt Hon The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury/York Dear Archbishop Your Grace or
Archbishop
Diocesan bishop in Privy Council The Rt Revd and Rt Hon The Lord Bishop of London Dear Bishop My Lord or
Bishop
Bishop, diocesan or suffragan The Rt Revd The Lord Bishop of Durham Dear Bishop My Lord or
Bishop
Dean The Very Revd The Dean of York Dear Mr/Madam Dean Dean or
Mr/Madam Dean
Archdeacon The Ven The Archdeacon of London Dear Archdeacon Archdeacon
Prebendary The Revd Prebendary Smith Dear Prebendary Smith Prebend
Canon The Revd Canon John Smith Dear Canon Canon
Priest The Revd John Smith Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Smith Mr/Mrs/Ms Smith or
Vicar/Rector/Prebendary/Curate/Chaplain etc. as applicable
Deacon The Revd Deacon John Smith or
The Revd 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 (if at all) to Rev'd rather than Rev. Where a personal name is not used for a priest or deacon, the manner of address is Rev Mr etc., i.e. the Rev is used with the usual title. Without this title, the use of Rev with a surname should not be used in the United Kingdom for any ordained person, whether Anglican or not - it is a solecism. Catholic (and Anglo-Catholic) clergy favour Fr (Father) {or Mthr (Mother)}. For further details see Crockford's Guide to addressing the Clergy.

Clergy: 'introduce as Mr Pike or Father Pike according to his preference' (Debrett's Etiquette and Modern Manners 1981 pg230)

Church of Scotland

The Church of Scotland, as a Presbyterian church, recognizes state-awarded titles only as courtesy. In court (assembly, presbytery and session) a person may only be addressed as Mr, Mrs, Miss, Dr, Prof, etc. depending on academic achievement. Thus ministers are correctly addressed as, for example, Mr Smith or Mrs Smith unless they have a higher degree or academic appointment e.g. Dr Smith or Prof. Smith. It is 'infra dig' to use the style 'Rev' and even the use of 'the Rev Mr' requires sensitivity to official style.

Position On envelopes Salutation in letter Oral address
Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly His Grace The Lord High Commissioner Your Grace Your Grace or Sir/Ma'am
Clergy The Rev John Smith Dear Mr Smith Mr Smith/Dr Smith etc.
Current Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland The Right Rev John Smith Dear Mr Smith Mr Smith/Dr Smith etc.
Former Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland The Very Rev John Smith Dear Mr Smith Mr Smith/Dr Smith etc.

Judiciary

United Kingdom

See also: Judge § United Kingdom
Position On envelopes Salutation in letter Oral address In court
Male Justice of the Supreme Court holding a peerage The Right Honourable The Lord Smith Lord Smith Lord Smith My Lord[16]
Male Justice of the Supreme Court The Right Honourable Lord Smith Lord Smith Lord Smith My Lord[16]
Female Justice of the Supreme Court holding a peerage The Right Honourable The Lady Smith Lady Smith Lady Smith My Lady[16]
Female Justice of the Supreme Court The Right Honourable Lady Smith Lady Smith Lady Smith My Lady[16]

England and Wales

Position On envelopes Salutation in letter Oral address In court
Lord Chief Justice The Rt Hon the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales Lord Chief Justice Lord Chief Justice My Lord[17]
Male Lord Justice of Appeal The Rt Hon Lord Justice (John) Smith Lord Justice Lord Justice My Lord
Retired male Lord Justice of Appeal The Rt Hon Sir John Smith Judge or Sir John Sir John My Lord
Female Lord Justice of Appeal The Rt Hon Lady Justice (Mary) Smith, DBE Lady Justice Lady Justice My Lady
Retired female Lord Justice of Appeal The Rt Hon Dame Mary Smith, DBE Judge or Dame Mary Dame Mary My Lady
Male High Court judge The Hon. Mr Justice (John) Smith Judge Judge My Lord
Retired male High Court judge Sir John Smith Judge or Sir John Sir John My Lord
Female High Court judge The Hon. Mrs Justice (Mary) Smith, DBE Judge Judge My Lady
Retired female High Court judge Dame Mary Smith, DBE Judge or Dame Mary Dame Mary My Lady
High Court Master Master (John) Smith (QC should be added if applicable) Master Master[l] Master[l]
Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Insolvency and Companies Court Judge (John) Smith (QC, if applicable) Judge Judge Judge
Circuit judge[m] His Honour Judge (John) Smith (QC, if applicable) Judge Judge Your Honour
Recorder Mr (or Mrs) Recorder Smith (QC, if applicable) Judge Judge Your Honour
District judge District Judge (John) Smith (QC, if applicable) Judge Sir or Madam Sir or Madam
Justice of the Peace/Magistrate Mr John Smith, JP Mr Smith Mr Smith or (if "Chair/Lead") Sir or Madam[18][19] Sir or Madam (if 'Chair/Lead') or Your Worship[20][21][22]
Chancellor of a Diocese (Ecclesiastical) The Worshipful Mr (or Mrs) Smith (QC, if applicable) Chancellor Chancellor Your Worship

A judge's first name only forms part of their judicial style if, at the time of their appointment, there is a senior judge with the same or a similar surname. Thus, if there is a "Mr Justice Smith", subsequent judges will be "Mr Justice John Smith", "Mrs Justice Mary Smith", etc. High Court Judges and above who are Queen's Counsel do not use the post-nominal letters following appointment or after retirement.

A member of the Bar (but not a solicitor) addresses a circuit judge or higher, out of court, as "Judge".

Scotland

Position On envelopes Salutation in letter Oral address In court
Lord President of the Court of Session/Lord Justice General of Scotland The Rt Hon (the) Lord/Lady Smith Lord President of the Court of Session/Lord Justice General of Scotland Lord President/Lord Justice General Lord President/Lord Justice General My Lord/Lady
Lord Justice Clerk The Rt Hon (the) Lord/Lady Smith Lord Justice Clerk Lord Justice Clerk Lord Justice Clerk My Lord/Lady
Senator of the College of Justice and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court The Hon./Rt Hon. (the) Lord/Lady Smith Lord/Lady Smith Lord/Lady Smith My Lord/Lady
Sheriff principal Sheriff Principal Smith (QC should be added where applicable) Sheriff Principal Smith Sheriff Principal Smith My Lord/Lady
Sheriff Sheriff Smith (QC should be added where applicable) Sheriff Smith Sheriff Smith My Lord/Lady
Summary sheriff Sheriff Smith (QC should be added where applicable) Sheriff Smith Sheriff Smith My Lord/Lady
Justice of the Peace Mr John/Mrs Mary Smith Mr/Mrs Smith Mr/Mrs Smith Your Honour[23]

Academics

The forms of address used for academics can, in most cases, be either formal or social.[24][25]

Position On envelopes Salutation in letter Oral address In conversation
Chancellor (formal) The Chancellor of [university name] Dear Chancellor Chancellor (if on a platform) or by name and title The Chancellor or by name
Chancellor (social) [Name].[n] Chancellor of [university name] By name By name or Chancellor The Chancellor or by name
Vice-Chancellor (formal) The Vice-Chancellor of [university name][o] Dear Sir/Madam/Vice-Chancellor Vice-Chancellor (if on a platform) or by name The Vice-Chancellor or by name
Vice-Chancellor (social) [Name],[p] Vice-Chancellor of [university name] By name or Dear Vice-Chancellor Vice-Chancellor (if on a platform) or by name The Vice-Chancellor or by name
Professor (formal) Professor Jane Smith[q] Dear Sir/Madam Professor Smith Professor Smith
Professor (social) Professor Jane Smith Dear Professor Smith Professor Smith Professor Smith
Doctor (formal)[r] Dr Jane Smith or The Revd John Smith DD or Susan Brown MD or Tom Brown PhD, etc.[s] Dear Sir/Madam Dr Smith Dr Smith
Doctor (social)[r] Dr Jane Smith Dear Dr Smith Dr Smith Dr Smith

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The punctuation of "The Rt Hon" is not consistent throughout sources. The Gazette favours "The Rt. Hon.", while the government usually prefers "The Rt Hon" or "The Rt Hon.".
  2. ^ The definite article "the" in the middle of two or more titles is sometimes capitalized, as in these tables. However this is controversial: traditional British guides use the lower-case "the". As a single example, Debrett's gives "Major-General the Lord……",[3] and Pears' Cyclopaedia in the section on Modes of Address gives several examples where the definite article interior to a list of honours is lower case.[4]
  3. ^ The forms given under "Salutation in Letter" are for use in social correspondence only. In formal letters, "Sir" or "Madam" would be used instead.
  4. ^ a b "The Most Noble" is rarely used by Dukes and Duchesses; when used, the forenames of the peer or peeress can be used after "His Grace" but before "The Duke of [...]".[5] This style is also sometimes used without "His Grace".[6]
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "of" may be omitted in the form of Marquessates and Earldoms and included in the form of Scottish Viscountcies. It is not often present in peerage Baronies and Lordships of Parliament and always present in Dukedoms and Scottish feudal Baronies.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h The House of Lords and the College of Arms have discontinued the use of "The Right Honourable" unless the person if a Privy Counsellor. Instead, the post-nominal letters of "PC" are used.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ If the definite article is not used before courtesy peerages 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.
  9. ^ a b 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).
  10. ^ a b c d e In this case, the Baronet in question would have "Smith" as their lastname
  11. ^ The exact form of a Scottish chief's style varies from family to family, and is generally based on tradition rather than formal rules.
  12. ^ a b "Master" is used as the form of address whether the High Court Master is male or female.
  13. ^ Some circuit judges – for example, the Recorder of Liverpool or circuit judges sitting in the Central Criminal Court – are addressed in court as "My Lord" or "My Lady".
  14. ^ This is the full name and title as it would be according to the rules elsewhere on this page, e.g. The Viscount London, Sir John Smith, KBE, Professor Jane Doe, Dr Tom Brown.
  15. ^ Check official title for the university concerned: The Reverend the Vice-Chancellor (Oxford) The Right Worshipful the Vice-Chancellor (Cambridge), The Vice-Chancellor and Warden (Durham), The President and Provost (UCL), etc.
  16. ^ Title
  17. ^ If a professor holds an ecclesiastical rank this, strictly speaking, supersedes the academic rank. However, the academic style may still be used within academia and the two can be combined, e.g. as The Reverend Professor Jane Smith. If a professor holds a peerage or a knighthood, this title can be combined, e.g. Professor Lord Smith, Professor Sir John Smith, Professor Dame Jane Smith.
  18. ^ a b The forms off address for a doctor applies to "the recipient of a doctorate conferred by a university or other body, such as the Council for National Academic Awards", not just those working in academia. The exception is surgeons, who are never addressed as Doctor even if they hold a doctorate.
  19. ^ Doctorates in divinity and medicine are always given as letters after the name, and this form may optionally be used for doctorates in other faculties. If "Dr" is used before the name, degrees are not given after it.

References

  1. ^ "Greeting a Member of The Royal Family". Royal.uk. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Addressing the Royal Family". Debretts. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Baron and Baroness". Debrett's. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  4. ^ Barker, L. Mary, ed. (1957–58). Pears Cyclopedia (66th ed.). Isleworth, Middlesex: A. & F. Pears Limited. pp. 649–650. Modes of Address to Persons of Rank
  5. ^ "No. 43264". The London Gazette. 6 March 1964. p. 2169.
  6. ^ "No. 62855". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 13 December 2019. p. 214.
  7. ^ Montegue-Smith, Patrick, ed. (1984). Debrett's Correct Form. London: Futura Publications. p. 27. ISBN 0-7088-1500-6.
  8. ^ Montegue-Smith, Patrick, ed. (1984). Debrett's Correct Form. London: Futura Publications. p. 29. ISBN 0-7088-1500-6.
  9. ^ a b c d e Montegue-Smith, Patrick, ed. (1984). Debrett's Correct Form. London: Futura Publications. pp. 38–39. ISBN 0-7088-1500-6.
  10. ^ Ruling of the Court of the Lord Lyon (26/2/1948, Vol. IV, page 26): 'With regard to the words 'untitled nobility' employed in certain recent birthbrieves in relation to the (Minor) Baronage of Scotland, Finds and Declares that the (Minor) Barons of Scotland are, and have been both in this nobiliary Court and in the Court of Session recognised as a ‘titled nobility’ and that the estait of the Baronage (i.e. Barones Minores) are of the ancient Feudal Nobility of Scotland’. This title is not, however, in and of itself a peerage title, and nobility, or the noblesse, in Scotland incorporates the concept of gentry in England.
  11. ^ a b "Debrett's Forms of Address for Scottish feudal barons". Archived from the original on 2013-07-25.
  12. ^ "The Convention of the Baronage of Scotland".
  13. ^ Frank Adams (1952) The Clans, Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands
  14. ^ Titles and Forms of Address. Bloomsbury Publishing. 31 January 2007. ISBN 9781408148129. Retrieved 26 January 2016. The widow of a chief or laird continues to use the territorial style and the prefix Dowager may be used in the same circumstances ... In rural Scotland (laird's) wives are often styled Lady, though not legally except in the case of the wives of chiefs.
  15. ^ Adam, Frank (1970). The Clans, Septs & Regiments of the Scottish Highlands. Genealogical Publishing Com, 1970 - Page 410. ISBN 9780806304489. Retrieved 26 January 2016. In personal letters...(The) old pre-fix of a laird or chief was "The Much Honoured"...where husband and wife are referred to, the correct styles are "Glenfalloch and the Lady Glenfalloch"
  16. ^ a b c d "The Supreme Court". Archived from the original on 2012-06-23.
  17. ^ "Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales". Archived from the original on 2013-01-06.
  18. ^ "The criminal courts". © Copyright 2010-2020 Full Fact. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2020. Professional magistrates are now called District Judge (Magistrates' Court), or DJ for short (they used to be called Stipendiary Magistrates, which is a term you will still hear being used)......In court, a DJ (Magistrate) will be called 'sir' or 'madam' as the case may be. If there is a lay bench, then you normally pretend you are speaking to the 'chair' and address them as 'sir' or 'madam'. Some people will address the whole panel as 'your worships', although this is becoming old-fashioned.
  19. ^ Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. "Bench Chairmen". Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  20. ^ "The criminal courts". © Copyright 2010-2020 Full Fact. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2020. Professional magistrates are now called District Judge (Magistrates' Court), or DJ for short (they used to be called Stipendiary Magistrates, which is a term you will still hear being used)......In court, a DJ (Magistrate) will be called 'sir' or 'madam' as the case may be. If there is a lay bench, then you normally pretend you are speaking to the 'chair' and address them as 'sir' or 'madam'. Some people will address the whole panel as 'your worships', although this is becoming old-fashioned.
  21. ^ "Justice of the Peace". Archived from the original on 2013-11-01.
  22. ^ Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. "Bench Chairmen". Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  23. ^ "Justices of the Peace".
  24. ^ "Academics". A to Z. Debrett's. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  25. ^ "Academics". Forms of Address. Debrett's. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
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