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.
| Position | On envelopes | Salutation in letter | Oral address |
KingThe monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
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HM The King |
Your Majesty |
Your Majesty, and thereafter as "Sir/Sire" |
QueenThe monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
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HM The Queen |
Your Majesty |
Your Majesty, and thereafter as "Ma'am" |
Prince of WalesPrince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
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HRH The Prince of WalesPrince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
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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 RoyalPrincess Royal is a style customarily awarded by a British monarch to his or her eldest daughter. The style is held for life, so a princess cannot be given the style during the lifetime of another Princess Royal...
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HRH The Princess RoyalPrincess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
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Your Royal Highness |
Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as "Ma'am" |
| Royal Peer |
HRH The Duke of London, e.g., HRH The Duke of EdinburghPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
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Your Royal Highness |
Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as "Sir" |
| Royal Peeress |
Currently there are none as a peeress holds the title in her own right, not by right of marriage or as a courtesy from their father. |
|
Sovereign's son (unless a peer) |
HRH The Prince John, e.g., HRH The Prince EdwardPrince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG GCVO is the third son and fourth child of Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh...
|
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 MargaretPrincess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II and the younger daughter of King George VI....
|
Your Royal Highness |
Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as "Ma'am" |
| Sons of the Prince of Wales (unless a peer) |
HRH Prince John of Wales, e.g., HRH Prince Harry of WalesPrince Henry of Wales , commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and fourth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh... |
Your Royal Highness |
Your Royal Highness, and thereafter as "Sir" |
| Sovereign’s son’s son, (unless a peer) |
HRH Prince John of London, e.g. HRH Prince Michael of Kent Prince Michael of Kent is a grandson of King George V and Queen Mary, making him a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. He is also the first cousin once removed of Prince Phillip. Prince Michael occasionally carries out royal duties representing the Queen at some functions in Commonwealth realms outside... |
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., HRH Princess Michael of KentPrincess Michael of Kent is an Austrian-Hungarian member of the British Royal Family. She is married to Prince Michael of Kent, who is a grandson of King George V....
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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., HRH Princess Beatrice of YorkPrincess Beatrice of York is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York...
|
Your Royal Highness |
Your Royal Highness |
Sovereign's son's son's son (unless a peer) |
The Lord John Windsor, e.g., The Lord Nicholas Windsor The Lord Nicholas Windsor is the youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, a great-grandson of King George V of the United Kingdom, and a first cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth II....
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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 Lady Nicholas Windsor is the wife of Lord Nicholas Windsor, son of the Duke and Duchess of Kent.-Family History:...
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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 The Lady Helen Taylor A first cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth II, she is a great-granddaughter of King George V of the United Kingdom and is in the line of succession to the British throne....
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Dear Lady Mary |
Lady Mary |
| Position | On envelopes | Salutation in letter | Oral address |
DukeA duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
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(His Grace) The Duke of London |
My Lord Duke or Dear Duke (of London) |
Your Grace or Duke |
DuchessA duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
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(Her Grace) The Duchess of London |
Madam or Dear Duchess (of London) |
Your Grace or Duchess |
| Marquess A marquess or marquis is a nobleman of hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The term is also used to translate equivalent oriental styles, as in imperial China, Japan, and Vietnam... 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 or Your Ladyship or Lady London |
EarlAn earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
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(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 Ladyor 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 Ladyor Your Ladyship or Lady London |
BaronBaron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
Lord of ParliamentA Lord of Parliament was the lowest rank of nobility automatically entitled to attend sessions of the pre-Union Parliament of Scotland. Post-Union, it is a member of the lowest rank of the Peerage of Scotland, ranking below a viscount...
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(The Rt Hon) The Lord London |
My Lord or Dear Lord London |
My Lord or Your Lordship or Lord London |
BaronBaron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"... ess (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 Ladyor 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 Ladyor Your Ladyship or Lady London |
| Position | On envelopes | Salutation in letter | Oral address |
Feudal baronFeudal baron may refer to:*English feudal barony*Scottish feudal barony*Irish feudal barony...
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John Smith of Edinburgh or John Smith, Baron of Edinburgh or The Baron of Edinburgh |
Sir or Dear Edinburgh or Dear Baron |
Edinburgh or Baron |
Female feudal baroness or Feudal baron's wife |
As feudal baron, substituting "Madam" for first name and substituting "Baroness" for "Baron", or Lady Edinburgh |
Madam or Dear Baroness or Dear Lady Edinburgh |
Madam or Baroness or Lady Edinburgh |
Chief, chieftain or lairdA Laird is a member of the gentry and is a heritable title in Scotland. In the non-peerage table of precedence, a Laird ranks below a Baron and above an Esquire.-Etymology:...
(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 (varies according to family) (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 |
As Chief, substituting "Madam" or "Mrs" for first name or "The" or The Lady Edinburgh |
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 |
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 |
Similar styles are also applied to clergy of equivalent status in other religious organisations.
| Position | On envelopes | Salutation in letter | Oral address |
| 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 The Lord Archbishop of Wales |
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 |
| Bishop, diocesan or suffragan |
The Rt Rev The Lord Bishop of Durham |
Dear Bishop |
My Lord or Bishop |
| Dean |
The Very Rev 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 Rev Prebendary Smith |
Dear Prebendary Smith |
Prebend |
| Canon |
The Rev Canon John Smith |
Dear Canon |
Canon |
| Priest |
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 or Vicar/Rector/Prebendary/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.
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 refers to non-Anglican Protestant clergy, whereas Catholic clergy favour Fr (Father).
| Position | On envelopes | Salutation in letter | Oral address | In court |
| Male Lord Justice of Appeal A Lord Justice of Appeal is an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the court that hears appeals from the High Court of Justice, and represents the second highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales-Appointment:...
|
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 A High Court judge is a judge of the High Court of Justice, and represents the third highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales. High Court judges are referred to as puisne judges...
|
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 |
Circuit Judge who was Queen's CounselQueen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
|
His Honour Judge (John) Smith, QC |
Judge |
Judge |
Your Honour |
| Circuit Judge |
His Honour Judge (John) Smith |
Judge |
Judge |
Your Honour |
| District Judge |
District Judge (John) Smith |
Judge |
Sir or Madam |
Sir or Madam |
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.