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Forms of Address in the United Kingdom

Overview

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.

His/Her Majesty
Majesty
Majesty is an English word derived ultimately from the Latin Maiestas, meaning Greatness.- Origin :Originally, during the Roman republic, the word maiestas was the legal term for the supreme status and dignity of the state, to be respected above everything else...

: HM
His/Her Royal Highness
Royal Highness
Royal Highness is a style ; plural Royal Highnesses...

: HRH
His/Her Grace
Grace (style)
His Grace or Her Grace is a style used for various high ranking personages. It was the style used to address the King or Queen of Scotland up to the Act of Union of 1707, which merged the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland, and to address monarchs of England prior to Henry VIII...

: HG
The Most Honourable
The Most Honourable
The prefix The Most Honourable is a title of quality attached to the names of marquesses in the United Kingdom. Dukes are The Most Noble or His Grace and peers under the rank of marquess are The Right Honourable. Scottish Feudal Barons and Lairds are The Much Honoured.Certain corporate entities...

: The Most Hon. (The Most Honble)
The Right Honourable
The Right Honourable
The Right Honourable is an honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain people in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Anglophone Caribbean and other Commonwealth Realms, and occasionally elsewhere...

: The Rt Hon. (The Rt Honble)
The Honourable
The Honourable
The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons.-Australia:...

: The Hon. (The Honble)
The Much Honoured
The Much Honoured
The Much Honoured is an honorific prefix that is given to Scottish feudal Barons and Lairds in the United Kingdom-Entitlement:...

: The Much Hon.

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Abbreviations

His/Her Majesty
Majesty
Majesty is an English word derived ultimately from the Latin Maiestas, meaning Greatness.- Origin :Originally, during the Roman republic, the word maiestas was the legal term for the supreme status and dignity of the state, to be respected above everything else...

: HM
His/Her Royal Highness
Royal Highness
Royal Highness is a style ; plural Royal Highnesses...

: HRH
His/Her Grace
Grace (style)
His Grace or Her Grace is a style used for various high ranking personages. It was the style used to address the King or Queen of Scotland up to the Act of Union of 1707, which merged the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland, and to address monarchs of England prior to Henry VIII...

: HG
The Most Honourable
The Most Honourable
The prefix The Most Honourable is a title of quality attached to the names of marquesses in the United Kingdom. Dukes are The Most Noble or His Grace and peers under the rank of marquess are The Right Honourable. Scottish Feudal Barons and Lairds are The Much Honoured.Certain corporate entities...

: The Most Hon. (The Most Honble)
The Right Honourable
The Right Honourable
The Right Honourable is an honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain people in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Anglophone Caribbean and other Commonwealth Realms, and occasionally elsewhere...

: The Rt Hon. (The Rt Honble)
The Honourable
The Honourable
The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons.-Australia:...

: The Hon. (The Honble)
The Much Honoured
The Much Honoured
The Much Honoured is an honorific prefix that is given to Scottish feudal Barons and Lairds in the United Kingdom-Entitlement:...

: 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 Reverend
The Reverend is a style most often used as a prefix to the names of Christian clergy and ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and church traditions. "The Reverend" is more correctly called a "style" but is often and in some dictionaries...

: The Rev. (The Revd or The Rev'd)
The Venerable: The Ven. (The Venble)

Royalty

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address
King British monarchy The Monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...	HM The King	Your Majesty	Your Majesty, and thereafter as "Sir/Sire"
Queen British monarchy The Monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...	HM The Queen	Your Majesty	Your Majesty, and thereafter as "Ma'am"
Prince of Wales Prince of Wales Prince 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...	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 Princess Royal Princess 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...	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 Prince Michael of Kent Prince Michael of Kent is a member of the British Royal Family and a grandson of King George V and Queen Mary....	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 Princess Michael of Kent Princess Michael of Kent , is a member of the British Royal Family. She is married to Prince Michael of Kent, who is a grandson of King George V....	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 Princess Beatrice of York Princess Beatrice of York is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York. As such she is fifth, and the first female, in the line of succession to the thrones of sixteen independent states...	Your Royal Highness	Your Royal Highness
Sovereign's son's son's son (unless a peer)	Lord John Windsor, e.g., Lord Nicholas Windsor Lord Nicholas Windsor Lord Nicholas Windsor is the youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and a great-grandson of King George V of the United Kingdom.-Early years:...	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 Lady Nicholas Windsor Lady Nicholas Windsor is the wife of Lord Nicholas Windsor, son of the Duke and Duchess of Kent.-Early life:Paola Doimi de Lupis was born in London in 1969...	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 Lady Helen Taylor The Lady Helen Taylor is a British representative for the Italian fashion house Armani and the Italian jeweler Bulgari...	Dear Lady Mary	Lady Mary
Peers and peeresses
Duke Duke A duke is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy. The title comes from the Latin Dux Bellorum, which had the sense of "military commander" and was employed by both the Germanic peoples themselves and by the Roman authors...	His Grace The Duke of London	My Lord Duke or Dear Duke (of London)	or Duke
Duchess Duke A duke is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy. The title comes from the Latin Dux Bellorum, which had the sense of "military commander" and was employed by both the Germanic peoples themselves and by the Roman authors...	Her Grace The Duchess of London	Madam or Dear Duchess (of London)	or Duchess
Marquess Marquess A marquess or marquis is a nobleman of hereditary rank in various European monarchies and some of their colonies. The term is also used to render equivalent oriental styles as in imperial China and Japan. In the British peerage it ranks below a duke and above an earl... 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	or Your Ladyship or Lady London
Earl Earl Earl was the Anglo-Saxon form and jarl the Scandinavian form of a title meaning "chieftain" and referring especially to chieftains set to rule a territory in a king's stead...	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	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	or Your Ladyship or Lady London
Baron Baron Baron 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 Parliament Lord of Parliament A Lord of Parliament is a member of the lowest rank of Scottish peerage, ranking below a viscount. A Lord of Parliament is said to hold a Lordship of Parliament....	The Rt Hon. The Lord London	My Lord or Dear Lord London	My Lord or Your Lordship or Lord London
Baron Baron Baron 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	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	or Your Ladyship or Lady London
Eldest sons of dukes, marquesses and earls
(Eldest sons of dukes, marquesses and earls use their fathers' highest secondary titles as courtesy title Courtesy title A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used by children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the users do not themselves hold substantive titles... s: note the absence of "The" before the title. 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
Heirs-apparent and heirs-presumptive 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.)
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
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
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
Scottish Barons (non-peerage Barons)
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
Baronets
Baronet Baronet A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown known as a baronetcy...	(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
Knights
Knight Knight A knight was a "gentleman soldier" or member of the warrior class of the Middle Ages in Europe. In other Indo-European languages, cognates of cavalier or rider are more prevalent suggesting a connection to the knight's mode of transport... (of any order)	Sir John Smith	Sir or Dear Sir John (Smith)	Sir or Sir John
Lady (of the Order of the Garter Order of the Garter The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry, or knighthood, originating in medieval England, and presently bestowed on recipients in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms; it is the pinnacle of the honours system in the United Kingdom... or the Thistle 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... )	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
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
Lairds [if recognized in their territorial designation by the Lord Lyon]
Laird Laird A 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:...	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
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
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
Church of England Similar styles are also applied to clergy of equivalent status in other religious organisations.
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 Canterbury	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 Clergy: 'introduce as Mr. Pike or Father Pike according to his preference' (Debrett's Etiquette and Modern Manners 1981 pg230) Church of Scotland
Lord High Commissioner Lord High Commissioner Lord High Commissioner is the style of High Commissioners, i.e. direct representatives of the monarch, in three cases in the Kingdom of Scotland and the United Kingdom, two of which are no longer extant... to the General Assembly	His Grace The Lord High Commissioner	Your Grace	Your Grace
Clergy	The Rev. John Smith	Dear Mr Smith	Mr Smith
Current Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland	The Right Rev. John Smith	Dear Mr Smith	Mr Smith
Former Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland	The Very Rev. John Smith	Dear Mr Smith	Mr Smith

Judiciary

Position	On envelopes	Salutation in letter	Oral address	In court
High Court Judge not a Privy Councillor	The Hon Mr Justice Smith	Judge	Judge	My Lord
High Court Judge not a Privy Councillor retired	Sir John Smith	Judge or Sir John	Sir John	My Lord
Female High Court Judge and a Privy Councillor	The Rt Hon Mrs Justice Smith, DBE (whether married or single)	Judge	Judge	My Lady
Female High Court Judge and a Privy Councillor retired	The Rt Hon Dame Mary Smith, DBE	Judge or Dame Mary	Dame Mary	My Lady
Circuit Court Judge	His Honour Judge Smith, (QC if appropriate)	Judge	Judge	Your Honour
District Judge	District Judge Smith	Judge	Sir or Madam	Sir or Madam

External links

Styles of the members of the British royal family

Forms of Address in the United Kingdom

Abbreviations

Royalty

Peers and peeresses

Eldest sons of dukes, marquesses and earls

Heirs-apparent and heirs-presumptive of Scottish peers

Sons of peers

Daughters of peers

Scottish Barons (non-peerage Barons)

Baronets

Knights

Scottish chiefs

Lairds [if recognized in their territorial designation by the Lord Lyon]

Sons of recognized Lairds

Daughters of recognized Lairds

Church of England

Church of Scotland

Judiciary

External links