Order of precedence in Scotland facts for kids
Have you ever wondered who goes first at important events in Scotland? The order of precedence is like a special list that decides who ranks higher than whom. It's all about who gets to stand or walk first, or sit in the most important seats. This list was first made official by the King in 1905. It has been updated a few times since, most recently in 2012. This helps make sure that important people are honored in a clear way during official gatherings.
The order of precedence for Scottish peers (like Dukes or Earls) was set by the Act of Union 1707.
Contents
Important People in Scotland
This section explains the order for men, starting with the Royal Family.
The Royal Family
Members of the Royal Family hold the highest positions. This includes the King, his children, and grandchildren. It also includes children and grandchildren of past Kings or Queens.
| Position | Holder |
|---|---|
| The Sovereign (King or Queen) |  HM The King |
| Sons of the Sovereign |  HRH The Duke of Rothesay The Earl of Dumbarton |
| Grandsons of the Sovereign |  HRH Prince George of Rothesay HRH Prince Louis of Rothesay Prince Archie of Dumbarton |
| Brothers of the Sovereign |  The Earl of Inverness HRH The Duke of Edinburgh |
| Nephews of the Sovereign | Earl of Forfar Peter Phillips |
| Grandsons of former Kings or Queens (who are Dukes) |  HRH The Baron Culloden HRH The Earl of St Andrews |
High Officials of State
After the Royal Family, important government and legal officials come next.
| Title | Holder |
|---|---|
| The Lord-Lieutenants | See list below |
| The Sheriffs Principal | See list here |
| The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain | The Rt. Hon. Alex Chalk MP |
| The Moderator of the General Assembly | Office held by a woman |
| The Prime Minister | The Rt. Hon. Rishi Sunak MP |
| The Keeper of the Great Seal (First Minister) | The Rt. Hon. Humza Yousaf MSP |
| The Presiding Officer | The Rt. Hon. Alison Johnstone MSP |
| The Secretary of State | The Rt. Hon. Alister Jack MP |
| The Lord High Constable | The Rt Hon. The Earl of Erroll |
| The Master of the Household | HG The Duke of Argyll |
Nobility and Other Ranks
This section covers different levels of nobility and other important positions.
Dukes, Marquesses, and Earls
These are high ranks of nobility. Their order depends on when their title was created.
- Dukes (highest rank of nobility)
- Marquesses
- Earls
- Eldest sons of Royal Dukes (who are not already higher up the list)
- Eldest sons of Marquesses
- Younger sons of Dukes
Judges and Legal Officers
Important legal figures also have a specific place in the order.
- Lord Justice General (Lord Carloway) - Scotland's top judge
- Lord Clerk Register (Office held by a woman)
- Lord Advocate (Office held by a woman) - Scotland's chief legal officer
- Advocate General for Scotland (The Lord Stewart of Dirleton)
- Lord Justice Clerk (Lady Dorrian)
Viscounts and Barons
These are other ranks of nobility.
- Viscounts
- Eldest sons of Earls
- Younger sons of Marquesses
- Barons and Lords of Parliament
- Eldest sons of Viscounts
- Younger sons of Earls
- Eldest sons of Barons
Knights and Other Important Roles
This includes people who have received special honors or hold specific roles.
- Knights of the Garter (a very old and important order of chivalry)
- Knights of the Thistle (Scotland's highest order of chivalry)
- Privy Counsellors (advisers to the King)
- Senators of the College of Justice (senior judges)
- Baronets (a hereditary title below a Baron)
- Knights Grand Cross of various Orders (like the Order of the Bath or Royal Victorian Order)
- Knights Bachelor (a common form of knighthood)
- Lyon King of Arms (Joseph Morrow) - Scotland's expert on heraldry and titles
- Scottish Barons (holders of old feudal baronies)
- King's Counsel (senior lawyers)
- Esquires and Gentlemen (general terms for respected men)
Important Ladies in Scotland
This section explains the order for women, also starting with the Royal Family.
The Royal Family (Ladies)
The order of precedence for women in the Royal Family is also very important.
| Position | Holder |
|---|---|
| Consort of the Sovereign |  HM The Queen |
| Daughters-in-law of the Sovereign | HRH The Duchess of Rothesay The Countess of Dumbarton |
| Royal Granddaughters of the Sovereign | HRH Princess Charlotte of Rothesay Princess Lilibet of Dumbarton |
| Sisters-in-law of the Sovereign | HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh |
| Sisters of the Sovereign |  HRH The Princess Royal |
| Nieces of the Sovereign |  HRH Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi HRH Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank Lady Louise Mountbatten-WindsorZara Tindall |
| Wives of grandsons of former Kings or Queens (who are Dukes) | HRH The Baroness Culloden HRH The Countess of St Andrews |
| Granddaughters of former Sovereigns | Lady Sarah Chatto HRH Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy |
Other Important Ladies
This list includes women who hold titles or are married to men with high ranks.
- Lords Lieutenant (see list below)
- Sheriff Principal (during their time in office)
- Duchesses
- Marchionesses
- Countesses
- Viscountesses
- Baronesses (women who hold the title of Baron or are married to a Baron)
- Ladies of the Garter and Ladies of the Thistle (women who have received these special honors)
- Privy Counsellors
- Senators of the College of Justice
- Dames Grand Cross of various Orders (like the Order of the Bath or Royal Victorian Order)
- Solicitor General for Scotland (Ruth Charteris) - another important legal officer
- Dames Commander of various Orders
- Companions and Commanders of various Orders
- Members of the Royal Victorian Order and Order of the British Empire
Local Precedence
In different areas of Scotland, certain local officials also have a specific order of importance. The Lord Lieutenant is the King's personal representative in a lieutenancy area. In the four largest cities, the Lord Provost acts as the Lord Lieutenant.
- The Lord Lieutenant of the lieutenancy areas:
- The Lord Provost of Aberdeen (David Cameron)
- Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire (Sandy Manson)
- Lord Lieutenant of Angus (Patricia Ann Sawers)
- Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute (Jane Margaret MacLeod)
- Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran (Iona McDonald)
- Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire (Andrew Simpson)
- Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire (Jeanna Swan)
- Lord Lieutenant of Caithness (John Sinclair, 3rd Viscount Thurso)
- Lord Lieutenant of Clackmannanshire (Johnny Stewart)
- Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries (Fiona Armstrong)
- Lord Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire (Jill Williamina Young)
- The Lord Provost of Dundee (Bill Campbell)
- Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian (Roderick Urquhart)
- The Lord Provost of Edinburgh (Robert Aldridge)
- Lord Lieutenant of Fife (Robert William Balfour)
- The Lord Provost of Glasgow (Jacqueline McLaren)
- Lord Lieutenant of Inverness (James Wotherspoon)
- Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire (Carol Kinghorn)
- Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire (Susan Haughey)
- Lord Lieutenant of Midlothian (Richard Callander)
- Lord Lieutenant of Moray (Seymour Monro)
- Lord Lieutenant of Nairn (George Russell Asher)
- Lord Lieutenant of Orkney (Elaine Grieve)
- Lord Lieutenant of Perth and Kinross (Stephen Leckie)
- Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire (Col. Peter McCarthy)
- Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty (Joanie Whiteford)
- Lord Lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Richard Scott, 10th Duke of Buccleuch)
- Lord Lieutenant of Shetland (Bobby Hunter)
- Lord Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk (Alan Simpson)
- Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland (Major General Patrick Marriott)
- Lord Lieutenant of The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright (Matthew Murray Kennedy St Clair, 18th Lord Sinclair)
- Lord Lieutenant of Tweeddale (Hew Strachan)
- Lord Lieutenant of the Western Isles (Iain Macaulay)
- Lord Lieutenant of West Lothian (Moria Niven)
- Lord Lieutenant of Wigtown (Aileen Brewis)
- The Provost (leader of a local council)
- The Deputy Provost
- Justices of the Peace (local judges)
- The Chief Constable (head of the police force)
