Dowagers, that is to say the widows of holders of a hereditary title of honour such as a dukedom, marquessate, earldom, viscountcy, barony or baronetcy, take precedence of the wife of the present holder of the title. Although wives of men whose precedence derives from their official position have no precedence as a result, wherever possible they are given the precedence of their husbands. Husbands of women of high official position are not accorded any particular precedence.

In one respect females are treated more favourably than males as regards precedence. The ‘Precedence of Great Estates in their Own Degrees' of 1520 states that a man's daughters all have the same rank as their eldest brother would have among men in the lifetime of their father. That would seem to be reflected in the way all Earls' daughters take the style Lady before their first names, whereas an Earl's younger son takes the inferior courtesy title Honourable. Women also retain the precedence they contract when they marry even if later divorced, though they do not keep it on remarrying. A daughter of a peer who disclaims his title for life keeps her precedence as a peer's daughter.

Note that the majority of the members of the Royal Family have been dealt with already.

1-Betty Boothroyd as Speaker of the House of Commons.

2-Duchesses in same order as Dukes.

3-The Countess of St Andrews as wife of the eldest son of a Duke of the Blood Royal.

4-Lady Davina Windsor, as a daughter of a Duke (Gloucester) of the Blood Royal.

5-Lady Rose Windsor (younger daughter of the Duke of Gloucester).

6-Lady Helen Taylor (daughter of the Duke of Kent).

7-Marchionesses in same order as Marquesses.

8-Wives of Dukes' eldest sons.

9-Dukes' daughters not married to peers.

10-Countesses in same order as Earls.

11-Wives of Marquesses' eldest sons.

12-Marquesses' daughters not married to peers.

13-Wives of younger sons of Dukes.

14-Viscountesses in same order as Viscounts.

15-Wives of eldest sons of Earls or of Countesses in their own right.

16-Earls' daughters not married to peers.

17-Wives of Marquesses' younger sons.

18-Baronesses in the peerage of England.

19-Wives of Lords of Parliament or female holders of Lordships of Parliament in the peerage of Scotland.

20-Other Baronesses in the same order as Barons. Life peeresses, who are these days always of baronial rank, are included here.

21-Secretaries of State.

22-Wives of Viscounts' eldest sons.

23-Viscounts' daughters not married to peers.

24-Wives of younger sons of Earls or of Countesses in their own right.

25-Wives of eldest sons of Barons or of Scottish Lords of Parliament or of female holders of Scottish Lordships of Parliament.

26-Daughters of (a) Barons, (b) Baronesses in their own right; (c) Lords of Parliament in the peerage of Scotland; (d) Female holders of Lordships of Parliament in the peerage of Scotland; (e) Lords of Appeal in Ordinary; (f) Life Peers; (g) Life Peeresses, provided such daughters are not married to peers.

27-Wives of Knights of the Garter.

28-Wives of Knights of the Thistle.

29-Wives of Knights of St Patrick.

30-Privy Counsellors.

31-High Court Judges.

32-Wives of Viscounts' younger sons.

33-Wives of younger sons of (a) Barons; (b) Baronesses in their own right; (c) Lords of Parliament in the peerage of Scotland; (d) Female holders of Lordships of Parliament in the peerage of Scotland and wives of sons of (i) Lords of Appeal in Ordinary; (ii) Life Peers; (iii) Life Peeresses.

34-Wives of Baronets.

35-Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCBs).

36-Dames Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMGs).

37-Dames Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVOs).

38-Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBEs).

39-Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

40-Wives of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India.

41-Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George.

42-Wives of Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire.

43-Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

44-Wives of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire.

45-Dames Commander of the Order of the Bath (DCBs).

46-Dames Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (DCMGs).

47-Dames Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (DCVOs).

48-Dames Commandes of the Order of the British Empire (DBEs).

49-Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath.

50-Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India.

51-Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.

52-Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire.

53-Wives of Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

54-Wives of Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

55-Companions of the Order of the Bath.

56-Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George.

57-Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order.

58-Commanders of the Order of the British Empire.

59-Wives of Companions of the Order of the Bath.

60-Wives of Companions of the Order of the Star of India.

61-Wives of Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George.

62-Wives of Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire.

63-Wives of Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order.

64-Wives of Commanders of the Order of the British Empire.

65-Wives of Companions of the Distinguished Service Order.

66-Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order.

67-Officers of the Order of the British Empire.

68-Wives of Lieutenants of the Royal Victorian Order.

69-Wives of Officers of the Order of the British Empire.

70-Companions of the Imperial Service Order.

71-Wives of Companions of the Imperial Service Order.

72-Wives of the eldest sons of (a) the male heirs of peers or hereditary peeresses in their own right, (b) younger sons of peers or hereditary peeresses in their own right.

73-Daughters of (a) the male heirs of peers or hereditary peeresses in their own right; (b) the younger sons of peers or hereditary peeresses in their own right.

74-Wives of the eldest sons of Baronets.

75-Daughters of Baronets.

76-Wives of Knights' eldest sons.

77-Knights' daughters.

78-Members of the Royal Victorian Order.

79-Members of the Order of the British Empire.

80-Wives of Members of the Royal Victorian Order.

81-Wives of Members of the Order of the British Empire.

82-Wives of Baronets' younger sons.

83-Wives of Knights' younger sons.

Precedence Introduction.
Precedence Part 1.
Precedence Part 2.
Precedence in England and Wales for Ladies.
Local Precedence.
Precedence in Scotland.
Precedence in Northern Ireland.