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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.

Contents
Notes
Royalty
Nobility
Peers and peeresses
Eldest sons of dukes, marquesses and earls
Heirs-apparent and heirs-presumptive of Scottish peers
Sons of peers
Daughters of peers
Gentry
Baronets
Knights
Scottish chiefs, lairds and feudal barons
Clergy
Church of England
Church of Scotland
See also

Notes


The forms given under "Salutation in Letter" is for use in social correspondence only. In formal letters, "Sir" or "Madam" would be used instead.
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 His/Her Majesty: HM

His/Her Royal Highness: HRH

Most Honourable: Most Hon. (Most Honble)

Right Honourable: Rt Hon. (Rt Honble) "The Right Honourable" should be applied only Peers where the person is a member of the Privy Council.

Honourable: Hon. (Honble)

Most Reverend: Most Rev. (Most Revd or Most Rev'd)

Right Reverend: Rt. Rev. (Rt Revd or Rt Rev'd)

Very Reverend: Very Rev. (Very Revd or Very Rev'd)

Reverend: Rev. (Revd or Rev'd)

Venerable: Ven. (Venble)
PositionOn envelopesSalutation in letterOral address

Royalty

KingHM The KingYour MajestyYour Majesty, and thenceforward as "Sir"
QueenHM The QueenYour MajestyYour Majesty, and thenceforward as "Ma'am"
Prince of WalesHRH The Prince of WalesYour Royal HighnessYour Royal Highness, and thenceforward as "Sir"
Wife of the Prince of WalesHRH The Princess of WalesYour Royal HighnessYour Royal Highness, and thenceforward as "Ma'am"
Princess RoyalHRH The Princess RoyalYour Royal HighnessYour Royal Highness, and thenceforward as "Ma'am"
Royal PeerHRH The Duke of LondonYour Royal HighnessYour Royal Highness, and thenceforward as "Sir"
Royal PeeressHRH The Duchess of LondonYour Royal HighnessYour Royal Highness, and thenceforward as "Ma'am"
Sovereign's son
(unless a peer)
HRH The Prince JohnYour Royal HighnessYour Royal Highness, and thenceforward as "Sir"
Sovereign's son's wife
(unless a peeress)
HRH The Princess JohnYour Royal HighnessYour Royal Highness, and thenceforward as "Ma'am"
Sovereign's daughter
(unless a peeress)
HRH The Princess MaryYour Royal HighnessYour Royal Highness, and thenceforward as "Ma'am"
Sovereign's son's son
Prince of Wales's eldest son's eldest son
(unless a peer)
HRH Prince John of LondonYour Royal HighnessYour Royal Highness, and thenceforward as "Sir"
Sovereign's son's son's wife
(unless a peeress)
HRH Princess John of LondonYour Royal HighnessYour Royal Highness, and thenceforward as "Ma'am"
Sovereign's son's daughter
(unless a peeress)
HRH Princess Mary of LondonYour Royal HighnessYour Royal Highness
Sovereign's son's son's son
(unless a peer)
The Lord John WindsorDear Lord JohnLord John
Sovereign's son's son's son's wife
(unless a peeress)
The Lady John WindsorDear Lady JohnLady John
Sovereign's son's son's daughter
(unless a peeress)
The Lady Mary WindsorDear Lady MaryLady Mary

Nobility

Peers and peeresses
DukeHis Grace The Duke of LondonMy Lord Duke ''or''
Dear Duke (of London)
Your Grace ''or''
Duke
DuchessHer Grace The Duchess of LondonMadam ''or''
Dear Duchess (of London)
Your Grace ''or''
Duchess
MarquessThe Most Hon. The Marquess of LondonMy Lord Marquess ''or''
Dear Lord London
My Lord ''or''
Lord London
MarchionessThe Most Hon. The Marchioness of LondonMadam ''or''
Dear Lady London
My Lady ''or''
Lady London
EarlThe Rt Hon. The Earl of LondonMy Lord ''or''
Dear Lord London
My Lord ''or''
Lord London
CountessThe Rt Hon. The Countess of LondonMadam ''or''
Dear Lady London
My Lady ''or''
Lady London
ViscountThe Rt Hon. The Viscount LondonMy Lord ''or''
Dear Lord London
My Lord ''or''
Lord London
ViscountessThe Rt Hon. The Viscountess LondonMadam ''or''
Dear Lady London
My Lady ''or''
Lady London
Baron
Lord of Parliament
The Rt Hon. The Lord LondonMy Lord ''or''
Dear Lord London
My Lord ''or''
Lord London
Baroness (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 Lady ''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 LondonMadam ''or''
Dear Lady London
My Lady ''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 titles. Eldest daughters do not have courtesy titles; all courtesy peeresses are wives of courtesy peers.)''
Courtesy MarquessMarquess of LondonMy Lord Marquess ''or''
Dear Lord London
My Lord ''or''
Lord London
Courtesy MarchionessMarchioness of LondonMadam ''or''
Dear Lady London
My Lady ''or''
Lady London
Courtesy EarlEarl of LondonMy Lord ''or''
Dear Lord London
My Lord ''or''
Lord London
Courtesy CountessCountess of LondonMadam ''or''
Dear Lady London
My Lady ''or''
Lady London
Courtesy ViscountViscount LondonMy Lord ''or''
Dear Lord London
My Lord ''or''
Lord London
Courtesy ViscountessViscountess LondonMadam ''or''
Dear Lady London
My Lady ''or''
Lady London
Courtesy Baron
Courtesy Lord of Parliament
Lord LondonMy Lord ''or''
Dear Lord London
My Lord ''or''
Lord London
Courtesy Baroness
Courtesy Lady of Parliament
Lady LondonMadam ''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-presumptiveThe Master of EdinburghSir ''or''
Dear Master of Edinburgh
Sir ''or''
Master
Scottish peer's heiress-apparent or heiress-presumptiveThe Mistress of EdinburghMadam ''or''
Dear Mistress of Edinburgh
Madam ''or''
Mistress
Sons of peers
Duke's younger son
Marquess's younger son
The Lord John SmithMy Lord ''or''
Dear Lord John (Smith)
My Lord ''or''
Lord John
Duke's younger son's wife
Marquess's younger son's wife
The Lady John SmithMadam ''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 SmithSir ''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 SmithMadam ''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 SmithMadam ''or''
Dear Lady Mary
My Lady ''or''
Lady Mary
Viscount's daughter
Baron's daughter
Lord of parliament's daughter
(unmarried)
The Hon. Mary SmithMadam ''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 SmithMadam ''or''
Dear Mrs Smith
Madam ''or''
Mrs Smith

Gentry

Baronets
BaronetSir John Smith, BtSir ''or''
Dear Sir John (Smith)
Sir ''or''
Sir John
Baronetess in her own rightDame Mary Smith, BtssMadam ''or''
Dear Dame Mary (Smith)
Madam ''or''
Dame Mary
Baronet's wifeLady SmithMadam ''or''
Dear Lady Smith
My Lady ''or''
Lady Smith
Knights
Knight (of any order)Sir John SmithSir ''or''
Dear Sir John (Smith)
Sir ''or''
Sir John
Lady (of the Order of the Garter or the Thistle)Lady Mary SmithMadam ''or''
Dear Lady Mary (Smith)
My Lady ''or''
Lady Mary
Dame (of an order other than the Garter or the Thistle)Dame Mary SmithMadam ''or''
Dear Dame Mary (Smith)
Madam ''or''
Dame Mary
Knight's wifeLady SmithMadam ''or''
Dear Lady Smith
My Lady ''or''
Lady Smith ''or''
Dame Mary (no surname)
Scottish chiefs, lairds and feudal barons
ChiefJohn 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)
Laird
Feudal baron
John Smith of EdinburghSir ''or''
Dear Edinburgh
Edinburgh

Female Chief, laird or feudal baron
Chief, Laird or Feudal Baron's wife
As Chief/Laird/Feudal Baron,
substituting "Mrs" or "Madam"
for first name or "The"
Madam ''or''
as on envelope
Madam ''or''
as on envelope
Chief (etc.)'s heir-apparentJohn 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 wifeMrs 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 EdinburghMadam ''or''
Dear Miss Smith of Edinburgh
Madam ''or''
Miss Smith of Edinburgh
Chief (etc.)'s younger daughterMiss Mary Smith of EdinburghMadam ''or''
Dear Miss Smith of Edinburgh
Madam ''or''
Miss Smith of Edinburgh

Clergy

Church of England
ArchbishopThe Most Rev. and Rt Hon. The Lord Archbishop of CanterburyDear ArchbishopYour Grace ''or''
Archbishop
Archbishop that is not in Privy CouncilThe Most Rev. John SmithDear ArchbishopYour Grace ''or''
Archbishop
Diocesan bishop in Privy CouncilThe Rt Rev. and Rt Hon. The Lord Bishop of LondonDear BishopMy Lord ''or''
Bishop
Diocesan bishopThe Rt Rev. The Lord Bishop of LondonDear BishopMy Lord ''or''
Bishop
BishopThe Rt Rev. The Bishop of LondonDear BishopBishop
DeanThe Very Rev. The Dean of LondonDear Mr/Mrs/Ms DeanDean
ProvostThe Very Rev. The Provost of LondonDear ProvostProvost
ArchdeaconThe Ven. The Archdeacon of LondonDear ArchdeaconArchdeacon
PrebendaryThe Rev. Prebendary SmithDear Prebendary SmithPrebend
CanonThe Rev. Canon John SmithDear CanonCanon
PriestThe Rev. John Smith ''or'' Father John SmithDear Mr/Mrs/Ms Smith ''or''
Dear Father Smith
Mr/Mrs/Ms Smith ''or''
Father John Smith/John/Smith ''or''
Vicar/Rector/Curate/Chaplain &c. as applicable
Priest who also holds a doctorateThe Rev. Dr John SmithDear Dr SmithDr Smith
DeaconThe 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
Church of Scotland
Lord High Commissioner to the General AssemblyHis Grace The Lord High CommissionerYour GraceYour Grace
ClergyThe Rev. John SmithDear Mr Smith Mr Smith

See also


Styles in the United Kingdom

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