Whats the difference between a duke, a prince, an earl and a baron? The US Sun

May 2024 · 4 minute read

YOU will no doubt have used the terms duke, prince, earl and baron in conversation - but do you know what each means?  The various titles are perhaps most well-known because of the Royal family, but they also belong to a ranking system for the British nobility known as the peerage, and one title is very different from the other.

What is the peerage system and which titles belong to it?

As mentioned, Britain has a strict peerage, which is a legal system made up of both hereditary and lifetime titles. The peerage is made up of various noble ranks, forming what is known as the British honours system. There are five possible titles for men to acquire, which are - ranked from highest to lowest - Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, and Baron. However, some titles outweigh all others and at the very top tier of the peerage system are those in the Royal Family - here’s what each of their titles mean and how they can be granted.

King

Whether male or female, the only way to become the reigning monarch of the country is to inherit the title from a family member. If the monarch is a man, like current monarch Charles, he goes by the title of King. However, the husband of a female monarch does not get the title of King and is instead referred to as a Prince. Typically, the eldest child of the reigning monarch takes on the role on the death of the existing King or Queen, or if the position is abdicated and therefore needs filling.

Prince

It's not just the husband of a Queen who is given the title Prince, as their male children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and so forth also have the honour bestowed upon them. However, it's worth pointing out that if a Princess marries, her husband will not automatically be called a Prince as they would if she became Queen. In our Royal family, William and Kate's three children all have Prince and Princess titles. But their cousin Archie - the son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - is being raised as a private citizen - so will be known by his surname Mountbatten-Windsor and not as Prince Archie.

Duke

Just below the Monarch is another title - the Duke. A Duke is a ruler of a ‘duchy’, which is a county, territory or domain. It's also tradition for men of the royal family to get a new title when they marry - often taking on Duke status. For example, Prince William, who is now the Prince of Wales, previously became the Duke of Cambridge when he married Kate Middleton (and she the Duchess of Cambridge because of his assent). Meanwhile, his brother Prince Harry became the Duke of Sussex on marrying Meghan Markle, making her his Duchess. To become a Duke of a particular duchy, the title must be available - which happens when the last person who held the title died without legitimate heirs to take the title for themselves. Dukes and Duchesses should be addressed with “Your Grace”.

Marquess

A Marquess is the second most senior rank in the peerage, just beneath a Dukes. The Marquess stands above the ranks of Earl, Viscount and Baron. The dignity of a marquess is referred to as a marquessate. At present, there are just 34 marquesses in the UK. A Marquess should be addressed by the phrase “My Lord”.

Earl

Going down the list, just below a Marquess is an Earl. Members of the Royal Family further away from the crown, such as Prince Edward (Earl of Wessex), have been given the title in the past. However, he has since been named the Duke of Edinburgh, a gift from Charles on his 59th birthday. As with a Marquess, an Earl should also be addressed as “My Lord” or even “Your Lordship”.

Viscount

A Viscount is the fourth rank in the British peerage system, sitting directly below an Earl and just above a Baron. There are approximately 270 viscountcies in the UK, most of whom have inherited the title. In British practice, the title of a Viscount may be either a place name, a surname, or a combination of the two, such as the Viscount Falmouth or the Viscount Colville of Culross. Again, though, it’s correct to address viscounts with the title ‘Lord’.

Baron

Last, but by no means least, come the Barons. The term refers to those who are theoretically rulers of a barony, aka known as an administrative division of a country, of lower rank than a county. Barons - the female equivalent of which is a Baroness - can either be addressed as “My Lord” or “The Right Honourable”. The children of Barons can continue to use the title, but the wife of a Baron in her own right gains no title.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEZqqupl6YvK57y6Kdnqukrrmme5FwaWlwZGV8pcHKnmSemaKherG%2ByKeanmWSlr%2BwuoyrprKZnGLBqsDLnqpo