Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Governor General of Australia. He was also the uncle of Queen Elizabeth II. Photo circa 1945
British Peerage and Individuals
THE PEERAGE
A DUKE, NON-ROYAL writing to His Grace, the Duke of Norfolk, K.G. Local address Letter opening: Sir: (business) Dear Duke: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Your Grace. In prolonged conversation, Sir introducing or referring to The Duke of Norfolk note: In England invitations are never addressed jointly (on the envelope) to husband and wife but to the wife alone. Christmas cards may be ad- dressed jointly, however. (See “The British Use of Esquire.”) In this case the form would be: Their Graces, the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk.
THE ELDEST SON OF A DUKE AND HIS WIFE note: The eldest son of a Duke has the highest family title below his father's, such as Marquess. His wife has the corresponding title, such as Marchioness.
THE YOUNGER SONS OF A DUKE note: The younger sons of a Duke have the title Lord with their Christian and family names. writing to The Lord James Beaumont Local address Letter opening: Sir: (business) Dear Lord James: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Lord James introducing or referring to Lord James Beaumont note: The terms “My Lord” and “My Lady” are forms of address used mainly by servants and tradesmen, although the usage is not necessarily menial.
THE DAUGHTERS OF A DUKE note: The daughters of a Duke take the title Lady with their Christian and family name. writing to Lady Bridget Beaumont Local address Letter opening: Madam: (business) Dear Lady Bridget: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Lady Bridget introducing or referring to Lady Bridget Beaumont
THE WIFE OF THE YOUNGER SON OF A DUKE note: The wife of the younger son of a Duke has the title Lady with her husbands full name or Christian name but not with his surname only. writing to Lady James Beaumont Local address Letter opening: Madam (business) Dear Lady James: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Lady James introducing or referring to Lady James Beaumont
A MARQUESS writing to The Most Honourable the Marquess of Remington, or The Marquess of Remington (less formal) Local address Letter opening: Sir: (business) Dear Lord Remington: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Lord Remington introducing or referring to The Marquess of Remington, or Lord Remington (less formal)
A MARCHIONESS writing to The Most Honourable the Marchioness of Remington, or The Marchioness of Remington (less formal) Local address Letter opening: Madam: (business) Dear Lady Remington: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Lady Remington introducing or referring to The Marchioness of Remington, or Lady Remington (less formal)
THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF A MARQUESS note: The eldest son of a Marquess has the highest family tide below his father's such as Earl his wife has the corresponding title such as Countess. The younger son and daughter of a Marquess take the title Lord or Lady, respectively. The wife of the younger son of a Marquess has the title Laay combined with her husband's full name.
AN EARL writing to The Right Honourable the Earl of Leeds, G.C., V.O., C.M.G. (business) or The Earl of Leeds (social) Local address Letter opening: Sir: (business) Dear Lord Leeds: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Lord Leeds introducing or referring to The Earl of Leeds or Lord Leeds (less formal)
A COUNTESS, WIFE OF AN EARL writing to The Right Honourable the Countess of Leeds (business) or The Countess of Leeds (social) Local address Letter opening: Madam: (business) Dear Lady Leeds: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Lady Leeds introducing or referring to The Countess of Leeds or Lady Leeds (less formal)
THE ELDEST SON OF AN EARL AND HIS WIFE note: The eldest son of an Earl has the highest family title below his father's such as Viscount. His wife takes the corresponding title such as Viscountess. The younger sons of an Earl and their wives have the title Honourable. Writing to The Honourable George Bird Local address Letter opening: Sir: (business) Dear Mr. Bird: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Mr. Bird introducing or referring to Mr. Bird writing to The Honourable Mrs. George Bird Local address Letter opening: Madam: (business) Dear Mrs. Bird: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Mrs. Bird
INTRODUCING OR REFERRING TO Mrs. Bird note: The daughters of an Earl have the title Lady combined with their Christian and family names.
A VISCOUNT writing to The Right Honourable the Viscount Bemis (business) or The Vis- count Bemis (social) Local address Letter opening: Sir: (business) Dear Lord Bemis: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Lord Bemis introducing or referring to Viscount Bemis or Lord Bemis (less formal)
A VISCOUNTESS writing to The Right Honourable the Viscountess Bemis (business) or The Viscountess Bemis (social) Local address Letter opening: Madam: (business) Dear Lady Bemis: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Lady Bemis introducing or referring to Viscountess Bemis or Lady Bemis (less formal)
THE FAMILY OF A VISCOUNT note: The eldest son of a Viscount and also his wife have the title Honourable. writing to The Honourable Thomas Bemis Local address Letter opening: Sir: (business) Dear Mr. Bemis: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Mr. Bemis
INTRODUCING OR REFERRING TO Mr. Bemis writing to The Honourable Mrs. Bemis Omission of husbands Christian name indicates she is wife of eldest son. Local address Letter opening: Madam (business) Dear Mrs. Bemis: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Mrs. Bemis introducing or referring to Mrs. Bemis note: The younger sons of a Viscount and their wives also have the title Honourable. The daughters of a Viscount take the title Honourable with their Christian and family names. whiting to The Honourable Gladys Bemis Local address Letter opening: Madam: (business) Dear Miss Bemis: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Miss Bemis
INTRODUCING OR REFERRING TO Miss Bemis
A BARON note: A Baron is addressed as “Lord” never as Baron. writing to The Right Honourable the Lord Lancer (business) or The Lord Lancer (social) Local address Letter opening: Sir: (business) Dear Lord Lancer: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Lord Lancer introducing or referring to Lord Lancer
A BARONESS note: A Baroness in her own right has the title Baroness but may also be addressed as Lady. The wife of a Baron who is not a Baroness in her own right is addressed only as Lady. writing to The Right Honourable the Baroness Lancer (business) or The Baroness Lancer or The Lady Lancer: (social) Letter opening: Madam: (business) Dear Baroness (or Lady) Lancer: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social)
A BARONESS (not in her own right) writing to The Right Honourable the Lady McGuiness (business) or The Lady McGuiness (social) Local address Letter opening: Madam: (business) Dear Lady McGuiness: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Lady McGuiness introducing or referring to Lady Mc Guiness
CORRESPONDENCE THE CHILDREN OF A BARON note: All the sons of a Baron and their wives have the title Honourable. The daughters of a Baron also have the title Honourable.
A BARONET note: A Baronet has the title Sir and the abbreviation for Baronet (Bart, or Bt.) follows his name. writing to Sir Thomas Riddle, Bart. Local address Letter opening: Dear Sir: (business) Dear Sir Thomas: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Sir Thomas introducing or referring to Sir Thomas Riddle
THE WIFE OF A BARONET note: The wife of a Baronet has the title Lady with her husband's surname only. writing to Lady Riddle Local address Letter opening: Dear Madam: (business) Dear Lady Riddle: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Lady Riddle introducing or referring to Lady Riddle note: The sons and daughters of a Baronet have no title.
DOWAGER note: The term “Dowager” is used as part of a title in England to indicate the earliest surviving widow of a preceding peer. She is known as the Dow- ager Duchess of Wickham. A later surviving widow who might be the widow of the first earl's son, nephew, etc. would be known as Mary, Duchess of Wickham, retaining this usage for life even if the Dowager dies.
A KNIGHT note: A Knight has the title Sir and the initials of his order or orders of knighthood, if any, follow his name. writing to Sir John Waugh, G.C. M.G. Local address
Letter opening: Dear Sir: (business) Dear Sir John: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Sir John introducing or referring to Sir John Waugh
THE WIFE OF A KNIGHT note: The wife of a Knight has the title Lady with her husband's surname only. writing to Lady Waugh Local address
Letter opening: Dear Madam: (business) Dear Lady Waugh: (social) Closing: Yours very truly (business) Yours sincerely (social) speaking to Lady Waugh
INTRODUCING OR REFERRING TO Lady Waugh
—From “Amy Vanderbilt's Complete Book of Etiquette : A Guide to Gracious Living,” 1957
👑Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia
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