Royal Titles and Nobility Ranks in a Monarchy

Table of contents

Updated January 27, 2025 | Maria Zlatareva

A monarchy is a form of government where a single person, called a monarch, rules as the head of state. The position of monarch is often inherited through a family, making it a hereditary system - the eldest child (often the eldest son) of the monarch succeeds them upon their death. Monarchies have existed for centuries, and they vary in structure and the amount of power the monarch holds. The word is of Greek origin, deriving from the words "mono" (one) and "archy" (rule).

Some examples in the history of monarchy include the reigns of Louis XIV of France and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Once the dominant form of government, monarchies today they are less common and rather symbolic or ceremonial. Some examples nowadays are: the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Sweden and so on.

What Is the Hierarchy of Royalty?

A monarchy is a hierarchy. For all of human history, hierarchies have existed in societies, from the very first prehistoric tribes right through to empires that spanned continents

Throughout history, monarchies have had complex hierarchies, formed below the royal family. Titles of nobility were awarded to influential landowners and individuals based on their power and status. The exact nature of these systems varies between each different monarchy, so it’s impossible to cover them all in one article.

We’ll focus on a monarchy that may be familiar to you — the British Royal Family. The system of nobility in the United Kingdom is known as the peerage and has been developed over more than a thousand years since the time of the Anglo-Saxons.^[1]

What Are the Ranks of Royal Titles in the English Nobility?

Aside from the titles of nobility, we're about to discuss, there are a few other terms you should know to understand how a monarchy works. Someone with a noble title of legal importance is known as a peer.

Peerages in a monarchy refer to the hierarchy of ranks and titles given to people with noble status, often based on inheritance, royal appointment or land ownership. The peerage system constitutes for different nobility levels, each with set privileges, social standing and leadership.

Peerages can be hereditary titles, meaning they're passed down the line of succession, or they can last only for the peer's lifetime. Life peerages, as they're called, are usually honorary. Life peerages have only been around since the Life Peerages Act of 1958. No one today is made a hereditary peer who did not inherit it from a relative.

In the democracy of the U.K., the House of Lords lacks powers given to the elected House of Commons. The Prime Minister comes from the House of Commons. The prime minister, or any other Commons member, can hold a peerage.

These are the royal titles in descending order, with their male and female forms given.

Royalty:

King/Queen.
Prince/Princess.

Nobility (also known as Peerage):

Duke/Duchess.
Marquess/Marchioness.
Earl/Countess.
Viscount/Viscountess.
Baron/Baroness.

Royalty, Nobility, or Peerage?

Aside from the nobility titles we're about to discuss, there are a few other terms you should know to understand how a monarchy works. Someone with a noble title of legal importance is known as a peer. Peerages can be hereditary, meaning they're passed down, or they can last only for the peer's lifetime. Life peerages, as they're called, are usually honorary. Life peerages have only been around since the Life Peerages Act of 1958.

In the United Kingdom, having a peerage in Scotland, England, Ireland or Wales (basically, being a member of the British nobility) makes you eligible to serve in the House of Lords. The House of Lords is one of the two houses of parliament. In the democracy of the U.K., the House of Lords lacks powers given to the elected House of Commons. The Prime Minister comes from the House of Commons. The prime minister, or any other member of the Commons, can hold a peerage.

Royal and Noble Titles

British Royals — *Source: AP Photo/Matt Dunham*

To the uninitiated, this system can seem quite confusing. Why is it that a Duke outranks an Earl? Let’s take a look.

What Is an Emperor or Empress?

An emperor or empress is the ruler of an empire, which is typically a big territory or a group of nations. The title surpasses that of a king or queen and represents ultimate power over a vast and varied territory, often encompassing multiple kingdoms, cultures, or peoples.

In history, emperors and empresses have possessed significant power, often ruling with absolute authority, although their roles would vary according to their empire type. In many cases, emperors were believed to hold god-like powers, especially in empires such as Ancient Rome or China.

Several extremely powerful rulers have called themselves emperors over the years. Augustus Caesar was the first person to call themselves Emperor — he was the first of the Roman Empire. Indeed, the term ‘emperor’ derives from the Latin word ‘imperator’, which was a military title granted to the leader of victorious Roman armies.

Emperors have often been associated with military conquest ever since. Charlemagne became Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire as he fought to unite Western Europe under the banner of Christianity. And of course, Napoleon Bonaparte styled himself the Emperor of France in 1804.

Interestingly, the British Empire never had an Emperor. Queen Victoria did however take the title Empress of India.

What Is a King or Queen?

A king or queen is the sovereign of a kingdom or monarchy. They hold the ultimate authority in their nation or territory, typically inheriting their role through the family line, as mentioned above.

Kings and queens usually have major power in politics, although, in modern constitutional monarchies, their roles tend to be mostly formal and ceremonial, with political power lying in the hands of elected officials.

Currently, King Charles III sits on the British throne, following the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. Discover our in-depth exploration of the role of a King, its history, and how the British Royal Family fits into the titles and ranks of the monarchy!

However, it’s a little more complicated than simply having a King or Queen. A King or Queen only becomes the ruling monarch if they were born into the royal family. If they enter the royal family by marrying the ruling monarch, they become consort.

Queen Elizabeth II was the queen regnant (ruling queen), as she was the eldest child of King George VI. However, her husband did not become King. Instead, he became Prince Philip, consort of the queen.

Now that Charles is king regnant (ruling king), his wife Camilla is his consort. It was long assumed that she would take the title Princess Consort, but shortly before her death, Queen Elizabeth II expressed her wish that Camilla should become Queen Consort, thus elevating her status in the eyes of the public.

The King and Queen Consort are addressed as "His Majesty" and "Her Majesty."

How powerful kings and queens are fully depends on the type of monarchy. In absolute monarchies, they have almost full control, whereas in constitutional monarchies, such as the UK, political powers are limited by parliament. In others, such as Japan, the power remains merely ceremonial.

The Emperor of Japan has no political power and his serving is completely symbolic and constitutes for the nation's unity and continuity. Japan has elected political leaders, such as the Prime Minister and the parliament, under the World War II constitution.

What Is a Prince or Princess?

The immediate family of the monarch is allowed to take the title of Prince or Princess.

That includes King Charles III’s siblings, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne, and Prince Edward. It also includes his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, and William’s children; Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

The heir to the British throne assumes the title of Prince of Wales. Upon King Charles’s accession, his eldest son William became Prince of Wales, and his wife, Kate Middleton, became Catherine, Princess of Wales.

The proper address for a prince or princess is "His Royal Highness" or "Her Royal Highness."

Charles’s former wife, Diana, also held the title Princess of Wales, until her death in a car crash in August 1997.

Princes and princesses may also take on other titles alongside or instead of these, as is the case with Charles’s second son, Harry.

What Is a Duke or Duchess?

A duke or duchess is the highest rank in many European aristocratic systems. Members of the royal family are given dukedoms or duchies by tradition. For example, the Duke of Cornwall is a title reserved for the heir to the throne.

In the British royal family, the Duke of Cambridge (Prince William) is a notable title and so is his wife - The Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton). Another example is Prince Philip, the consort of Queen Elizabeth II, who was the Duke of Edinburgh. He served as consort to the Queen for over 70 years and was the longest-serving royal consort in British history.

He didn’t have a formal political role but supported Queen Elizabeth II in her duties and took part in numerous charitable and public service activities. He was known for his public service dedication and commitment.

Prince Harry became the Duke of Sussex when he married Meghan Markle, who became the Duchess of Sussex. However,after their marriage, they faced increased publicity and intense scrutiny, especially due to Meghan’s background as a biracial American actress who often had different perceptions from the royal norms.

The couple decided to voluntary separate from the royal family and it is not certain if their children, Archie and Lilibet, will inherit any titles.^[2]

Of the 29 dukedoms in the U.K., five are held by members of the royal family, and the other 24 are held by members of the nobility. Traditionally, a duke or duchess would be addressed as "Your Grace."

The term ‘duke’ derives from the Latin word ‘dux’, which means military commander. In Europe, smaller nation-states could be ruled by a grand duke or archduke, and in some cases would outrank a prince.

What Is a Marquess or Marchioness?

A Marquess or Marchioness is a noble title that, according to the British peerage system, is below a Duke and above an Earl. Although the queen may also grant it, the title is innate, as usual, passed down from parent to child.

The title of Marquess was originally used to refer to an individual who ruled or defended a border area, known as a "march," between two regions or nations and dates back to the 14th century. The title was considered higher than that of an Earl, whose power was limited to a single region, due to the significance of safeguarding these areas.

The wife of the Marquess is called a Marchioness. A Marquess is addressed as "My Lord," while a Marchioness is addressed as "My Lady."

There are relatively few of these high-ranking noblemen and women in Britain, simply because there are fewer marquessates, the territories over which they preside.

The word ‘marquess’ comes from the French word ‘marquis’, which referred to the ruler of a march, or borderland. The high ranking of this title reflects the increased responsibility of governing borderlands, where the management of trade and the possibility of military or cultural conflict was greater.

The Marquess of Winchester is the oldest British marquessate still in existence, and the holder is considered the premier marquess of England.

What Is an Earl or Countess?

An Earl or Countess ranks below a Marquess and above a Viscount. It is one of the oldest British peerage system titles that originates from the English word ‘eorl’, which means warrior or military leader and dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period when the title was used for regional rulers or governors.

Since no feminine version of earl exists, the wife of an earl or a female who inherits the title in her own right becomes a countess. Traditionally, an Earl would rule over a county or similar-sized land. And they’d be assisted by a group of lower-ranked nobles.

Some examples of Earls and Countesses in the UK are the Earl of Wessex: The Queen's son - Prince Edward. The Countess of Wessex is the wife of Prince Edward - Sophie. David Armstrong-Jones is the Earl of Snowdon - he is the son of Princess Margaret (the Queen's sister). David's wife - Sarah Armstrong -Jones Countess is the Countess of Snowdon.

What Is a Viscount or Viscountess?

Viscount means ‘vice-count’, and they would oversee an aspect of an earldom or county’s governance, or control a smaller part of it. In medieval Europe, the positions were not hereditary.

However, they are in the U.K., and many viscountcies are held as secondary titles by nobles of higher rank. Viscountcies are also commonly bestowed as courtesy titles by earls or dukes to their heirs, with no legal significance.

What Is a Baronet or Baronetess?

A Baronet or Baronetess ranks below a Baron but above a Knight. The title was established in the early 14th century by King James as a way to raise money for the Crown. This rank, unlike other peerage titles, doesn't hold a seat in the House of Lords. Its role is mainly ceremonial - it represents honour and prestige.

Sir Richard Branson - The Virgin Group founder is a UK Baronet who was granted the title in 1999. The famous actor Michael Caine also became a Baronet in 2000. Another example is the businesswoman and television personality Karen Brady holds the title Baronetess after her husband, Sir Paul Peschisolido, was granted a baronetcy.

What Is a Knight or Dame?

This rank is awarded for major society contributions in areas such as the arts, sciences, public service, business, or charitable work. Knighthoods and Damehoods are granted by the monarch, typically as part of the Order of the British Empire or other chivalric orders. Knighthoods and damehoods are not inherited through generations.

Knighthoods and Damehoods are frequently granted in acknowledgement of outstanding accomplishments or lifelong service to society.

The idea of knights goes back a thousand years and originally referred to mounted, armoured warriors who provided military service to their lords in exchange for land holdings.

Knights later became synonymous with the ideals of chivalry. This involved not just military prowess and professionalism, but a sort of social code of honour, justice, loyalty, charity, and faith.

A woman who has been knighted in her own right is called a Dame, as is the wife of a male knight. Males who are knighted are addressed ‘Sir’ and females who become dames are addressed ‘Dame’.

Advances in military technology and the organisation of professional armies meant that traditional knights became obsolete. Knighthood expanded to include those who served with merit in other ways.

Some examples in the UK are the known musician Elton John (1998) and Dame Judi Dench who became a Dame in 1998 for her contributions to drama. The distinguished broadcaster and historian Sir David Attenborough was knighted for his work in broadcasting and conservation in 1985. Helen Mirren was made a Dame in 2003 also for her drama contributions.

In 2021, Queen Elizabeth II’s final New Year Honours list also included Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton, former Prime Minister Tony Blair, and actress Sheila Hancock.

What Are All the Titles in a Monarchy? A Peek into the Aristocratic Pecking Order

So, to recap, in a monarchy, royalty (the royal family) is at the top of the pile. The monarch, who may assume a title such as King or Queen, Emperor or Empress, is the head of state. Just below them are their immediate family — their siblings and children who are princes and princesses.

Below the royalty is the nobility — in Britain, known as the peerage.

The highest rank is Duke and Duchess, who rule over large areas of land called Duchies and are almost the equivalents of Princes and Princesses in some systems.

Just below these are Marquesses and Marchionesses, who rule over the frontier and border counties called marches.

Then you have Earls, Counts, and Countesses, who usually rule over a county. They are assisted in this by Viscounts and Viscountesses.

The lowest-ranked members of the nobility in the peerage are Barons and Baronesses. This is the most populated level of the nobility. People awarded Life Peerages by the British Government receive the rank of Baron or Baroness. However, theirs is not a hereditary title.

Baronets are a unique form of noble. While a position of dignity, they are not members of the peerage.

Finally, while knights are classed as nobility in some countries, and they were in Britain in medieval times, today in the U.K. they are not classed as nobility. The honour is conferred by the monarch to any man or woman deemed to have performed a great service to the crown or country.

There are still 44 monarchies in the world today. Why not take a look at the list and see how many you know?