Royalty, Nobility and Gentry

The Lords of the Realm can be of three order of significance. Royalty - The highest order, Nobility - The middle order and Gentry - The lowest order. All but the lowest order also have crowns or coronets to mark their importance. Here they are listed, in descending order:

ROYALTY:

The CROWN, a distinctive badge of Royalty, was anciently made open, but is now closed at the top with four arches and is usually called the Royal Crown. The Royal Crown has the rim adorned with four crosses patée, and as many Fleurs-de-lis alternately. From each cross rises an arched diadem closed at the top under a mound supporting a cross. The cap within the Crown is of the purple velvet (Heraldically represented crimson), and turned up with ermine.

The CORONET of the Crown Prince is composed of a circle or fillet of gold, adorned with four crosses patée, and as many fleurs-de-lis alternately; the two centre crosses rises an arched diadem, closed at the top under a mound supporting A cross, one arch only from the centre cross appearing in the presentation. The cap is of crimson velvet, lined with white sarsnet, and turned up with ermine.

The CORONET of the Prince of the Blood Royal is similar to that of the Crown Prince, without the arched diadem. The cap is of crimson velvet, boarded with ermine, with a tassel of gold.

The PRINCESSES bear a similar Coronet, but instead of the four crosses and as many fleurs-de-lis, is is adorned with three strawberry leaves alternately, with a similar number of fleurs-de-lis and crosses.

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NOBILITY:

The Coronet of a DUKE is composed of a circlet of gold, chased as jewelled, having on it eight golden strawberry leaves, five of which are seen in representation. The cap is of crimson velvet, turned up ermine, thereon a golden tassel. It is sometimes used as a charge in armorial bearings, when it is called a Ducal Coronet, and is represented with only three strawberry leaves and without the cap,tassel or ermine.

An EARLS Coronet is a circlet of gold, chased as jewelled, upon which rise eight pyramidical points gold, each of which supports a large silver ball, the spaces between the points being filled up at the bottom with strawberry leaves of gold, not rising as high as the balls. Only five of the balls will appear when heraldry displayed. the cap is the same as the Dukes.

The Coronet of a BARON is a plain circlet of gold, thereon six balls, four of which are seen in the representation.

The last-named Coronet have the crimson velvet cap with the tassel, and the edging of ermine, the same as those as those of a Duke, and Earl.

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GENTRY:

BARONET does not have a coronet, but may be awarded a plain circlet of gold or silver, without any adornments. This is more of a hereditary gentry title, that could be given as a reward as the title in inherited.

KNIGHT does not have a crown, coronet or circlet. A knight has his shield, and his spurs as the symbols of importance. A title of knight is never inherited.

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Here is a list of the titles, with both the male and the female equivalent:

King	Queen
Prince	Princess
-	-
Duke	Duchess
Earl	Countess
Baron	Baroness
-	-
Baronet	Baronetess.
Knight	Dame

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Courtesy Titles

A peer's wife and children are granted the use of certain titles, depending upon the rank of the peer. Here is an extremely oversimplified chart, so please read the explanations which follow carefully.

Peerage Type	Wife	Eldest Son*	Younger Son	Daughter
Duke	Duchess	-	Lord Firstname - Surname	Lady Firstname - Surname
Earl	Lady	-	The Honourable	Lady Firstname - Surname
Baron	Lady	The Honourable Firstname - Surname	The Honourable Firstname - Surname	The Honourable Firstname - Surname

* Eldest sons (heirs) of earls and dukes are allowed to adopt their father's next-highest title as a courtesy, which they use in every way as if it were a "real" peerage.