Commoner

A commoner, in British law, is someone who is neither the Sovereign nor a noble. Therefore, any member of the Royal Family who is not a peer, such as HRH Prince William of Wales or HRH The Princess Royal, is a commoner, as is any member of a peer's family, including someone with a courtesy title, such as the Earl of Arundel and Surrey (eldest son of the Duke of Norfolk) or Lady Victoria Hervey (a daughter of the 6th Marquess of Bristol).

Related Topics:
Sovereign - Noble - Royal Family - HRH Prince William of Wales - HRH The Princess Royal - Courtesy title - Earl of Arundel and Surrey - Duke of Norfolk - Lady Victoria Hervey - 6th Marquess of Bristol

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Traditionally, members of the House of Commons were commoners and members of the House of Lords were peers, although peers whose only titles are in the Peerage of Ireland have been able to stand for election to the House of Commons for centuries. Since the House of Lords Act 1999, which excluded most hereditary peers from the House of Lords, most hereditary peers can now stand for election to the House of Commons, even though they are not commoners. For example, the 3rd Viscount Thurso and the 3rd Viscount Hailsham are currently members of the House of Commons.

Related Topics:
House of Commons - House of Lords - Peerage of Ireland - House of Lords Act 1999 - 3rd Viscount Thurso - 3rd Viscount Hailsham

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The term commoner is frequently used to refer to those not of royal blood, but in Britain, this usage is incorrect.

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