Courtesy title

A courtesy title is a form of address in the British peerage system used for wives, children, and other close relatives of a peer. These styles may mislead those unacquainted with the system into thinking that they have substantive titles.

Indirect inheritance

Occasionally a peer has inherited the title upon the death of a relative who is not one of his parents. (Some say it is incorrect in this case to say the title is inherited from the relative, merely on the death of the relative - since when a peer has no direct descendents, the peerage moves to the second heir of the previous holder (or his heirs), failing that to the second heir of the holder before that (or his heirs), and so in a recursive fashion). When this happens, the relatives in the direct line to the new peer may be allowed to use courtesy titles appropriate to their relationship to that peer or prior heirs. For instance, Rupert Charles Ponsonby, 7th Baron de Mauley inherited the Barony of de Mauley from his uncle in 2002. His brother Ashley had no title, as their father was only an Honourable and was never actually Baron de Mauley. However, in 2003, Ashley was granted by Warrant of Precedence from the Queen Elizabeth II the style and precedence of the son of a baron, becoming The Honourable Ashley Ponsonby. Precedence in such circumstances is usually granted but is not automatic.

Related Topics:
Recursive - Rupert Charles Ponsonby, 7th Baron de Mauley - 2002 - 2003 - Warrant of Precedence - Queen Elizabeth II

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~