Duke of Rothesay

The title Duke of Rothesay was the official title possessed by the Heir Apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of Scotland. A separate Scottish throne has not existed since the Act of Union 1707 which merged the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England to form the Kingdom of Great Britain (later known as the United Kingdom after a further merger with the Kingdom of Ireland). The title is now held by the heir to the throne of the United Kingdom. It is the title mandated for use by the heir apparent when in Scotland, in preference of the English titles Duke of Cornwall (which also belongs to the eldest son of the monarch by right) and Prince of Wales (traditionally granted to the Heir Apparent of the United Kingdom). The Duke of Rothesay also holds other Scottish titles, including those of Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Prince and Lord High Steward.

Legal basis

An Act of the Parliament of Scotland passed in 1469 governs the succession to most of these titles. It provides that "the first-born Prince of the King of Scots for ever" should hold the dukedom. If the first-born Prince dies before the King then it goes to the next Heir Apparent. Though the Act specified "King," eldest sons of Queens Regnant subsequently also held the dukedom. The interpretation of the word "Prince", however, does not include women. The eldest son of the British Sovereign, as Duke of Rothesay, had the right to vote in elections for representative peer from 1707, when Scotland and England united into Great Britain, until 1963, when the UK Parliament abolished the election of representative peers.

Related Topics:
Parliament of Scotland - 1469 - Representative peer - 1707 - Scotland - England - Great Britain - 1963 - UK Parliament

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