Hereditary peer

The Peerage in the United Kingdom includes several hereditary peers, as well as life peers. Hereditary peers hold titles that may be inherited; even peers who were granted, rather than inherited, hereditary titles are hereditary peers. Formerly, most of them were entitled to a seat in Parliament, but now, hereditary peers do not have an automatic right to sit in the House of Lords. Ninety-two are permitted to sit in the House of Lords under the House of Lords Act 1999, although this reduction has been challenged in the European Court of Human Rights.

Related Topics:
Peerage - House of Lords - House of Lords Act 1999 - European Court of Human Rights

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An hereditary title is not necessarily a title of the peerage. For instance, baronets and baronetesses may pass on their titles, but they are not peers. Similarly, a non-hereditary title may still belong to the peerage, as evidenced by the case of the Prince of Wales and of life peers.

Related Topics:
Baronets - Prince of Wales - Life peer

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