How to Address a Baron or Baroness:
Baron or Baroness
—-Envelope, official:
—-—-The Right Hon.
——–Lord (Complete Name) See note #2
——–(Address)
——–The Right Hon.
——–Lady (Complete Name) See note #2
——–(Address)
——–The Right Hon.
——–Lord and Lady (Complete Name) See note #2
——–(Address)
—-Letter salutation: See notes #1 & #2
——–Dear Lord (Name):
——–Dear Lady (Name):
——–Dear Lord and Lady (Name):
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
—-#1) ‘Baron’ and ‘baroness’ are not traditionally used in direct address with hereditary peers. However, as a contemporary practice, a baroness is addressed in conversation or in a salutation as ‘Baroness (Name)’.
—-#2) With baronies with a compound name – (name one) of/and (name two) – use ‘name one’ when (Name) is specified. Use the ‘compound name’ when the (Complete Name) is specified. The given name of the titled person in never used in formal address.
– Robert Hickey. How to Address a Baron or Baroness
See these Related Posts:
–—-—King/Queen
–—-—Duke/Duchess
–—-—Marquess/Marchioness
–—-—Earl/Countess
–—-—Viscount/Viscountess
–—-—Baron/Baroness
–—-—Knight/Dame–—-—Noble Titles: Social Use Only
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
How to Address a Dowager?
Duchess, Marchioness, Countess, Viscountess or Baroness
_________
Dowager
Does one address a Dowager as one would the nobleman’s wife? I am a minister and have a Dowager in my parish. Do you think Duchess (first name) or Dear Duchess of (Somewhere), more suitable? How to address a dowager?
— D.W.
Dear D.W.
British style guides suggest in oral conversation with a duchess you use: Your Grace
—-—-In a salutation: Dear Duchess:
The style guides further suggest in oral conversation with a marchioness, countess, viscountess or baroness you use: Lady (Name): where (Name) is the name of the marquessate, earldom, viscountcy, or barony.
—-—-In a salutation with a marchioness: My Madam: or Dear Lady:
—-—-With a countess, viscountess or baroness: Dear Lady:
But there is a difference is how one ‘describes’ the d0wager or addresses the dowager in writing. This is determined by how the individual dowager styles herself.
In writing – on an envelope or in full introduction – style books present two ways. These formulas works for duchess, marchioness, countess, viscountess and baroness:
Formula #1 …. The Dowager (Full Title)
—-—-Example: The Dowager Duchess (of Place)
—-Formula #2 …. (Name), (Complete name of rank)
—-—-Example: Mary, Duchess (of Place)
—-—-—-Which is the form the dowager Duchess of Devonshire who died in 2014 used:
—-—-—-—-Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
To be certain which formula this dowager prefers, see if she has a personal secretary who can advise which style the individual prefers.
— Robert Hickey How to address a dowager?
See these Related Posts:
–—-—King/Queen
–—-—Duke/Duchess
–—-—Marquess/Marchioness
–—-—Earl/Countess
–—-—Viscount/Viscountess
–—-—Baron/Baroness
–—-—Knight/Dame–—-—Noble Titles: Social Use Only
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
How to Address a Baroness who is Also a Dame?
I am looking to contact a Baroness who has just been made a Dame (DBE). Specifically – how to write her name in the address block and the salutation in an email.
Which title should I use? Which one takes precedence? Do I use both titles? If so what order?
———–— LAT
Dear LAT,
The British style guides state that those who have a title – are addressed by their title in every instance. E.g., Being a baroness outranks being an Army General, Navy Admiral, Doctor, Professor or Dame. So, address her in the style of a Baroness.
———-The Right Hon.
———-Lady (Name of barony) *
———-(Address)
* See the note #2 above regarding how names of baronies are structured.
Style guides also suggest a contemporary practice of addressing a baroness as Baroness (Name) orally …. So use that form in the salutation.
— Robert Hickey
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?
You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.) The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site are many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions, etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.
Not Finding Your Answer?
—-#1) At right on desktops, at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.
—-#2) If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.) Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.
—-#3) If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question – but always change all the specifics.
— Robert Hickey
Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”
Recommended Resources: The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA) For more information see the Protocol Resources page.