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Dukes of Great Britain

A duke's coronet

Current Great Britain Dukedoms

Deprived Great Britain Dukedoms

Extinct Great Britain Dukedoms

The first of the twenty-eight Dukedoms in the Peerage of Great Britain was that of Dover, in 1708, for the Scottish Duke of Queensberry; the last was Royal, that of Kent and Strathearn, in 1799, for Queen Victoria's father.

A Duke is styled "His Grace" and the "Most Noble" and he is officially addressed by the Crown as "Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin".  This mode of address started in the reign of King Henry IV, who through his immediate family was related or allied to every Earl in the kingdom.  When a Duke or any other peer is a member of the Privy Council the word "Counsellor" is placed before his name, for instance:  "George the Fifth......To Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin and Counsellor, Henry George, Duke of Northumberland.....Greeting!".

He bears also, upon some occasions, the title of "Most High, Potent and Noble Prince".

In common with all peers, Dukes are entitled to both coronation and parliamentary robes.  The Coronation Robe, which, as the name suggests, is worn only at the Coronation of the Sovereign, is of crimson velvet, edged with white fur and having four rows of ermine on the white fur cape.  Duchesses are entitled to wear coronation robes similar to those of a Duke, these being edged with a five inch border of white fur with a train two yards on the ground.  The Parliamentary Robe of Estate of a Duke, which is worn for the State Opening of Parliament or by those taking part in the ceremony of Introduction of a new peer, is of fine scarlet cloth lined with taffeta.  It is trimmed with four guards (or bands) of ermine and gold lace, and is tied at the left shoulder with a white ribbon.

Coronet - A circle of gold, surmounted by eight golden strawberry leaves; a cap of crimson velvet, turned up ermine, thereon a golden tassel.

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