Addressing members of the Lords

Members of the House of Lords have a number of different titles, with different ways to address them.

Address some members using their title only, for example, Lord Sugar or Baroness Benjamin.

Other members have an additional part to their title which should also be used to address them, for example, Lord Collins of Highbury or Baroness Harris of Richmond.

Find a member's title: A-Z list

Once you have found the correct title you can use the guide below which shows you how to use it in correspondence. 'X' should be replaced with the member's title.

Lord Speaker

Beginning of email/letter... Dear Lord Speaker
End of email/letter... Yours sincerely
Envelope... The Rt Hon.* the Lord McFall of Alcluith, Lord Speaker

Baron (Lord)

Beginning of email/letter... Dear Lord X
End of email/letter... Yours sincerely
Envelope... The (Rt Hon.* the) Lord X

Baroness

Beginning of email/letter... Dear Lady X
End of email/letter... Yours sincerely
Envelope... The (Rt Hon.* the) Baroness X

Countess

Beginning of email/letter... Dear Lady X
End of email/letter... Yours sincerely
Envelope... The Countess (of) X

Duke

Beginning of email/letter... Dear Duke of X
End of email/letter... Yours sincerely
Envelope... His Grace the Duke of X

Earl

Beginning of email/letter... Dear Lord X
End of email/letter... Yours sincerely
Envelope... The (Rt Hon.* the) Earl (of) X

Lady

Beginning of email/letter... Dear Lady X
End of email/letter... Yours sincerely
Envelope... The (Rt Hon.* the) Lady X

Marquess

Beginning of email/letter... Dear Lord X
End of email/letter... Yours sincerely
Envelope... The Most Hon. the Marquess of X

Viscount

Beginning of email/letter... Dear Lord X
End of email/letter... Yours sincerely
Envelope... The (Rt Hon.* the) Viscount X

Archbishop

Beginning of email/letter... Dear Archbishop
End of email/letter... Yours sincerely
Envelope... The Most Rev. and the Rt Hon.* the Archbishop of X

Bishop

Beginning of email/letter... Dear Lord Bishop
End of email/letter... Yours sincerely
Envelope... The Rt Rev. the Lord Bishop of X

* Use Rt Hon. for members who are Privy Counsellors.