A duke outranks a viscount by three full steps. The British peerage has five ranks: duke, marquess, earl, viscount and baron. A duke sits at the top, and a viscount sits fourth, just above a baron.
The two titles also differ in where they came from, how you address the holder, what their children are called and even the design of their coronets. This guide covers each difference in plain English, with the rules as they stand in 2026.
TL;DR: A duke is the highest rank of the British peerage, and a viscount is the fourth of five ranks. You address a duke as “Your Grace” and a viscount as “Lord [Title]”. The title “duke” comes from the Latin dux (leader), while “viscount” comes from vicecomes (deputy of a count). Since 29 April 2026, neither title gives its holder a seat in the House of Lords.
Viscount vs Duke at a Glance
| Duke | Viscount | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in the peerage | 1st (highest) | 4th of 5 |
| Word origin | Latin dux, “leader” | Latin vicecomes, “deputy of a count” |
| First created in England | 1337 (Duke of Cornwall) | 1440 (Viscount Beaumont) |
| Spoken address | “Your Grace” or “Duke” | “Lord [Title]” or “My Lord” |
| Wife’s title | Duchess | Viscountess |
| Children | Eldest son uses a courtesy title; younger sons are “Lord [Firstname]”; daughters are “Lady [Firstname]” | All children are “The Honourable [Firstname Surname]” |
| Coronet | Eight gold strawberry leaves | Sixteen silver balls |
| How common | Very rare: roughly two dozen non-royal dukedoms | About 270 viscountcies exist, most held as secondary titles |
The Five Ranks of the British Peerage
Every British peer holds one of five ranks. The order has not changed in centuries:
- Duke (wife: duchess)
- Marquess (wife: marchioness)
- Earl (wife: countess)
- Viscount (wife: viscountess)
- Baron (wife: baroness)
So a viscount ranks below a duke, a marquess and an earl. He ranks above only a baron. Knights and baronets use “Sir”, but they are not peers at all.
For the ranks in between, see our guides on what a count is and what a countess is.
What Is a Duke?
The word duke comes from the Latin dux, meaning leader. In medieval Europe, a duke was often close to a ruler in his own right. William the Conqueror, for example, was Duke of Normandy before he became King of England in 1066.
England adopted duke as a peerage rank in 1337. That year, Edward III made his eldest son, Edward the Black Prince, Duke of Cornwall. That dukedom still belongs to the heir to the throne today.
There are two kinds of dukes in Britain:
- Royal dukes are members of the royal family, such as the Duke of Edinburgh.
- Non-royal dukes hold older hereditary titles, such as the Duke of Norfolk, the Duke of Devonshire and the Duke of Wellington.
Dukedoms are now extremely rare. The last new non-royal dukedom was the Duke of Westminster, created in 1874. Since then, the Crown has only created dukedoms for royals.
What Is a Viscount?
Viscount comes from the Latin vicecomes, meaning deputy of a count. In the old Frankish kingdoms, a viscount was an official who ran a territory on behalf of a count. In England, the Latin word was used for the sheriff of a county.
As a peerage title, the viscount arrived late. Henry VI created the first one in 1440, when John Beaumont became Viscount Beaumont. The new rank filled a gap between earls and barons.
A viscount’s title can be a place name, a surname or both. Well-known holders include:
- Horatio Nelson, made Viscount Nelson after his naval victories.
- William Lamb, Viscount Melbourne, Queen Victoria’s first Prime Minister.
- Bernard Montgomery, made Viscount Montgomery of Alamein after the Second World War.
Many viscountcies are held by earls, marquesses or dukes as secondary titles. That is why there are far more viscountcies than there are people who are simply “a viscount”.
How to Address a Duke vs a Viscount
Forms of address are the quickest way to tell the two ranks apart. A duke is the only peer whose rank is also used in conversation.
| Situation | Duke | Viscount |
|---|---|---|
| In speech | “Your Grace” (or “Duke” among equals) | “Lord Hampton” or “My Lord” |
| Letter opening | “Dear Duke” or “My Lord Duke” | “Dear Lord Hampton” |
| Envelope | His Grace the Duke of London | The Right Honourable the Viscount Hampton |
| Wife in speech | “Your Grace” or “Duchess” | “Lady Hampton” |
A useful rule: nobody ever calls a duke “Lord Wellington”. If someone is “Lord Something”, they are a marquess, an earl, a viscount or a baron.
Viscount is pronounced “VY-kount”. The S is silent.
What Their Children Are Called
Family titles show the gap between the two ranks clearly.
A duke’s eldest son usually borrows one of his father’s lesser titles as a courtesy title. The heir to a duke is often styled as a marquess or an earl. The duke’s younger sons are “Lord [Firstname]”, and his daughters are “Lady [Firstname]”.
A viscount’s children get a much simpler style. Sons and daughters alike are “The Honourable [Firstname Surname]”. The one exception is in Scotland, where a viscount’s heir may be styled “Master of [Title]”.
What Changed in 2026
For centuries, dukes and viscounts could sit in the House of Lords simply by holding their titles. The House of Lords Act 1999 removed most of them but let 92 hereditary peers stay.
The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026 ended that exception. It received Royal Assent on 18 March 2026, and its main provisions came into force on 29 April 2026. The Lords now contains only life peers and bishops.
The titles themselves still exist and still pass down through families. A duke or viscount can also sit in the Lords if he is separately given a life peerage. But the hereditary title alone no longer brings a seat or a vote.
Can a Viscount Become a Duke?
In practice, almost never. There are only two routes:
- A new creation. The Crown can promote a peer to a higher rank. No non-royal dukedom has been created since 1874, so this is very unlikely today.
- Inheritance. Many heirs to dukedoms use a viscount title while their father is alive. When the father dies, the heir becomes the duke.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a viscount higher than a duke?
No. A duke is the highest of the five peerage ranks. A viscount is fourth, below duke, marquess and earl.
Is a viscount higher than an earl?
No. An earl ranks third and a viscount ranks fourth. A viscount only outranks a baron.
What is a duke’s wife called?
A duke’s wife is a duchess. She is addressed as “Your Grace”, just like her husband.
What is a viscount’s wife called?
A viscount’s wife is a viscountess. In conversation she is “Lady [Title]”.
Do dukes and viscounts still have any power?
Not by virtue of their titles. They have no legal powers, and since 29 April 2026 they no longer sit in the House of Lords by hereditary right. Some remain wealthy landowners, but that comes from their estates, not their rank.
How many dukes are there in the UK?
There are roughly two dozen non-royal dukedoms, plus a handful of royal dukes. A few dukes hold more than one dukedom, so the number of titles and holders is not quite the same.
Bottom Line
A duke is the top rank of the British peerage, and a viscount is the fourth. The duke is “Your Grace”, while the viscount is “Lord [Title]”. A duke’s children carry “Lord” and “Lady”, while a viscount’s children are “The Honourable”. Since April 2026, neither title comes with a seat in Parliament, but both remain living hereditary titles.
