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The British nobility is made up of the peerage and the gentry of the British Isles. Though the UK is today a constitutional monarchy with strong democratic elements, historically the British Isles were more predisposed towards aristocratic governance in which power was largely inherited and shared amongst a noble class.
Through history, some peers inherited manor houses from the feudal era, while others built new prodigy houses, or later purchased country estates with wealth made in the empire or industry. Some country houses were gifted to peers "by the nation", such as Blenheim Palace for the 1st Duke of Marlborough and Trafalgar Park for the 1st Earl Nelson.
The last non-royal dukedom of Great Britain was created in 1766, and the last marquessate of Great Britain was created in 1796. Creation of the remaining ranks ceased when the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was formed; subsequent creations of peers were in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.
They were a relatively late introduction to the British peerage, and on the evening of the Coronation of Queen Victoria in 1838, the Prime Minister Lord Melbourne explained to her why (from her journals): "I spoke to Ld M. about the numbers of Peers present at the Coronation, & he said it was quite unprecedented.
Usually Prince of Wales as the heir to the British throne; Duke of Rothesay in the Peerage of Scotland: The Duke of Norfolk [a] 1483 The Duke of Somerset: 1547 The Duke of Richmond: 1675 Duke of Gordon in the Peerage of the United Kingdom; Duke of Lennox in the Peerage of Scotland; Duke of Aubigny in the Peerage of France: The Duke of Grafton: 1675
The ranks of the peerage are duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron. [7]The last non-royal dukedom was created in 1874, and the last marquessate was created in 1936. . Creation of the remaining ranks, except baronies for life, mostly ceased once Harold Wilson's Labour government took office in 1964, and only thirteen (nine non-royal and four royal) people have been created hereditary peers sinc
This is an incomplete index of the current and historical principal family seats of English royal, titled and landed gentry families. Some of these seats are no longer occupied by the families with which they are associated, and some are ruinous – e.g. Lowther Castle.
As the head of state, the Sovereign is the fount of honour, [1] but the system for identifying and recognising candidates to honour has changed considerably over time. . Various orders of knighthood have been created (see below) as well as awards for military service, bravery, merit, and achievement which take the form of decorations or