# Letters patent (United Kingdom)

Letters patent (always in the plural; abbreviated to LsP by the Crown Office), in the United Kingdom, are legal instruments generally issued by the monarch granting an office, right, title (in the peerage and baronetage), or status to a person (and sometimes in regards to corporations and cities). Letters patent have also been used for the creation of corporations or offices, for granting city status, for granting coat of arms, and for granting royal assent.
Patents are prepared by the Crown Office; the name of the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery is subscribed/printed at the end of all documents as a way of authentication of their having passed through the Crown Office.
The form of letters patent have been disclosed by the Crown Office as pro forma texts, and have been compiled here. The Ministry of Justice has said in the past that there are 92 unique types of letters. The text of letters patent can be altered for specification in certain situations, though the following texts are the general basis for draft.

## Terminology

In appointing a person to an office through letters patent, there are three documents involved:
* The warrant – This contains the monarch's instructions to the Lord Chancellor to prepare letters patent. The Lord Chancellor delivers the said instructions to the Crown Office, who under the guidance of the Clerk of the Crown prepare the patent.
* Letters patent (sometimes called the patent) – the document which actually makes the appointment; it is sealed by either the Great Seal or its wafer form, and is typed or handwritten on vellum.
* The patent roll entry – this is a record of the warrant. The patent roll entries are bound together at the end of each regnal year and are sent to The National Archives, together with the warrants for permanent retention and storage.
These documents are not always given to the appointee. Letters patent come at a cost for an appointee who elects to receive an illustrated document prepared by the scribes at the Crown Office, but is otherwise entitled to receive a text-only version for nothing. The patent roll entry is exclusively held by The National Archives and is not given to the appointee.
Patents, most notably before the 20th century, were granted with special conditions. The following methods were mainly used in regards to the appointment of individuals to offices, whose purpose was to allow the holder to pick his successor.
* Grant in reversion – granted to a person after the demise of the current holders (or sometimes after the demise of multiple future holders)
* Grant in survivorship – granted to two persons who hold the office collectively; upon the death of one of the parties the remaining assumes the office alone

## Types of letters patent
### Removal from office

Persons may be removed of an office through letters patent, though this process is reserved for offices that were granted through patents in the first place. Modern patents, instead of requiring this form be issued, state that the grantee shall replace the present holder of the office in question.

### Peerage and baronetage

Peerages: Peerages may be created for individuals for life, or as hereditary peerages. The ranks of the peerage are, in descending order, duke and duchess, marquess and marchioness, earl and countess, viscount and viscountess, and baron and baroness.
Letters patent conferring hereditary peerages :
| Duke | Duchess | Marquess | Marchioness | Earl | Countess | Viscount | Viscountess | Baron | Baroness |
| Charles the Third by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories King Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith To all Lords Spiritual and Temporal and all other Our Subjects whatsoever to whom these Presents shall come Greeting Know Ye that We of Our especial grace certain knowledge and mere motion do by these Presents advance create and prefer Our XX to the state degree style dignity title and honour of ||||||||||
| Duke of XX | Duchess of XX | Marquess of XX | Marchioness of XX | Earl [XX/XX of XX/of XX] | Countess [XX/XX of XX/of XX] | Viscount XX [of XX] of XX in XX | Viscountess XX [of XX] of XX in XX | Baron XX [of XX] of XX in XX | Baroness XX [of XX] of XX in XX |
| And for Us Our heirs and successors do appoint give and grant unto [him/her] the said name state degree style dignity title and honour of ||||||||||
| Duke of XX | Duchess of XX | Marquess of XX | Marchioness of XX | Earl [XX/XX of XX/of XX] | Countess [XX/XX of XX/of XX] | Viscount XX [of XX] | Viscountess XX [of XX] | Baron XX [of XX] | Baroness XX [of XX] |
| and by these Presents do dignify invest and ennoble him by girding him with a sword and putting a cap of honour and a coronet of gold on his head and by giving into his hand a rod of gold | and by these Presents do dignify invest and really ennoble her with such name state degree title and honour of Duchess of XX | and by these Presents do dignify invest and ennoble him by girding him with a sword and putting a cap of honour and a coronet of gold on his head and by giving into his hand a rod of gold | and by these Presents do dignify invest and really ennoble her with such name state degree title and honour of Marchioness of XX | and by these Presents do dignify invest and ennoble him by girding him with a sword and putting a cap of honour and a coronet of gold on his head | and by these Presents do dignify invest and really ennoble her with such name state degree title and honour of Countess [XX/XX of XX/of XX] |
| to have and to hold ||||||||||
| the said name state degree style dignity title and honour of | the said name state degree style dignity title and honour of | the said name state degree style dignity title and honour of | the said name state degree style dignity title and honour of | the said name degree style dignity title and honour of | the said name degree style dignity title and honour of |
| Duke of XX | Duchess of XX | Marquess of XX | Marchioness of XX | Earl [XX/XX of XX/of XX] | Countess [XX/XX of XX/of XX] |
| unto [him/her] and the heirs male of [his/her] body lawfully begotten and to be begotten Willing and by these Presents granting for Us Our heirs and successors that [he/she] and [his/her] heirs male aforesaid and every of them successively may enjoy and use all the rights privileges pre-eminences immunities and advantages to the degree of a ||||||||||
| Duke | Duke | Marquess | Marquess | Earl | Earl | Viscount | Viscount | Baron | Baron |
| duly and of right belonging which ||||||||||
| Dukes | Dukes | Marquesses | Marquesses | Earls | Earls | Viscounts | Viscounts | Barons | Barons |
| of Our United Kingdom do at present use and enjoy In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent Witness Ourself at Westminster the XX day of XX in the XX year of Our Reign ||||||||||
Baronetcies: Baronets and baronetesses are not part of the peerage but hold the styles of "sir" and "dame" as applicable. They rank immediately below the barons and baronesses but above knights and dames of the various orders of chivalry within the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

### HM Government

Commissioners of the Great Seal: The Great Seal Act 1688 provided for the office of Lord Chancellor to be put in commission, and since the office held custody of the Great Seal of the Realm, the said custody had to be vested upon Lord Commissioners.
Letters patent would be issued on an ad hoc basis for commissioners to take custody of the Great Seal during any overseas visit by the Lord Chancellor or for when the Lord Chancellor would otherwise be unable to exercise his functions. In 1980 letters patent were issued providing for the delegation of the functions of the Lord Chancellor to commissioners whenever the Lord Chancellor was abroad. Additional letters patent were issued in 1989 expanding the purview of the 1980 letters patent.
Lords Commissioners of the Treasury: The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury are nowadays appointed through letters patent as a group, with the first person named within the patent being the First Lord of the Treasury, and the second being the Second Lord of the Treasury; the rest of the persons named assume office as junior Lords. There used to be different patents for the First, Second and Junior Lords of the Treasury.
Attorney General for England and Wales:
Solicitor General for England and Wales:
Registrar General for England and Wales:
Lord Chancellor's pension:

#### Investigatory Powers Tribunal

* Interception of Communications (President)
* Interception of Communications (President) (re-appointment)
* Interception of Communications (Vice - President)

#### Devolved nations

First Minister of Scotland: as the leader of the Scottish Government, the First Minister chairs the Scottish Cabinet and serves as the Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland. The First Minister is nominated by the Scottish Parliament from among its members, and is formally appointed by the monarch.
* Heath Service Commissioner – England
* Heath Service Commissioner – Wales

### Church of England

Archbishop of Canterbury:
Archbishop of York:
Congé d'élire:
Rector
* Canon (amending)
* Bishop
* Bishop Suffragan
* Canon
* Dean
* Dean of Jersey

### Judiciary

Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales:
Master of the Rolls:
President of the King's Bench Division:
President of the Supreme Court:
Deputy President of the Supreme Court:
Justice of the Supreme Court:
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary:
Lord Justice of Appeal:
Justice of the High Court:
King's Counsel learned in the Law:
Honorary King's Counsel:
* Chancellor of the High Court
* President of the Family Division

### Crown dependencies

* Land Entitlement in the Channel Islands

#### Isle of Man

Attorney General of the Isle of Man:

#### Island of Guernsey

* Bailiff of the Island of Guernsey
* Bailiff of the Island of Guernsey (Deputy)

#### Island of Jersey

* Advocate General of Jersey
* Procurator-General of Jersey
* Bailiff of the Island of Jersey
* Bailiff of the Island of Jersey (Deputy)

### Local government

City status: this honour is granted to a select group of communities, although it carries no special rights outside of the prestige and pride that comes along with it.
* City and mayor
* Lord mayoralty
* London Lieutenancy
* Lieutenancy
Lord-Lieutenant: This office is mainly awarded to notable individuals who have retired.
* Governor and Captain of the Isle of Wight

### Parliament

Clerk of the Parliaments
Under Clerk of the Parliaments:
* Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
* Serjeant at Arms in Ordinary
* Serjeant at Arms in Ordinary (Commons)
Comptroller and Auditor General:

### Royal Family

Counsellors of State
Principality of Wales: this title is held by the eldest son of the Monarch, who is in turn heir-apparent to the throne; the Prince supports The King in discharging his royal duties. The title has, since 1301, been held in conjunction with that of Earl of Chester.

### Royal Household

Master of the Horse:
Astronomer Royal:
Queen's Printer of Acts of Parliament:
Lord High Almoner:

#### College of Arms

Garter Principal King of Arms: The Garter is the senior King of Arms and the senior Officer of Arms of the College of Arms. The Garter is responsible for running the college and has the duty of announcing the new monarch after the death of the current one.
King of Arms (Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster):
Heralds of Arms (Richmond, Chester, York):
Pursuivants of Arms (Bluemantle, Portcullis, Rouge Croix, Rouge Dragon):

#### Royal palaces

Constable of the Tower of London:
Lieutenant of the Tower of London:
Governor and Constable of Windsor Castle:

### British Armed Forces

* Defence Council
* Judge Advocate General

#### Royal Navy

Lord High Admiral: one of the Great Officers of State, the Lord High Admiral is the ceremonial head of the Royal Navy. The office has been held by various members of the Royal Family, and before the establishment of the Defence Council, by the Admiralty in commission: there would be a First Lord of the Admiralty with all other members being referred to as Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty.
Vice Admiral: is a flag officer rank of the Royal Navy, immediately superior to the rear admiral rank and subordinate to the admiral rank.
Rear Admiral: is a flag officer rank of the Royal Navy, immediately superior to commodore and subordinate to vice admiral.

### Knighthoods

Powers to confer knighthood – General: Knighthoods are usually conferred for public service, and entitle the grantee to the prefix "Sir" to their forenames, and their wives to the prefix "Lady" to their surnames. When the recipient is a knight by virtue of an order of chivalry or is otherwise entitled to a higher prefix than "Sir", he may use the letters "Kt" after his name.
Powers to confer knighthood – Double: The King, during any absence from the United Kingdom or otherwise absence from a particular investiture, may delegate the powers to confer knighthoods to a Counsellor of State, and these letters patent are issued for that purpose, as applicable.
Removal of a knighthood: Knighthoods may be removed if the grantee has committed a crime or has otherwise defamed the very reason he was knighted in the first place. This procedure is similar to the one used when removing membership to an order of chivalry.
Powers to confer knighthood on individuals whilst overseas: The King may confer on an individual the power to knight an individual whilst overseas.
* Powers to confer knighthood – High Court judge

### Universities

* Professor of the Greek Tongue
* Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History

#### Cambridge

* Master of Churchill College
* Master of Trinity College
* Regius Professor of Civil Law
* Regius Professor of Physic
* Regius Professor of Hebrew

#### Oxford

* Professor or Reader of Civil Law
* Regius Professor of Medicine
* Regius Professor of Divinity
Regius Professor of Hebrew