How to address members of the British royal family and their representatives
| Title | How referred to | Salutation in correspondence | How to address in person |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Queen | Her Majesty The Queen | On presentation 'Your Majesty' and subsequently 'Ma’am' | |
| A Royal Duke | His Royal Highness The Duke of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Sir' |
| A Prince | His Royal Highness Prince [first name] of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Sir' |
| A Princess | Her Royal Highness Princess [first name] of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Ma’am' |
| A Royal Duchess | Her Royal Highness The Duchess of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Ma’am' |
| A Royal Earl | His Royal Highness The Prince [first name], Earl of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Sir' |
| A Royal Countess | Her Royal Highness The Countess of … | Your Royal Highness | On presentation 'Your Royal Highness' and subsequently 'Ma’am' |
| Governor-General | His Excellency the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia (or check the ) | See the | First and last meeting each day 'Your Excellency' otherwise 'Governor-General' or 'Sir' |
| Governor of State | Check the | Your Excellency | Check the |
| Spouse of State Governor | Check the | Dear Mr/Mrs … | Check the |
| Administrator of a Territory | See the | See the | See the |
| Spouse of an Administrator of a Territory | Mr/Mrs … | Mr/Mrs … | See the |
How to address members of the British and Australian nobility
| Title | How referred to | Salutation in correspondence | How to address in person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | The Duke of … | My Lord Duke | ‘Your Grace’ |
| Duchess | The Duchess of … | Dear Duchess | ‘Your Grace’ |
| Marquess | The Marquess of … | Dear Lord … | Lord … |
| Marchioness | The Marchioness of … | Dear Lady … | Lady … |
| Earl | The Earl of … | Dear Lord … | Lord … |
| Countess | The Countess of … | Dear Lady … | Lady … |
| Viscount | The Viscount … | Dear Lord … | Lord … |
| Viscountess | The Viscountess of … | Dear Lady … | Lady … |
| Baron | Lord … | Dear Lord … | Lord … |
| Baroness | Lady … | Dear Lady … | Lady … |
| Baronet | Sir [first name] [last name] | Dear Sir [first name] | Sir [first name] or ‘Sir’ |
| Wife of Baronet | Lady [last name] | Dear Lady [last name] | Lady [last name] |
| Knight | Sir [first name] [last name] | Dear Sir [first name] | Sir [first name] or ‘Sir’ |
| Wife of Knight | Lady [last name] | Dear Lady [last name] | Lady [last name] |
| Dame | Dame [first name] [last name] | Dear Dame [first name] | Dame [first name] or ‘Ma’am’ |
How to address government officials
| Title | How referred to | Salutation in correspondence | How to address in person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister | The Honourable [first name] [last name], Prime Minister of [country] | ||
| Premier of State | The Honourable [first name] [last name], Premier of [state] | Dear Premier | ‘Premier’ or ‘Mr/Mrs/Ms…….’ |
| Members of the Parliament of Australia | |||
| Members of the State Parliament of Victoria | If a current or former Minister: ‘The Honourable …’ Others ‘Mr/Mrs/Ms …’ | If a current Minister ‘Minister …’ or ‘Mr/Mrs/Ms …’ Others ‘Mr/Mrs/Ms …’ | |
| High Court Judge | The Honourable … | ||
| Supreme Court Judge | The Honourable Justice … | Dear Justice | In court ‘Your Honour’ Outside court ‘Justice [last name] |
| Judge of the County Court | His/Her Honour Judge [last name] | Dear Judge [last name] | In court ‘Your Honour’ Outside court ‘Justice [last name] |
| Lord Mayor | The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of [city], [first name] [last name] | Dear Lord Mayor | ‘Lord Mayor’ |
| Partner of Lord Mayor | Salutation [first name] [last name] | Salutation | ‘Salutation |
| Mayor | The Mayor of … | Dear Mr/Mrs Mayor | ‘Mr/Mrs Mayor’ or ‘Sir/Madam’ |
| Partner of Mayor | Salutation '[first name]' '[last name]' | Dear Salutation '[last name]' | Salutation '[last name]’ |
| Municipal Councillor | Councillor … | Dear Councillor | ‘Councillor [last name]’ |
How to address diplomatic and consular corps
| Title | How referred to | Salutation in correspondence | How to address in person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambassador | His/Her Excellency the Ambassador of … | Your Excellency | ‘Your Excellency’, ‘Sir/Madam Ambassador’ or ‘Mr/Mrs/Ms’ |
| High Commissioner | His/Her Excellency the High Commissioner for … | Your Excellency | ‘Your Excellency’, ‘Sir/Madam High Commissioner’ or or ‘Mr/Mrs/Ms’ |
| Career Consuls-General | The Consul-General of … | Dear Consul-General | ‘Consul-General’ or ‘Sir’ or ‘Mrs/Ms’ |
| Honorary Consuls-General | The Consul-General of … | Dear Consul-General | ‘Consul-General’ or ‘Sir’ or ‘Mrs/Ms’ |
| Career Consuls | The Consul of … | Dear Consul | ‘Consul’ or ‘Sir’ or ‘Mrs/Ms’ |
| Honorary Consuls | The Consul of … | Dear Consul | ‘Consul’ or ‘Sir’ or ‘Mrs/Ms’ |
How to address religious leaders
| Title | How referred to | Salutation in correspondence | How to address in person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop (Church of England) | The Most Reverend the Archbishop of Melbourne | Dear Archbishop | ‘Your Grace’ |
| Archbishop (Roman Catholic) | The Most Reverend the Archbishop of Melbourne | My Lord Archbishop | ‘Your Grace’ |
| Bishop (Church of England) | Slot gameThe Right Reverend the Bishop of … | Dear Bishop | ‘Bishop…’ |
| Bishop (Roman Catholic) | The Most Reverend … | My Lord | ‘My Lord’ |
| Dean (Church of England) | The Very Reverend the Dean of … | Dear Dean | ‘Dean ...’ or ‘Dean’ |
Slot gameReviewed 22 April 2020