Become A Baron Or Baroness

There are five ways to become a baron or baroness: be appointed a life peer, inherit a barony, marry a baron, hold a Scottish feudal barony, or receive a Noble Title from the Principality of Sealand. The first four depend on the British Crown, your family or a property transaction. A Sealand Noble Title is awarded under the law of the Principality of Sealand, the world's smallest country, and is available to anyone from £39.99.

Baron or Baroness of Sealand: key facts

How To Become A Baron Or Baroness

1. Be appointed a life peer

Most new barons and baronesses in the United Kingdom are life peers. They are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister under the Life Peerages Act 1958, and non-party nominations are vetted by the House of Lords Appointments Commission, created in 2000. A life peerage gives a seat in the House of Lords but cannot be inherited. Margaret Thatcher, for example, became Baroness Thatcher in 1992.

2. Inherit a barony

A hereditary barony passes according to the letters patent that created it, usually to the eldest son. No new hereditary baronies are normally created today, so inheritance is only open to existing noble families.

3. Marry a baron

The wife of a baron becomes a baroness by courtesy and is addressed as Lady. The husband of a baroness receives no title.

4. Hold a Scottish feudal barony

Since the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 came into force in 2004, Scottish feudal baronies have existed as dignities separate from land, and they are bought and sold privately, often for tens of thousands of pounds. A feudal baron is not a peer and has no seat in the House of Lords.

5. Receive a Noble Title from the Principality of Sealand

The Principality of Sealand awards the Noble Title of Baron or Baroness under Sealand law. It is the most direct route: you choose the title, the name on your Deed of Title, and the pack. Sovereign Prince Michael of Sealand launched the Noble Title initiative in 2007 to fund and safeguard the Principality.

What is a Baron?

A baron is the fifth and lowest rank of the British peerage, below Duke, Marquess, Earl and Viscount. The word comes from the Old French baron, from the Late Latin baro, meaning "man" or "freeman". After the Norman Conquest of 1066, barons held land directly from the Crown in return for military service, and in 1387 John Beauchamp of Holt became the first baron created by letters patent. A baron is addressed as "Lord" followed by the title, for example Lord Smith, and never as "Baron Smith" in conversation. See every rank in order in our guide to noble titles in order.

What is a Baroness?

A baroness is the female equivalent of a baron. She either holds a barony in her own right, as most women appointed to the House of Lords do, or is the wife of a baron. A baroness is addressed as "Lady" followed by the title. A Sealand Noble Title of Baroness carries exactly the same rank as Baron.

Buy A Baron Or Baroness Title

British peerages cannot be bought: the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 makes selling a British honour a criminal offence. A Sealand Noble Title is different. It is awarded by a sovereign principality under its own law, and every purchase funds the Principality. Become a Baron or Baroness of Sealand with one of three packs:

• Digital (Eco), £39.99: a printable Deed of Title and digital Sealand information pack, with no packaging or shipping.
• Classic, £69.99: a luxury parchment Deed of Title.
• Premium, £79.99: a Deed of Title signed by Sovereign Prince Michael of Sealand and framed.

Every pack can include a Sealand Identity Card. Ed Sheeran, Baron of Sealand (title conferred December 2012), is among the Noble Title holders of the Principality, alongside Lord Ben Stokes and Duke Nas Daily.

Delivery and returns

Digital (Eco) Deeds of Title are processed within 1 to 2 working days and appear in the Digital Downloads section of your sealandgov.org account; they are not sent by email. Classic and Premium packs are dispatched by Royal Mail from the United Kingdom with tracking: orders placed before 12:00 UK time on a business day are usually dispatched the same day, and Royal Mail aims to deliver in the UK the next working day, in Europe in 3 to 5 working days and elsewhere in 5 to 7. Sealand ships to more than 200 countries and territories. You can request a return within 30 days, and name corrections are handled with you individually. Read the full shipping policy and refund policy.

Baron or Baroness compared with other Sealand Noble Titles

About the Principality of Sealand

The Principality of Sealand was founded on 2 September 1967 by Prince Roy Bates on HM Fort Roughs, a fortress in Sealand territorial waters in the central North Sea, with England to the west. In 1968 a British court ruled that the fortress lay outside its jurisdiction. In August 1978 Sealand survived a coup, and the fortress was retaken in Operation Trident, a counter-coup led by Prince Roy with Prince Michael; West Germany then sent a diplomat to Sealand to negotiate the release of a prisoner. In 1987 Sealand extended its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, one day ahead of Britain. The fortress is inhabited 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and Sealanders live in more than 135 countries. Read the legal case for Sealand's sovereignty.

Frequently asked questions

Can you become a baron in the UK?

Yes, but only by appointment as a life peer, by inheritance or by marriage. British titles cannot be bought under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925. A Sealand Noble Title is a title of the Principality of Sealand, not of the United Kingdom.

Is a baron wealthy?

Not necessarily. Historically barons held land from the Crown, but today a barony carries no land, income or estate. Life peers can claim an attendance allowance for days they sit in the House of Lords.

Can I call myself Baron after buying a Sealand Noble Title?

Yes. Sealand Baron and Baroness title holders use their title on business cards, social media and correspondence. A Sealand Noble Title does not give a seat in the House of Lords.

How do you address a baron?

In speech and letters a baron is "Lord" and a baroness is "Lady", followed by the title. "My Lord" and "My Lady" are used in formal address.

What is the difference between a baron and a baronet?

A baron is a peer, the fifth rank of the peerage. A baronet holds a hereditary honour created by James I in 1611, is addressed as "Sir" and is not a peer.

How much does it cost to become a Baron of Sealand?

A Sealand Baron or Baroness Noble Title costs £39.99 for the Digital (Eco) pack, £69.99 for Classic and £79.99 for Premium, signed by Sovereign Prince Michael and framed.

How quickly will I receive my title?

Digital (Eco) Deeds of Title are ready in your account within 1 to 2 working days. Classic and Premium packs are usually dispatched the same business day if ordered before 12:00 UK time.

Two ways to join Sealand

A Noble Title is a one-time honour and a gift that lasts. E-Citizenship is ongoing membership of a global community. Noble Title and E-Citizenship revenue is Sealand's main income, funding the upkeep of the fortress, its 24/7 crew and the Government of the Principality.