What is a baroness?
MARGARET Thatcher was one of Britain’s most famous baronesses.
But what exactly is a baroness, and does the title give you more power?
What is a baroness?
A Baroness is a female member of the House of Lords, equivalent in rank to Baron.
The lowest rank of the peerage system is baroness, and this can be hereditary or given out, such as was the case with Baroness Karren Brady.
The title has origins in the English feudal system, and is a rank of nobility and title of honour.
The British peerage has evolved over the centuries into the five ranks that exist today: duke, marquess, earl, viscount and baron.
A Baron is “always referred to and addressed as ‘Lord’; Baron is rarely used. The wife of a baron is a baroness and all children are ‘Honorables’,” explains Historic UK.
Peers still retain the right to vote in the House Lords, the upper house of Parliament.
How do you become a baroness?
Nowadays, people don’t need to have been born into nobility, or inherit a peerage, to become a Baron or a Baroness.
The PM can give you the title – but the honour has to be approved by the Queen.
Nominees for a peerage are put forward by the different political parties.
The House of Lords Appointments Commission also recommends people for appointment as non-party-political life peers annually, explains Metro.
Famous Baronesses include the late Margaret Thatcher.
The ‘Iron Lady’ was the first female British Prime Minister and the longest serving PM for over 150 years.
She left the House of Commons in 1992, and was appointed a life peerage in the House of Lords in the same year, receiving the title of Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven.
Another well-known Baroness was the late Baroness Trumpington.
The former Bletchley Park codebreaker, who died in her sleep at the age of 96, was a household name as she carved out a reputation as a badass Baroness.
Pictures of her flicking two fingers at former Tory Defence Secretary, Lord King, in the House of Lords were published worldwide.
When asked why she had chosen the name Trumpington on joining the Lords, she replied that she only knew two villages in Cambridgeshire, adding: “One was called Trumpington and the other was called Six Mile Bottom. Which one would you have chosen?”
At just 18 she showed she had the brains needed to serve in naval intelligence at Bletchley Park — despite having left school without any qualifications.
In 2012, the year after her infamous two-fingered salute in parliament, she became the oldest guest on BBC show Have I Got News For You.
What’s the difference between a lady and a baroness?
The daughters of a duke, marquess or earl have the courtesy title of ‘Lady’ before their forename and surname, according to Debretts.
‘Lady’ is a courtesy title – along with Lord and ‘The Hon’ – which is usually borne by the sons, daughters, daughters-in-law, brothers, sisters and sisters-in-law of a peer, it adds.
However, the title of ‘Lady’ is also used in line with the British honour system.
The annual honours list consists of knights and dames, appointments to the Order of the British Empire and gallantry awards to servicemen and women, and civilians, explains the BBC.
A knight is styled ‘Sir’ and their wives ‘Lady’.
Baroness is a title of nobility, often inherited and belonging to someone who has a seat in the House of Lords – after being named as one by the PM, or appointed by the House of Lords Appointments Commission.
Metro jokes: “You can also marry into nobility to get the title. Just get hitched to a Baron to become a Baroness.”