The ranks of the hereditary peers in decreasing order of prestige with the titles of their wives are:

Duke (Duchess)
Marquess (Marchioness)
Earl (Countess)
Viscount (Viscountess).
Baron (Baroness)

By 1960s the creation of hereditary peers had virtually ceased and is usually limited to members of the royal family. Now new peers are created by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister. The title is for life only and is not inherited. The title of a Life Peer is always Baron. Women were excluded from Lords until the 1958 Life Peerages Act

The Coronets:
While these are now worn only at the coronation of a new monarch, they are used on coats of arms, etcetera. They are generally used for the Procession of the Peers in Iolanthe and their acccuracy at the première was much admired by the critics

Duke: Eight strawberry leaves
Marquess: Four strawberry leaves and four silver balls called pearls
Earl: Eight strawberry leaves and eight pearls on raise spikes.
Viscount: Sixteen pearls touching one another.
Baron: Six pearls

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Revised January 2007
Please credit Lyric Opera San Diego when using this material.