Princess Sophia's Precedence Act 1711

An Act for settling the Precedence of the most Excellent Princess Sophia Electress and Dutchess Dowager of Hanover of the Elector Her Son and of the Electoral Prince the Duke of Cambridge.

Whereas by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm the Imperial Crown and Dignity of the Kingdoms of Great Britain France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging after the Demise and Death of Your Majesty our most gracious Sovereign whom God long preserve in Health and Prosperity for the Happiness and Good of Your Subjects and in default of Issue of Your Majesties Body is limited to the most Excellent Princess Sophia Electress and Dutchess Dowager of Hanover Grand-Daughter of the late King James the First and the Heirs of Her Body being Protestants And Your Majesty having out of Your great Affection and Regard to the said most Excellent Princess Sophia Electress and Dutchess Dowager of Hanover and the Heirs of Her Body being Protestants signified Your Royal Pleasure to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled to have their Precedence settled by Act of Parliament in Manner as herein after is mentioned We Your Majesties most dutiful and loyal Subjects the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament assembled do most humbly beseech Your Majesty that it may be enacted and therefore be it enacted by the Queens most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same That after the Royal Issue of Your Majesties Body the said most Excellent Princess Sophia Electress and Dutchess Dowager of Hanover the most Serene Elector of Brunswick Lunenburg, Her Son and Heir Apparent the most Noble George Augustus Electoral Prince of Hanover and Duke of Cambridge only Son of the said most Serene Elector and also the Heirs of the Body of the said most Excellent Princess Sophia Electress and Dutchess Dowager of Hanover being Protestants in all Places and upon all Occasions shall have Rank and Precedence and take Place before the Archbishop of Canterbury and all Great Officers and the Dukes and all other Peers of these Realms Any Law Statute or Custom whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding.

Source

 * The Statute Law Database published by the Department of Justice, accessed 21 February 2008