[ Peerage ]

Earl is a level of peered nobility above Viscount and below Marquess. The female equivalent is Countess.

The title of Earl can be kept if it was held during life, can be gained by marriage or can be granted by the Prince.

An Earl uses the Style of Lord (or Lady). The formal title is His/Her Right Honourable Lordship/Ladyship the Earl/Countess of Territory, where Territory is replaced by the name of the title, traditionally the territory associated with it. The Dutch version of the formal title is “De Eerbare Heer/Vrouwe, de Graaf/Gravin van Territorium”