The title of High Steward or Great Steward is that of an officer who controls the domestic affairs of a royal household. In the 12th century King

David I of Scotland David I or Dauíd mac Maíl Choluim (Modern: ''Daibhidh I mac haoilChaluim''; – 24 May 1153) was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians from 1113 to 1124 and later King of Scotland from 1124 to 1153. The youngest son of Malcolm ...

gave the title to Walter fitz Alan, a nobleman from

Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, Historical region, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known ...

, whose descendants adopted the surname "Steward", later "Stewart" and later founded the royal House of Stewart. A junior branch of the Stewart family descended from the younger son of Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland (d.1283), namely "

Stewart of Darnley Stewart of Darnley, also known as the Lennox Stewarts, were a notable Scots family, a branch of the Clan Stewart, who provided the English Stuart monarchs with their male-line Stuart descent, after the reunion of their branch with the royal Sco ...

", paternal ancestors of King James I & VI, lived for several generations in France, when the name became spelt in the French manner "Stuart" and "Dernelé". In 1371 Robert Stewart, 7th High Steward of Scotland inherited the throne of Scotland via his mother and became King

Robert II of Scotland Robert II (2 March 1316 – 19 April 1390) was King of Scots from 1371 to his death in 1390. The son of Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, and Marjorie, daughter of King Robert the Bruce, he was the first monarch of the House of Stewa ...

, when the title or office of High Steward of Scotland merged into the crown. However it was re-granted by the monarch to his elder son and heir apparent, together with the titles

Duke of Rothesay Duke of Rothesay ( ; gd, Diùc Baile Bhòid; sco, Duik o Rothesay) is a dynastic title of the heir apparent to the British throne, currently William, Prince of Wales. William's wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, is the current Duchess of R ...

(created 1398), Baron of Renfrew (created 1404), Earl of Carrick (created 1186) and

Lord of the Isles The Lord of the Isles or King of the Isles ( gd, Triath nan Eilean or ) is a title of Scottish nobility with historical roots that go back beyond the Kingdom of Scotland. It began with Somerled in the 12th century and thereafter the title w ...

(created c. 875). Thus, currently, the

Prince of Wales Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers ...

is High Steward of Scotland, sometimes known as the

Prince and Great Steward of Scotland Prince and Great Steward of Scotland are two of the titles of the heir apparent to the throne of the United Kingdom. The current holder of these titles is Prince William, who bears the other Scottish titles of Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, ...

High Stewards of Scotland, c. 1150–present

* Walter Fitz-Alan, 1st High Steward of Scotland c. 1150–1177 *

Alan Fitzwalter, 2nd High Steward of Scotland Alan fitz Walter (1140 – 1204) was hereditary High Steward of Scotland and a crusader. Life Alan was the son and heir of Walter fitz Alan, by his spouse Eschina, who was possibly a member of a family from the south of Scotland. From 1178, ...

1177–1204 * Walter Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland 1204–1246 * Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland 1246–1283 * James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland 1283–1309 *

Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland Walter Stewart (G. W. S. Barrow, ‘Stewart family (per. c.1110–c.1350)’, ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004.9 April 1327) was the 6th Hereditary High Steward of Scotland and was the father of King Rob ...

1309–1327 * Robert Stewart, 7th High Steward of Scotland (Robert II of Scotland) 1327–1371 * John Stewart, 8th High Steward of Scotland (Robert III of Scotland) c. 1371–1390 * David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay 1398–1402 * James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay (James I of Scotland) 1402–1406 *

Alexander Stewart, Duke of Rothesay Alexander Stewart, Duke of Rothesay (16 October 1430 – 16 October 1430) was the eldest of a pair of twins. He died in infancy, and his younger twin brother became James II of Scotland. The twins were born in Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh. The ...

1430 * James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay (James II of Scotland) 1430–1437 * James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay (James III of Scotland) 1453–1460 * James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay (James IV of Scotland) 1473–1488 * James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay 1507–1508 * Arthur Stewart, Duke of Rothesay 1509–1510 * James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay (James V of Scotland) 1512–1513 * James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay 1540–1541 * James Stuart, Duke of Rothesay (James VI & I) 1566–1567 * Henry Frederick Stuart, Duke of Rothesay (Prince of Wales) 1594–1612 * Charles Stuart, Duke of Rothesay (Charles I) 1612–1625 * Charles Stuart, Duke of Rothesay (Charles II) 1630–1649 * James Francis Edward Stuart, Duke of Rothesay 1688–1689 * George Augustus, Duke of Rothesay (George II) 1714–1727 * Frederick Louis, Duke of Rothesay (Prince of Wales) 1727–1751 * George, Duke of Rothesay (George IV) 1762–1820 * Albert Edward, Duke of Rothesay (Edward VII) 1841–1901 * George, Duke of Rothesay (George V) 1901–1910 * Edward, Duke of Rothesay (Edward VIII) 1910–1936 * Charles, Duke of Rothesay (Charles III) 1952–2022 * William, Duke of Rothesay 2022–

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stewart Constitution of the United Kingdom Political office-holders in Scotland Lists of office-holders in Scotland Positions within the British Royal Household Ceremonial officers in the United Kingdom Scotland, High Steward of High Stewards of Scotland