The designation 'Premier Earl' refers to the individual holding the oldest extant earldom in a specific realm, such as the Peerage of England, Scotland, or Ireland. In the strictly ordered world of the English nobility, precedence is dictated by the date of a title's letters patent or, in even older cases, the writ of summons. This individual takes precedence over all other Earls in ceremonies of state, such as coronations or the State Opening of Parliament, and is considered the senior member of the third rank of the peerage.
Historically, the identity of the Premier Earl of England is uniquely intertwined with the office of the Earl Marshal. The Earldom of Arundel, currently held by the Duke of Norfolk, is recognized as the premier earldom by virtue of its tenure of Arundel Castle. This linkage between land-tenure and nobility is a remnant of feudal law, distinguishing the title from later earldoms created solely by royal patent. While the Premier Earl is a position of high social dignity, the title-holder's influence was traditionally measured by their proximity to the Crown and the antiquity of their lineage rather than specific administrative power.