The Duke of Hamilton is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, created in April 1643, whose holder serves as the premier peer of Scotland and head of the House of Hamilton. The family surname evolved from "Hamilton" to "Douglas-Hamilton", and since 1711 the dukedom has been held jointly with the Dukedom of Brandon in the Peerage of Great Britain, styling the holder as Duke of Hamilton and Brandon. This duke holds unique ceremonial roles, including hereditary keeper of the Palace of Holyroodhouse and bearer of the Crown of Scotland—a duty performed at the 1999 Scottish Parliament inauguration and on Queen Elizabeth II's coffin in 2022. He is one of only five British peers to hold more than one dukedom, and he enjoys the exclusive right to remove the Scottish Crown Jewels from Edinburgh. The heir apparent is styled "Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale", while his eldest son uses the courtesy title "Earl of Angus".