Use upper case for ranks and titles when written in conjunction with a name, but lower case when on their own.
- Queen Elizabeth was set to attend next week's reception.
- The queen resides in Buckingham Palace only part of the year.
Office holders when referred to merely by their office, not by their name, are lower case. Similarly, if you want to describe the office rather than the individual, use lower case.
- The prime minister met his wife while at Otago.
- In this country, the prime minister is elected by permanent residents and citizens over age 18.
- The next vice-chancellor is yet to be determined.