King's Birthday Honours: What MBE, OBE and others mean

Glasgow Times

12 hours ago

The honours celebrate individual outstanding achievements and contributions to British society.
This year's list ranges from politicians, musicians and actors to senior diplomats and elite sports stars, all recognised for their field or perhaps services to charity.
But what does each honour mean and how are people nominated?
How the British honours system works
The British honours system recognises people who have 'made achievements in public life' and 'committed themselves to serving and helping Britain'.
This can range from volunteers, innovators, entrepreneurs or individuals across a range of fields, such as sport, education, business, the arts and media.
Gallantry awards recognising bravery can also be given to members of the armed forces and the emergency services, as well as civilians.
Any member of the public or an official body can nominate someone for an honour, with UK nationals and Commonwealth citizens eligible.
People living or working overseas, whose achievements were made in another country or in the UK and have a significant international element, can be nominated too.
Non-British or Commonwealth country citizens can also be considered for 'honorary' awards.
The suitability of nominees is submitted to the Honours and Appointments Secretariat, before a group of 10 independent honours committees, each covering a specialist subject area such as sport or health, consider them.
The recommendations of these groups of independent experts and senior civil servants are passed on to the Prime Minister and, ultimately, the King for approval.
The Prime Minister helps to decide on the honours (Image: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire) The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) oversees the Diplomatic Service and Overseas List.
Honours are revealed twice a year, at New Year and in June on the King's official birthday.
Ceremonies to award medals are held later, about 30 times a year, at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and, occasionally, the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, and are hosted by senior royals.
What MBE, OBE, CBE and others honours mean
The honours ranking in descending order is as follows:
Companions of Honour (CH) - for those who have made a long-standing contribution to arts, science, medicine or government
Dame and Knights Grand Cross (GBE) - the highest rank in many of the orders
Order of the Bath (GCB/KCB/DCB/CB) - recognises the work of senior military officials and civil servants
Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG/KCMG/DCMG/CMG) - recognises service in a foreign country or in relation to foreign and Commonwealth affairs
Knights and Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE/DBE) - typically for people who have made a major contribution at national level
Knights Bachelor - an appointment, for men only, which originates from the medieval period
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) - for those who have a prominent but lesser role at national level or a leading role at regional level
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) - those who have a major local role in any activity, including people whose work has made them known nationally
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) - recognises outstanding achievements or service to the community with a significant long-term impact
British Empire Medal (BEM) - reintroduced in 2012 by the then-prime minister David Cameron as part of his bid to make the honours system 'classless', saying too few people making a difference in their areas were made MBEs.
Who is on the King's Birthday Honours list?
There are a number of famous faces recgonised in this year's King's Birthday Honours list.
These include TV stars Claudia Winkleman and Strictly Come Dancing co-host Tess Daly, both awarded MBEs for services to broadcasting.
Winkleman, 53, said she is "incredibly grateful" for honour.
She added: 'It's a real privilege to work with extraordinarily talented people and I have only got this because of them. So this is for the BBC, the traitors and the faithful, for pianos and for the cha cha.
'I will buy a hat and am taking my mum. I am ridiculously lucky and will celebrate with Tess by doing a paso doble.'
Various sports stars have been recognised too, including Sir David Beckham, and England darts players Luke Littler and Luke Humphries.
David Beckham is set to receive a knighthood in the King's Birthday Honours list! 🎖️ pic.twitter.com/PyfcAuSH6x — Sky Sports (@SkySports) June 6, 2025
Sir David, who has been in the running for a knighthood for more than a decade, said in a statement to the PA news agency: 'Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour.
'To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career, and literally a boyhood dream come true.
'Off the pitch I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to represent Britain around the world and work with incredible organisations that are supporting communities in need and inspiring the next generation.
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'I'm so lucky to be able to do the work that I do and I'm grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment.
'It will take a little while for the news to sink in but I'm immensely proud and it's such an emotional moment for me to share with my family.'
Other stars recognised include The Who singer Roger Daltrey, actor Gary Oldman and former MP Penny Mordaunt.