Kings Birthday Honours: How does the UK honours system work?
Details of the individuals recognised in the King's Birthday Honours list will be released on 14 June. Actor Stephen Fry, former England football manager Gareth Southgate and London Mayor Sadiq Khan were among those knighted in the most recent New Year Honours list.Honours typically celebrate the contribution of well-known personalities, government employees and ordinary people who have served their community.
When are UK honours awarded?
Most UK honours are awarded at new year and on the monarch's official birthday in June.The 2025 New Year Honours list also included an MBE for Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson, and CBEs for services to drama for actresses Sarah Lancashire and Carey Mulligan.There was a damehood for senior Labour MP Emily Thornberry, and OBEs for services to justice for four former sub-postmasters who took the Post Office to court over the Horizon IT scandal.The 2024 King's Birthday Honours list created three new dames: the actress Imelda Staunton, designer Anya Hindmarch and artist Tracey Emin. The King's first civilian gallantry list in May 2024 saw nine people receive bravery awards.
Dissolution honours are typically given to politicians when Parliament ends before a general election. Outgoing prime ministers can also award resignation honours. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak named 36 people in his resignation honours list - most of whom were high-profile former Conservative ministers, and advisors. Boris Johnson and Liz Truss both issued resignation honours when they left office in 2022.Mr Johnson's controversial list initially contained eight names rejected by the body which approves appointments to the House of Lords. Ms Truss was widely criticised for submitting an honours list after only 49 days in the job.
How are people chosen for honours?
The New Year and King's Birthday honours are awarded by the King following recommendations by the prime minister or senior government ministers.Members of the public can also recommend people for an award. These nominations typically make up about a quarter of all recommendations.Honours' lists include awards for people who:have made significant achievements in public lifecommitted themselves to serving and helping Britain
Resignation and dissolution honours are decided by the relevant prime minister and do not go through the same process.The Foreign Office has responsibility for the Diplomatic Service and Overseas List. Honorary awards for foreign nationals are recommended by the foreign secretary.Honours are traditionally kept confidential until the official announcement, with lists provided to media outlets under embargo.
How and when do people get their honours?
Honours are typically awarded by the King, Prince of Wales or Princess Royal, at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle or the Palace of Holyroodhouse.Recipients can select their investiture's date and location but not which member of the Royal Family will preside over the ceremony.
British Empire Medals are presented locally by lord-lieutenants, who represent the King. Recipients are also invited to attend a royal garden party.
What does the King do?
How are nominees vetted?
People in line for an honour are checked by the Honours and Appointments Secretariat, which is part of the Cabinet Office government department.The Cabinet Office has agreements with other government departments to let it access confidential information about nominees.For example, HMRC provides a low, medium or high-risk rating on a nominee's tax affairs.Peerages are vetted by the House of Lords Appointments Commission.A Parliamentary and Political Services Committee considers honours for politicians and for political service.
What is the House of Lords and how does it work?
Can you turn down an honour?
When somebody is approved for an honour, they are sent a letter asking if they will accept it.A list of 277 people who turned down honours between 1951 and 1999 - and subsequently died - was made public following a BBC Freedom of Information request.It included authors Roald Dahl, JG Ballard and Aldous Huxley, and painters Francis Bacon, Lucien Freud and LS Lowry.
The late poet Benjamin Zephaniah rejected an OBE in 2003 because of the association with the British Empire and its history of slavery.Eight musicians who declined a British honour
Can an honour be removed?
Some people have had their honours withdrawn by the Honours Forfeiture Committee.They include disgraced former entertainer Rolf Harris, who went to prison for 12 indecent assaults on four girls, and Anthony Blunt, the former art adviser to the Queen who was revealed to be a Soviet spy.
In January 2024, former Post Office boss Paula Vennells said she would hand back her CBE after facing mounting pressure over the Horizon IT scandal.Twelve months earlier, actor and TV presenter Alan Cumming returned his OBE over what he called the "toxicity" of the British Empire.
What are the different types of honours?
Knights and DamesThe honour of knighthood comes from the days of medieval chivalry, as does the method used to confer the knighthood - the accolade, or the touch of a sword, by the sovereign.A knight is styled "Sir" and their wife "Lady".Women receiving the honour are styled "Dame" but do not receive the accolade.The honour is given for a pre-eminent contribution in any field of activity.The rank of Knight Commander (KBE) or Dame Commander (DBE), Order of the British Empire, appears on the Diplomatic Service and Overseas list.The Order of the BathThe Order of the Bath is an order of chivalry and was founded in 1725 for service of the highest calibre.It has a civil and military division and is awarded in the following ranks: Knight Grand Cross (GCB), Knight Commander (KCB) and Companion (CB).The Order takes its name from the symbolic bathing which, in former times, was often part of the preparation of a candidate for knighthood.Order of St Michael and St GeorgeThis Order was founded by King George III in 1818 and is awarded to British subjects who have rendered extraordinary and important services abroad or in the Commonwealth.Ranks in the Order are Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCMG), Knight or Dame Commander (KCMG or DCMG) and Companion (CMG).Order of the Companions of HonourThis is awarded for service of conspicuous national importance and is limited to 65 people. Recipients are entitled to put the initials CH after their name.Orders of the British EmpireKing George V created these honours during World War One to reward services to the war effort by civilians at home and service personnel in support positions.The ranks are Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE), and Member (MBE).They are now awarded for prominent national or regional roles, and to those making distinguished or notable contributions in their own specific areas of activity.British Empire Medal (BEM)The medal was founded in 1917 and was awarded for "meritorious" actions by civilians or military personnel, although the recipients did not attend a royal investiture.Scrapped in 1993 by Conservative Prime Minister John Major, the BEM was revived in 2012.Royal Victorian OrderBy 1896, prime ministers and governments had increased their influence over the distribution of awards and had gained almost total control of the system.In response, Queen Victoria instituted The Royal Victorian Order as a personal award for services performed on behalf of the Royal Family.The ranks are Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCVO), Knight or Dame Commander (KCVO or DCVO), Commander (CVO), Lieutenant (LVO) and Member (MVO).Royal Victorian MedalAssociated with the Royal Victorian Order is the Royal Victorian Medal which has three grades: gold, silver and bronze. The circular medal is attached to the ribbon of the Order.Royal Red CrossFounded in 1883 by Queen Victoria, the award is confined to the nursing services. Those awarded the First Class are designated "Members" (RRC): those awarded the Second Class are designated "Associates" (ARRC).King's Police MedalAwarded for distinguished service in the police force.King's Fire Service MedalGiven to firefighters who have displayed conspicuous devotion to duty.King's Ambulance Service MedalAwarded for distinguished service in the ambulance service.King's Gallantry MedalAwarded to civilians, for acts of exemplary bravery.King's Commendation for BraveryAwarded to civilians and all ranks of the British armed forces, for actions not in the presence of an enemy.King's Commendation for Bravery in the AirAwarded to civilians and all ranks of the British armed forces, for acts of bravery in the air not in the presence of an enemy.
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