How does the UK honours system work?

The majority of UK honours are given at the start of the year and on the monarch's official birthday in June. They honor the contributions of well-known celebrities, government service employees, and everyday people who have served their families.

Which celebrities were recognised in the 2026 New Year honours?

Actor Idris Elba was given a knighthood for his charity work with young people, while Olympic gold medal-winning ice skatersJayne Torvill and Christopher Dean were branded a dame and a Knight respectively. The lionesses of England were honoured after winning consecutive UEFA Women's Championships, with an honorary damehood for coach Sabrina Wiegman - a Dutch national, while captain Leah Williamson was named CBE Ella Toone, Keira Walsh, Alex Greenwood, and Georgia Stanway were all honoured. Meera Syal, a comedian, actor, and writer, was made a dame, but Cynthia Erivo, based in the United Kingdom, was named

Which celebrities were recognised in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours?

In June, the 2025 King's Birthday Honoursin June bestowed knighthoods to former England football captain David Beckham, actor Gary Oldman, and singer Roger Daltrey, while author Pat Barker and singer Elaine Page were made dames. Tess Daly andClaudia Winklemanwere, the show's presenters, were named MBEs by Tessie Daly & Claudie, while reality TV actress Georgia Harrison became an M

What other types of UK honours are given?

When Parliament adjourns before a general election, dissolution honors are often given to politicians. Outgoing prime ministers can also awardresignation honours. In his resignation honors list, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak named 36 people, the majority of whom were high-profile former Conservative ministers and advisors. When they first took office in 2022, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss received remuneration. Eight names had been rejected by the body that approves appointments to the House of Lords, according to Johnson's tumultuous listinitiate. After only 49 days on the job, Truss was widely chastised for submitting an honors list.

How are people chosen for honours?

Following prime minister or senior government ministers' suggestions, the King has honoured the New YearandKing's Birthday award. Members of the public can also nominate people for an award. These nominations account for about a quarter of all recommendations. Honours' lists include awards for those who: Resignation and dissolution honors are chosen by the relevant prime minister and do not follow the same procedure. The Diplomatic Service and Overseas List are under the control of the Foreign Office. The foreign minister has nominated honorary awards for foreign nationals. Honours are generally kept private until the formal announcement.

How and when do people get their honours?

At Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, or the Palace of Holyroodhouse, honours are usually given by the King, Prince of Wales, or Princess Royal. Recipients can choose their investiture date and location, but not which member of the Royal Family will preside over the service. The King's lord-lieutenants, who represent the King, are given British Empire Medals locally.

How are nominees vetted?

The Honours and Appointments Secretariat, which is part of the Cabinet Office's Cabinet Office, checks people in line for an honour. The Cabinet Office has reached an agreement with other government agencies to allow it access to classified information regarding candidates. For example, HMRC gives a poor, medium, or high risk rating on a candidate's tax affairs. The House of Lords Appointments Commission has verified peerages. The honors for politicians and for political service are being considered by a Parliamentary and Political Services Committee.

Can you turn down an honour?

When someone has been chosen for an award, they are sent a letter asking if they will accept it. Following a BBC Freedom of Information request, a list of 277 people who received awards between 1951 and 1999 - and later died - was revealed publicly. It featured authors Roald Dahl, JG Ballard and Aldous Huxley, as well as painters Francis Bacon, Lucien Freud, and LS In 2003, British poetBenjamin Zephaniah refused an OBE because of its link to the British Empire and slavery's past.

Can an honour be removed?

The Honours Forfeiture Committee has barred certain individuals from their positions of authority. They disgraced former entertainer Rolf Harris, who was sentenced to prison for 12 indecent assaults on four girls, and Anthony Blunt, the former art advisor to the Queen who was revealed to be a Soviet spy, among others. Former Post Office bossPaula Vennells said she would return her CBE in January 2024 after being put under growing strain over the Horizon IT controversy. Honours have also been restored as a mark of resistance. In 1969, John Lennon earned his MBE to condemn Britain's involvement in Nigeria's civil war and support for the Vietnam war. Actor and television host Alan Cumming revived his OBEin 2023 over the British Empire's toxicity in what he described.

What are the different types of honours?

Knights and Dames The honor of knighthood comes from medieval chivalry, as well as the process used to award the knighthood - the opulence, or the touch of a sword, by the sovereign. A knight is branded Sir and their lady Lady and is portrayed as La Women who have been honoured are brandedDame

by the Queen, but not receive the award. The award is given for outstanding achievement in any field of endeavor. On the Diplomatic Service and Overseas list, Knight Commander (KBE) or Dame Commander (DBE) Order of the British Empire (DDE) has the rank of Knight Commander. The Order of the Bath The Order Of the Bath is a charter of chivalry and was established in 1725 for the provision of the highest quality. It has a civil and military division and is ranked in the following categories: Knight Grand Cross (GCB), Knight Commander (KCB), and Companion (CB). The Order derives from the symbolic bathing, which, in earlier times, was often part of a knighthood candidate's preparations. Order of St Michael and St George This Order was established by King George III in 1818 and is given to British subjects who have provided exceptional and significant services in the United Kingdom or Commonwealth. Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCMG), Knight or Admiral Commander (KCMG or DCMG) and Companion (CMG). Order of the Companions of Honour This award is given for service of national importance and is limited to 65 individuals. Recipients are entitled to place the initials CH after their name. During World War One, orders of the British Empire King George V created these awards to encourage the war effort by civilians both at home and service personnel in support positions. Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE), and MeMBEr (MBE) are among the ranks. They are now recognized for key national or regional roles, as well as those who have made contributions in their own special fields of activity. BEM (British Empire Medal) The medal was established in 1917 and was given for

conduct by civilians or military forces, but the recipients did not attend a royal investiture. The BEM was revived in 2012 after being scrapped in 1993 by Conservative Prime Minister John Major. Royal Victorian Order by 1896: Prime ministers and governments had increased their clout over award distribution and had almost complete control of the system. In reaction, Queen Victoria established The Royal Victorian Order as a personal award for services rendered on behalf of the Royal Family. The ranks are Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCVO), Knight or Sir Commander (KCVO or DCVO), Commander (CVO), Lieutenant (LVO) and Member (MVO). The Royal Victorian Medal is associated with the Royal Victorian Order and is awarded in three grades: gold, silver, and bronze. The circular medal is attached to the Order's ribbon. The Royal Red Cross was established in 1883 by Queen Victoria, but the award is restricted to the nursing services. Many of those chosen for the First Class have been named

(RRC): those selected for the Second Class are designated