How the honours system works
The nutshell
An honour is an award for people who have done something special, like helping others, being brave, or being brilliant at a job. In the UK, the King gives out honours, from a medal or an MBE up to a knighthood.
Every fact on this page comes from official government guides and non-partisan explainers. Each source tag — like GOV — opens where a fact comes from.
The basics
What an honour is
An honour is an award for doing something special. It can be for years of hard work, for helping other people, or for being very brave. In the UK, the King gives out honours.RF A winner can add letters after a name, like MBE, or be called Sir or Dame.
How someone gets an honour
Anyone can suggest someone for an honour, and it is free.GOVThat suggestion is called a nomination. Committees of senior government staff and independent experts then look at each nomination. The Prime Minister and the King give the final say, and checks on tax and any crimes are made before an award is agreed.HoC
The different honours
Honours come at different levels. The British Empire Medal and the MBE reward local service. The OBE and CBE mark bigger roles. The highest level is a knighthood or a damehood.GOV
When honours are given
Two big lists come out each year. One is at New Year. The other is on the King's official birthday in June.GOV A winner collects the award from a royal at a ceremony called an investiture.RF
- Anyone can nominate anyone for free, so awards can reach quiet local heroes as well as famous names
- Most honours are given for unpaid work, like volunteering, caring and charity
- Independent committees, not the winner, decide each award, and an honour cannot be bought
- The best-known awards are still called the Order of the British Empire, a name from the days of empire
- Assessing a nomination can take a year or more, so an award may arrive long after the work
- Because the Prime Minister recommends many honours, there is ongoing debate about keeping the choices fair
The deep end6 min
Who awards an honour, and on whose advice
The King is described as the "fountain of honour", with the sole right to grant titles of honour.RF In practice, most honours are awarded on the advice of the government. The Cabinet Office runs the system, and the Prime Minister passes the main lists to the King for approval.HoC
How a nomination is checked
Anyone can nominate anyone, using a form on GOV.UK, and there is no fee.GOV Specialist committees then weigh each nomination. According to the House of Commons Library, these committees are made up of senior civil servants and independent people who know the field, such as the arts, sport, health or community work. Checks on tax and criminal records are made so an award does not bring the honour into disrepute.HoC
Honours the King chooses alone
A few honours are the King's personal gift and are given without government advice. The Order of the Garter, the oldest order of chivalry, is limited to 24 members chosen by the King.RF The Order of Merit and the Royal Victorian Order are also in the King's own gift, the second for people who have served the monarchy.
The levels, and the debate about the name
Most honours belong to the Order of the British Empire. The levels run from the British Empire Medal and the MBE, through the OBE and CBE, up to a knighthood or a damehood.GOV The word "Empire" in that name dates from a time when Britain ruled an empire, and its use has been debated. The award keeps its official title for now.