British honours and decorations

British honours and decorations
Name	British honours and decorations
Established	Medieval period–present
Awarded by	Monarch of the United Kingdom
Country	United Kingdom

British honours and decorations are the system of orders, decorations and medals conferred in the United Kingdom and its predecessor states to recognise achievement, bravery, service, and merit. The system encompasses chivalric orders, state orders, gallantry awards, campaign medals and long service decorations linked to the Crown and administered through royal, ministerial and military channels. Recipients include civilians, members of the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, diplomats, civil servants, police officers, and volunteers across the realms and Commonwealth.

History

The origins trace to medieval chivalric institutions such as the Order of the Garter (founded by Edward III), the development of state orders like the Order of the Bath under George I, and the expansion of campaign medals after the Napoleonic Wars and Crimean War. Victorian reforms under Queen Victoria and administrators like Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington and officials in the Foreign Office produced decorations such as the Victoria Cross (instituted during the Crimean War) and the Order of St Michael and St George for imperial service. Twentieth-century conflicts including the First World War and Second World War prompted proliferation of gallantry awards, campaign stars like the 1939–1945 Star, and peacetime honours adjustments by prime ministers such as Winston Churchill and reform efforts associated with Tony Blair.

Types and Order of Precedence

The system is organised into chivalric orders, state orders, gallantry awards, campaign medals, police and fire service decorations, and long service medals. Senior orders include the Order of the Garter, the Order of the Thistle, and the Most Honourable Order of the Bath; diplomatic and overseas service is recognised by the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George. Gallantry hierarchy is topped by the Victoria Cross and George Cross, followed by decorations like the Distinguished Service Order, the Military Cross, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Campaign and service medals such as the Africa General Service Medal, the General Service Medal (1962), and NATO awards are lower in precedence. Order of wear is decreed by the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood and the London Gazette listings, with coronation and jubilee medals like the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal placed according to established rules.

Civil Honours and Awards

Civilian recognition includes appointments to the Order of the British Empire (such as KBE, OBE, MBE), the Order of the Bath in civil divisions, and honours for public service like the Companion of Honour. Awards for bravery and service outside combat include the George Cross and the Queen's Gallantry Medal. Diplomatic and foreign service distinctions include the Order of St Michael and St George and appointments by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Civil honours are often conferred during the New Year Honours and the Birthday Honours lists, with investiture ceremonies at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle presided over by the Monarch of the United Kingdom or royal representatives such as the Prince of Wales.

Military Honours and Decorations

Military awards recognise valour, leadership and service in the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom branches: British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force. The highest gallantry award is the Victoria Cross, instituted during the Crimean War, with subsequent decorations like the Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, Victoria Cross and Bar instances, the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, and campaign-specific clasps for conflicts such as the Falklands War and the Gulf War. Long service decorations include the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal series, while unit-level and theatre medals include the Operational Service Medal (Afghanistan) and the Iraq Medal. Nominal precedence and entitlement to append post-nominal letters are regulated by the Ministry of Defence and announced in official notices such as the London Gazette.

Process of Nomination and Appointment

Nominations originate from diverse sources: public nominations submitted to honours committees, recommendations from government departments like the Home Office and Ministry of Defence, and military commanders’ reports. Independent committees—covering community, arts, science and voluntary sectors—assess candidates before advice goes to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and ultimately to the Monarch of the United Kingdom for approval. For military honours, commanding officers and theatre commanders forward citations to honours and awards branches within the Ministry of Defence, with final awards often published in the London Gazette. For diplomatic and colonial-era cases, recommendations passed through institutions such as the Colonial Office or the Commonwealth Secretariat historically influenced appointments.

Insignia, Symbols and Post-nominal Letters

Insignia include badges, stars, neck orders, sashes, ribbons and miniature medals crafted by firms like Wartski and hallmarked through traditional workshops associated with the Goldsmiths' Company. Heraldic elements such as the royal cypher, crowns, and mottos appear across insignia; chivalric garments and investiture regalia relate to ceremonies at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle and state occasions including the State Opening of Parliament. Recipients may use post-nominal letters—examples include KBE, CBE, OBE, MBE, DSO, VC, GC—and entitlement to styles such as Sir or Dame for certain classes. Proper wear and maintenance of decorations follow guidance from the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood and service dress regulations of the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force.

Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom