Introduction
National Honours are special awards given to people who have given exceptional service to their community or country. They are a way to say thank you to people who have helped their community or made a big difference in the country.
These awards have been around for over 650 years and recognise:
- Merit – Working hard to help others
- Gallantry – Doing something brave
- Service – Making a big difference
There are different types of honours, and each one celebrates a different kind of achievement.
Anyone can get an honour, it doesn’t matter where they are from or what job they do. What matters is the difference they have made.
How to make a nomination
Anyone can suggest someone for an honour. You don’t need to be part of a group or have a special role. You just need to explain why the person deserves it.
To nominate someone, you will need to:
- Fill in a form on the GOV.UK website
- Include all the good things the person has done.
- Ask others to write letters saying why this person should get an honour. It is essential to submit several strong letters of recommendation from people who know at first-hand about the work which has caused the nomination to be made.
Making a nomination
You can find more information, guidance and access to the nomination form on GOV.UK
It is important to remember to include all good works performed by the nominee, not just the foremost reason. It is essential to source and submit several strong letters of recommendation from people who know at first-hand about the work which has caused the nomination to be made.
Please note: Many people continue to assume that honours are awarded at the direction of Lord-Lieutenants in each county. This is not so. For the avoidance of doubt: honours go to people who have been nominated not by the Lieutenancy, as an official body, but by members of the public.
The Lord-Lieutenant is unable to act as a referee.
A nomination will generally take at least 18 months to pass through the vetting process, from the point it is submitted to the Cabinet Office. The nomination should be kept strictly confidential to avoid disappointment should an application be unsuccessful. A finite number of awards are available for each honours list, and therefore nominations are measured against submissions from across the nation.
What happens next?
It can take at least 18 months for a nomination to be checked and decided on.
Honours lists are published twice a year:
- In January (New Year Honours)
- In June (His Majesty The King’s Official Birthday)
More information about nominations
- The Lord-Lieutenant is unable to act as a referee.
- Honours are not given just for being in a job for a long time
- They are usually not given after someone has retired
- Only a certain number of honours are given each time – A limited number of awards are available for each honours list. Therefore nominations are measured against submissions from across the nation.
You can also contact the Cabinet Office for further information on nominations.
Phone: 020 7276 2777
Email: honours@cabinetoffice.gov.uk