Q: Who can get a Knighthood or Damehood?

Anyone can be nominated to receive a KBE or DBE so long as they meet the King’s honour criteria for that award.

A knighthood or damehood can be presented for all types of different achievement, but usually the person nominated will have made a major contribution to the country at a national or international level; their work and achievements will be viewed as an inspiration to others; and they may have influenced their peers, industry or the nation through their sustained and outstanding commitment to their chosen area.

Often a knighthood or damehood will be awarded as a progression of an individual’s previous recognition with an MBE, OBE or CBE, if they have continued to achieve at a high level since their initial award.

When you make a recommendation for an award you are not asked to specify the name of the honour, so there is no need to stipulate that you think they deserve a knighthood or damehood. The level of honour awarded will be decided by the committees who look at all the evidence of that person’s work in the nomination.