These noble awards represent the efforts of those who have gone above and beyond to make our world a better place and transform the lives of others.
In this article, we’ll give you a complete guide on who is eligible to receive a royal honour, including details on the criteria and some tips on how to structure a nomination.
We will also share how Awards Intelligence’s support and expertise will ensure that your nomination is as compelling as possible to give you the best chance of being honoured for your outstanding achievements.
Who is eligible to receive a royal Honour?
The British honours system acknowledges those who have made outstanding contributions in their fields and dedicated themselves to serving the United Kingdom. These people have typically made a positive impact on the lives of others, making our world a progressively better place.
Anyone can be recognised, from those who are committed to bettering their local community and groundbreaking entrepreneurs, to disruptive industry-leading experts and devoted philanthropists.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for a royal honour, with guidance from the UK Government, individuals must have:
- Made achievements that have gained public recognition.
- Committed themselves to serving and helping the United Kingdom.
- Strive to make life better for other people or be outstanding at what they do.
- Must still be actively involved in the activity they are being nominated for.
What people get honours for
People receive honours for a variety of achievements, which according to the Government website, include:
- Displaying moral courage.
- Making a difference to their community or field of work.
- Long-term voluntary service.
- Enhancing Britain’s reputation.
- Changing things, with an emphasis on achievement.
- Innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Improving life for people who are less able to help themselves.
Royal honours are awarded to people from all walks of life, including the following:
- Business and the economy.
- Community, voluntary and local services.
- Arts and media.
- Health and Education.
- Sport.
- Science and technology.
- Civil or political service.
Nominating people who live overseas
Not just those living in the UK are eligible to receive this prestigious award; you can also nominate someone for an honour if they reside overseas or if they live in the UK but have made a significant contribution overseas.
Alternatively, if a nominee isn’t British or is a national of a country within the commonwealth, they will be given an ‘honorary award’.
Gallantry awards
These awards recognise the bravery of people who have put themselves at risk or in danger in order to save someone’s life. Eligibility for this award is measured against the degree of risk, how aware the nominee was of the danger and their persistence in saving a person’s life.
Whilst the incident must’ve taken place in the last 5 years, you can still recommend someone after they’ve passed away, which is called a ‘posthumous award’.
Additionally, the person nominated doesn’t have to be British to be eligible for gallantry awards, except for the George Cross, which is a first-level civilian medal for bravery, for acts of great heroism and courage in extreme danger. According to the Government website, the other gallantry awards include:
- George Medal: a second-level civilian medal for bravery, for acts of great bravery.
- Queen’s Gallantry Medal: a third-level civilian medal for bravery, for inspiring acts of bravery.
- Queen’s Commendation for Bravery/Bravery in the Air: a fourth-level civilian medal for bravery, for acts which involve risk to life.
Application and selection process
The process for nominating someone for a royal honour in the UK is open to everyone. The nominee will be checked by different government departments, like HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), to make sure they are truly worthy of this accolade.
The Honours Committee’s review all nominations before giving recommendations to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister will then present these to the King for the final decision. The person nominating will receive confirmation of their application, but it will often take between 12 and 18 months before they receive any further updates or a decision.
Whether someone receives an honour, and which honour they receive, is determined by the Honours Committee’s, so making a stand-out impression is essential for your nominee’s success.
Application tips
When drafting your application, we advise that you focus on your nominee’s exceptional achievements and the positive impact they’ve made on their community and beyond. By providing concrete evidence, alongside multiple letters of support, your application will be positioned strongly to the Honours Committee.
Going the extra mile with Awards Intelligence
We strive to accurately represent your nominee’s exceptionality and putting them head and shoulders above others in their field, making sure your nomination is as compelling as possible. On average, our team of experts spend between 100-150 hours researching and drafting a nomination, meaning that your nominee will get the best possible chance to be recognised for their accomplishments.
Contact us to discover more about how Awards Intelligence can help you with your application. Learn more about our support throughout the process and our proven approach to crafting honours nominations.