KING Charles' first New Years honours list will celebrate individuals whose contributions to society, their field, industry or community had a positive impact on life in the UK.
Each year, the British Honours system sees nominees awarded with honours such as knighthoods, medals or ranks in recognition of their achievements.
What is the New Year's Honours list?
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, with New Year's Day being marked by naming new members of orders of chivalry and recipients of other official honours.
Some other Commonwealth realms also mark this day in this way, marking the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the Commonwealth.
The awards are presented by or in the name of the reigning monarch, King Charles or his vice-regal representative, which has often been filled by the Prince of Wales.
British honours are also published in supplements to the London Gazette each year.
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This December saws the announcement of the New Years 2023 Honour list, with key individuals being honoured in the new year.
Honours have been awarded on almost every New Year since 1890, with recipients receiving titles such as OBE or MBE for their feats of excellence.
There was no honours list at New Year 1902 but was published in January 1903.
There were also no honours issued in 1940, after the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939.
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When is the New Year's Honours list announced?
A list of approximately 1,350 names is published twice a year, at the New Year and on the date of the Sovereign's (official) birthday.
King Charles celebrates his birthday on November 14.
The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebrations at the start of January and those for the 2023 year are announced at the end of December.
Recipients of the honours list this year will have a scheduled event at some point in the upcoming year with The King or his regal representative to mark the occasion and award their medals or decoration.
Why are people awarded honours?
The honours system recognises people from all walks of life who have made achievements in public life and/or committed themselves to serving and helping the UK.
Any British national or citizen of the 15 Commonwealth realms can be nominated for honours in the British honours system.
This could be anyone, regardless of if they are in the public eye, can be recognised for their service and contribution to their respective fields in the UK and abroad.
What are the New Year's Honours judged on?
New year's honours are judged on a number of achievements such as:
- Making a difference to their community or field of work
- Enhancing Britain's reputation
- Long-term voluntary service
- Innovation and entrepreneurship
- Changing things, with an emphasis on achievement
- Improving life for people less able to help themselves
- Displaying moral courage
The honours system recognises individual achievements such as the ones above, in fields including:
- community, voluntary and local services
- arts and media
- sport
- science and technology
- health
- education
- business and the economy
- civil or political service
To receive an honour, the recipient must still be actively involved in what you’re nominating them for.
The only honours which can be awarded after someone’s death are gallantry awards.
Who decides who receives an award?
Whether someone gets an honour is decided by the honours committee.
Honours committees are made up of both senior civil servants and people who are independent of government with an independent chairperson.
All nominees are checked by various government departments to make sure they're suitable for honour and this may include checks by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) before their recommendations are passed on to the Prime Minister, and then the King.
Once all recipients have been decided and checks have been completed, the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood at St James's Palace then arranges for the recipients to be presented with their medals by the King or other members of the Royal Family.
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