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The honours process

Honours lists are published twice a year at New Year and in mid-June on the Queen's official birthday. Anyone can receive an award if they reach the required standard of merit or service, and the list contains a wide variety of people from different backgrounds.

There are two main ways in which the process operates:

• Nomination forms sent directly (or indirectly via Buckingham Palace or 10 Downing Street) to the Nominations team of the Ceremonial Secretariat are sifted and checked. Some cases are referred to the relevant government department for them to consider. The remainder are dealt with centrally. Comments and feedback are sought from Lord Lieutenants, outside bodies and departments which may have an interest in an aspect of the candidate's work. Once the case is ready it is sent to the Honours team.
• Candidates that have been identified by a department (together with nominations cases) are also checked and sifted. The department's cases are assessed by an internal committee. The department will then submit its candidates to 10 Downing Street from where they go to the Honours team of the Ceremonial Secretariat.

Once the case reaches the Honours team of the Ceremonial Secretariat it is prepared for consideration by one of a series of specialist assessment sub-committees. The chairs and the majority of the members of these committees are independent of government.

• Download Honours Committees (PDF, 48K)

Main selection committee

Their assessments are sent to the main selection committee. The main committee considers the balance of the proposals and forwards its recommendations to the Cabinet Secretary who, in turn, submits the list to the Prime Minister for submission to The Queen.

Once The Queen has given her informal approval, letters are then sent to each nominee asking them whether they would be willing to accept the proposed award. Once they have replied a final list is submitted to The Queen for formal approval.

The list is published in The London Gazette and the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood at St James's Palace arrange investitures for the successful candidates.

Peerages

Peerages are not honours. Since May 2000 Peers nominated by political parties have been vetted by the House of Lords Appointments Commission. The House of Lords Appointments Commission also recommends people for non-party peerages.