How to Get on the Queen's Honours List

The Queen's Honours List is published twice a year (on New Year's Day and the Queen's official birthday in June) to acknowledge those who have made their mark on society. Contrary to popular opinion, honours are not reserved for celebrities, and it is possible for a regular person to get on the list by performing notable deeds.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Be a British National. Only British Nationals are eligible for the Queen's Honours List.
2. Do something exceptional. The Honours List recognises outstanding achievement and service to the community or to the nation. The list also pays tribute to those in education, health, law and order and the third sector.
3. Get a recommendation. You need to be nominated by a government minister, an organisation or an individual, who must complete an application form.
4. Nominations are considered by sub-committees of experts for each area of work. Their decisions are put forward to a selection panel who pass the final list to the Secretary of State who then gives them to the Prime Minister.
5. The Prime Minister submits the list to the Queen. Once she has given her informal approval, each nominee receives a letter asking if he or she would be willing to accept. If you receive such a letter, be sure to reply quickly to signal your consent.
6. When all the nominees have replied, the Queen approves the final list which is then published in The London Gazette, the official newspaper of the Crown. So look out for your name there.
7. Investitures are arranged by the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood at St James's Palace. This will be your big celebration day, so enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Tips & Warnings

• The Royal Red Cross is awarded to those in the nursing services.
• The Queen's Police Medal is awarded to members of the police force for outstanding service.
• The Queen's Fire Service Medal recognises firefighters who have shown extraordinary devotion to duty.
• Foreign nationals can be nominated by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for honorary orders of chivalry.
• Nominations take 12 to 18 months to be considered, so nominations need to be submitted while the nominee is still active in the area for consideration.
• The names of nominees are not released, and anyone making a nomination should not inform the person in question, as many names are put forward and it would be unkind to raise nominees' hopes unnecessarily.
• Some honours can be removed, so if you manage to get yourself onto the list, do keep up your honourable activities or a forfeiture may be considered.
• Not everyone on the Honours List gets the impressive tap on the shoulder with a sword. This is reserved for those receiving the Knights Bachelor. These lucky few are henceforth addressed as "Sir". Women receiving this honour are addressed as "Dame" but sadly don't get the accolade with the sword.
• Aside from awards for bravery, honours cannot be given posthumously.