Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2019 – who’s been given an award and how are they selected?
THE Queen’s Birthday Honours list for 2019 has yet to be revealed, but there will be some of Britain’s top names recognised for their services to the country.
The tradition dates back to 1860 when Queen Victoria gave out the first Birthday Honours.
The Birthday Honours list 2019
The Monarch has been handing out honours and recognition since the time of Queen Victoria.
Honours are handed out twice a year – once at New Year and again to mark the Queen’s birthday.
The list for 2019 was released today.
Who’s been given an award?
Olivia Colman has been awarded an CBE for services to drama. She said she was “totally thrilled, delighted and humbled” to get the gong.
Other names to get honours include adventurer Bear Grylls and comedian Griff Rhys Jones, who got OBEs, while authors Joanna Trollope and Lee Child got CBEs.
Singer Elvis Costello and Undertones frontman Feargal Sharkey picked up gongs, as did political rapper M.I.A.
Historians Dan Snow and Bettany Hughes, actress Sheila Atim and photographer Terry O’Neill were also honoured, while actor Simon Russell Beale was knighted.
And CBI boss Carolyn Fairbairn, who made alarmist claims about Brexit, became a dame.
There are also OBEs for three executives behind recent TV hits. Blue Planet producer Alistair Fothergill, boss of The Crown’s production firm Andrew Harries, and Richard Williams whose Northern Ireland Screen was involved in the huge success of Game Of Thrones.
Among the few sports stars honoured, ex QPR manager Chris Ramsey gets an MBE for championing diversity in football management, and Women’s British Open winner Georgia Hall gets the same award.
Founder of Maggie’s cancer centres Laurie Lee becomes a Dame while Prof Mark Caulfield gets a knighthood for his pioneering work to sequence the DNA code of 100,000 NHS patients.
Archibald Tunnock, 86, who invented the Tunnock’s Tea Cake marshmallow snack, got a knighthood.
Overall 1,073 people are given awards in today’s list, three-quarters of whom are recognised for outstanding work in their local communities.
What are the awards handed out?
There are a number of different categories of awards given out, each recognising a particular service to the Queen and country.
These are:
- Companion of Honour – for major contributions to the arts, science, medicine, or government
- Knights/Dames – for major contributions in any activity, usually at national level
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) – for prominent but lesser roles at a national level, or a leading role at regional level
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) – for major roles in any activity
- Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) –for outstanding achievements or services to the community
- British Empire Medal (BEM) – for ‘hands-on’ services to the local community
- Overseas Territories Police and Fire Service Medals
- Royal Victorian Order (RVO) – usually awarded to people who have helped the Queen personally
- The George Cross – a first level civilian medal for bravery
- The George Medal – a second level civilian medal for bravery
- The Queen’s Gallantry Medal – a third level civilian medal for bravery
- The Queen’s Commendation for Bravery and The Queen’s Commendation for Bravery in the Air – awarded for risk to life
Why are people awarded honours?
The system recognises ordinary people and celebs who have made achievements in public life or committed themselves to serving and helping Britain.
They’ll usually have made life better for other people or be outstanding at what they do.
If someone is being given a civilian gallantry award, it means they have attempted to or saved the life of a British citizen who isn’t a family member or close friend.
What are the honours judged on?
Nominations are judged on:
- degree of risk
- how aware the nominee was of the danger
- persistence
People are also given honours for 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 fields in which people can be given honours are:
- community, voluntary and local services
- arts and media
- health
- sport
- education
- science and technology
- business and the economy
- civil or political service
How do you get nominated for an honour?
Anyone can nominate someone for an honour on the .
However, the person being nominated must be actively involved in what you are nominating them for.
Once someone is nominated, the honours committee will review the person and check they are suitable for receiving an award.
This may include checks by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Reviews are carried out by various government departments.
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When is the Queen’s birthday?
The monarch has two birthdays in the UK – their actual one and an official one.
The two-birthday tradition was started by George II in 1748, was born in November, and felt the weather would be too cold at that time of year for his annual birthday parade.
Instead, he combined his birthday celebration with an annual spring military parade known as Trooping the Colour, in which regiments displayed their flags or "colours.
While Queen Elizabeth II’s actual birthday is in April, she has chosen to continue this tradition and has a ‘second’ birthday in June, which is when she hands out honours.
This year that birthday falls on June 8 - TODAY.
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