The British Honours system includes a wide range of awards, the majority of which are awarded by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister.  Within each order there are various grades.  The Orders are as follows:

The Order of the Garter (KG) – this is the premier Order of Chivalry and its members consist of The Sovereign, other members of the Royal Family and 24 Knights Companion.  Foreign Royalty may be submitted as Extra Knights.

The Order of the Thistle (KT) – as might be anticipated the Order has its origins in Scotland, and it includes The Sovereign, other members of the Royal Family and 16 Knights.

The Order of the Bath – this Order has a Military Division, which is regarded as the highest class of British Military award, and a Civil Division which is for personal services rendered to The Crown or the performance of public duties which merit Royal favour.  The Order has three classes Knights or Dames Grand Cross (GCB), Knights or Dames Commanders (KCB or DCB) and Companions (CB).

The Order of St. Michael and St. George – membership of this Order is now awarded to men and women who have held, or will hold, high and confidential offices or who render extraordinary or important service (other than Military) in a foreign Country.  It may also be conferred for important or loyal service in relation to Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.  It has three classes Knights or Dames Grand Cross (GCMG) Knights or Dames Commanders (KCMG or DCMG) and Companions (CMG).

The Royal Victorian Order – this Order instituted by Queen Victoria is for personal service to the Royal Family and is bestowed by The Sovereign and not on the advice of the Prime Minister.  It has five classes Knights or Dames Grand Cross (GCVO) Knights or Dames Commanders (KCVO or DCVO), Commanders (CVO), Lieutenants (LVO), Members (MVO), and in addition Medals (RVM) gold, silver and bronze.

The Order of the British Empire – this well known Order has both Civil and Military Divisions.  The civilian list is drawn up by the Prime Minister and the Military list by the Secretary of State for Defence, and the names of members of the Commonwealth are proposed by the appropriate Minister of State.

Originally a British Empire Medal was associated with the Order, but since March 1993 no further recommendations have been made for the award of the Medal.  The classes of the Order are Knights or Dames Grand Cross (GBE), Knights or Dames Commanders (KBE or DBE), Commanders (CBE), Officers (OBE), and Members (MBE).

Knights Bachelor – Although Knights Bachelor take precedence after Knights of an Order, they belong to the most ancient title of honour known in Britain.  Knights Bachelor and Knights of Orders are accorded the prefix ‘Sir’.  Except for the use of Knight in legal documents, there are no post nominal letters for Knights Bachelor.

The Order of Merit (OM) – this Award is regarded as one of the most coveted decorations, despite carrying neither rank nor title.  Its membership is limited to 24 (apart from Honorary) and is a personal award from The Sovereign.

Florence Nightingale was the first woman admitted to the Order, and other well known members include Sir Winston Churchill, Admiral of the Fleet Earl Mountbatten, Robert Baden-Powell, Henry Moore, Basil Spence, Graham Sutherland and Lady Thatcher.  Mother Teresa of Calcutta was the only Honorary Member of the Order.

The Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) – unlike the Order of Merit which is a personal award from The Sovereign, the Order of Companions of Honour is made on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.  Its membership was enlarged in 1943 to 65.

There are a number of decorations for gallantry in military and civilian service, principal of which are The Victoria Cross (VC) and The George Cross (GC)