THE New Year's Honours list recognises the achievements and service of people across the UK celebrating the Brits who have performed extraordinary feats in their field.
The yearly honours are usually announced just before the New Year and here is everything you need to know.
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, Queen Elizabeth II or her 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.
This December saw the announcement of the New Years 2022 Honour list, with key individuals such as being honoured next 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.
Australia discontinued its New Year Honours in 1989 and now announces its honours on Australia Day on January 26.
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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.
The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebrations at the start of January and those for next year were announced on 30 December.
Recipients of the honours list this year will have a scheduled event at some point in the upcoming year with The Queen or her regal representative to mark the occasion and award their medals or decoration.
Why are people awarded honours?
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.
Usually, the person being recognised on the honours list for performing above and beyond the call of duty for their job or field of work.
What are the New Year's Honours judged on?
The honours system recognises individual achievements 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 be actively involved in the area where they would have been nominated for and the only honours which can be awarded after someone's death are bravery 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 Queen.
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 Queen or other members of the Royal Family.
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