United Kingdom

Order of Merit

A special mark of honour conferred by the Sovereign on individuals of exceptional distinction in the arts, learning, sciences and other areas such as public service. Restricted to 24 members plus additional foreign recipients.¹

Country

United Kingdom

Established

1902¹

Conferred by

The Sovereign, as a special mark of honour. Founded by King Edward VII¹

How announced

Appointments are published in The London Gazette, separately from the main honours lists (for example the notice of 20 May 2005).²

Revocation

Only the monarch can remove an honour, acting on ministerial advice. The Honours Forfeiture Committee advises the King through the Prime Minister. The main test is whether the holder has brought the honours system into disrepute, for example a prison sentence of at least three months. Forfeiture applies only to living holders. Removal is published in The Gazette as a direction that the appointment be cancelled and annulled.³

Grades

• Member (OM), single grade

Notable holders on this record

• Betty Boothroyd (Baroness Boothroyd) HeldMember (OM) 28 April 2005
• David Attenborough HeldMember (OM) 28 April 2005

Official page: honours.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/about/orders-and-medals/

Sources

1. Cabinet Office Honours and Appointments Secretariat, Orders and medals
2. The London Gazette, Honours and Awards: Order of Merit appointments, issue 57645 (20 May 2005)
3. House of Commons Library, Honours: refusal and removal