2025 Special Honours

Last updated September 13, 2025

As part of the British honours system, Special Honours are issued at the Monarch's pleasure at any given time. The Special Honours refer to the awards made within royal prerogative, operational honours, political honours and other honours awarded outside the New Year Honours and Birthday Honours.

Highness
Life peerage
Lord Lieutenant
Privy Counsellor
Most Honourable Order of the Bath
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB)
Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)
Royal Victorian Order
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO)
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO)
Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO)
Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
British Empire Medal (BEM)
Knight Bachelor
Imperial Service Medal
Order of St John
Great Officers of the Order
Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St John (GCStJ)
Knight of the Order of St John (KStJ)
Dame of the Order of St John (DStJ)
Commander of the Order of St John (CStJ)
Officer of the Order of St John (OStJ)
Member of the Order of St John (MStJ)
Meritorious Service Medal
References

Highness

Prince Rahim, Aga Khan V – 10 February 2025^[1]

Life peerage

Amanda Spielman – Former HM Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills; to be Baroness Spielman, of Durlston in the County of Dorset – 9 May 2025^[2]^[3]
Dr Simon Case, – lately Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service. Former Private Secretary to HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. Former Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister; to be Baron Case, of Fairford in the County of Gloucestershire – 17 July 2025 [4]
Dame Sharon White, Lady Chote, – former Chair of the John Lewis Partnership, former Chief Executive of the Ofcom and former Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury; to be Baroness White of Tufnell Park, of Tufnell Park in the London Borough of Islington – 17 July 2025 [4]
Sir Tim Barrow, – lately National Security Adviser. Former Second Permanent Under-Secretary and Political Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); to be Baron Barrow, of Penrith in the County of Cumbria – 18 July 2025 [4]
Dame Katherine Grainger, – Chair of the British Olympic Association, former Chair of UK Sport and former Olympian. Former Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, currently Chancellor of the University of Glasgow – announced on 17 June 2025, life peerage yet to be created [4]
Jason Stockwood – Appointed Minister of State for Investment – 6 September 2025^[5]
Liz Lloyd

Lord Lieutenant

Sarah Barron, – to be Lord-Lieutenant of Midlothian – 21 February 2025 [6]
Air Commodore Alistair Monkman, – to be Lord-Lieutenant of Moray – 21 February 2025 [7]
Colonel Charles Wallace, – to be Lord-Lieutenant of Stirling and Falkirk – 24 February 2025 [8] [9]
Professor Elizabeth Barnes, – to be Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Staffordshire – 15 April 2025 [10]
John Jeffrey, – to be Lord-Lieutenant for Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale – 30 June 2025 [11]
Peter Oliver, – to be Lord-Lieutenant for Merseyside – 29 August 2025

Privy Counsellor

The Honourable Sir Anthony Smellie – 5 February 2025 [12]
Ellie Reeves – 2 April 2025 [13]
The Right Honourable The Baroness Chapman of Darlington – 6 May 2025^[14]
The Honourable Lord Ericht – 11 June 2025 [15]
The Honourable Lady Carmichael – 11 June 2025 [15]
James Murray – 10 September 2025 [16]
Emma Reynolds – 10 September 2025 [16]
Anna Turley – 10 September 2025 [16]

Most Honourable Order of the Bath

Ribbon bar of the Order of the Bath

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB)

Honorary

His Excellency Sergio Mattarella, – President of Italy – 8 April 2025 [17] [18]

Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George

Order of St Michael and St George ribbon

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)

His Excellency The Reverend David Tiva Kapu – On his appointment as Governor-General of Solomon Islands – 25 February 2025^[19]
His Excellency Errol Charles – On his appointment as Governor-General of Saint Lucia – 13 March 2025^[20]

Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)

Honorary

John Forbes Kerry – Former US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. For services to Tackling Climate Change – 17 April 2025^[21]

Royal Victorian Order

Royal Victorian Order ribbon

Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)

Sir Michael John Stevens, – upon relinquishing his appointment as Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to The King – 3 June 2025 [22]
Vice Admiral Sir Timothy James Hamilton Laurence, – 21 August 2025 [23]

Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO)

Lieutenant Colonel Michael James Michael Vernon – upon relinquishing his appointment as Comptroller, Lord Chamberlain's Office – 1 July 2025^[22]

Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)

Keith Anthony Harrison, – on his retirement as Director of Finance, Royal Collection Trust – 29 January 2025 [24]
Tosanbanmi Efua Eva Omaghomi, – on relinquishment of the appointment as Director of Community Engagement to The King and The Queen – 20 February 2025 [25]
The Right Honourable The Lord Llewellyn of Steep, – Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Italy – 10 April 2025 [26]
Richard Robert Gledson, – upon relinquishing his appointment as Resident Factor, Balmoral Estate – 17 July 2025 [22]

Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO)

Christopher Michael Fitzgerald – on relinquishing his appointment as Deputy Private Secretary to the King – 29 January 2025^[24]
Scott Furssedonn-Wood, – on relinquishing his appointment as High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Barbados – 21 May 2025 [22]

Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO)

Alison Kerr – Political Counsellor, British Embassy Rome – 10 April 2025^[26]
Kassim Ramji – British Consul-General Milan and Director of the Department for Business and Trade in Italy – 10 April 2025^[26]
Mirella Vertecchi – British Embassy Rome – 10 April 2025^[26]
Captain Tarjan Gurung, The Royal Gurkha Rifles – on relinquishment of the role of The King's Gurkha Orderly Officer – 16 July 2025^[22]
Captain Jagatram Rai, Queen's Gurkha Engineers – on relinquishment of the role of The King's Gurkha Orderly Officer – 16 July 2025^[22]
Commander William Thornton, Royal Navy – on relinquishment of the appointment as Equerry to The King – 6 August 2025^[22]

Honorary

Silvia Marinoni – Political Analyst, British Embassy Rome – 10 April 2025^[26]

Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Ribbon bar of the Order of the British Empire (Civil)

Ribbon bar of the Order of the British Empire (Military)

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)

Civil Division

The Honourable Ms. Justice Ruth Henke, – 21 January 2025 [27]
The Honourable Ms. Justice Sonia Harris, – 21 January 2025 [27]

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Honorary

Thomas Joseph Cahill – Former Chief Executive, Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Mental Health – 17 April 2025^[21]
Dr Sunshik Min – Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of YBM. For services to UK/South Korea relations and UK Higher Education – 17 April 2025^[21]

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Honorary

Derek Kilmer – Former US Congressman, US House of Representatives. For services to UK/US relations – 17 April 2025^[21]
Santiago Oñate Laborde – Former Lead of Investigation and Attribution Team, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. For services to International Diplomacy and the Rule of Law – 17 April 2025^[21]
Professor Dimitra Simeonidou, FREng – Director, Smart Internet Lab, University of Bristol. For services to Communications Technologies research and scientific policy – 17 April 2025^[21]
Ana Paula Dente Vitelli – Former President, British Chamber of Commerce, Brazil. For services to British business in Brazil – 17 April 2025^[21]

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Honorary

Carla Bradshaw-Van Den Akker – SRMA for the Department for Education, Chair of the Federation of the Church Schools of Shalfleet and Freshwater & Yarmouth, and Chair of Ed-WISE Isle of Wight. For services to Education – 17 April 2025^[21]
Lynn Carvill – Chief Executive Officer WOMEN’STEC and Chair and Founder, Northern Ireland Women’s Budget Group. For services to the Economy in Northern Ireland – 17 April 2025^[21]
Bao Cao – Director Corporate Compliance, British Council Vietnam. For services to UK cultural relations in Vietnam – 17 April 2025^[21]
Teresa McCarthy-Dixon – Founder, The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation. For services to the community in Northamptonshire – 17 April 2025^[21]
Darren O’Brien – Deputy Head, Retail, South-Eastern Railway. For services to the Victims of Domestic Abuse – 17 April 2025^[21]
Lucas Parreira Lorini – Director, Market Access & Implementation, Latin America & Caribbean, Department for Business and Trade. For services to trade and investment – 17 April 2025^[21]
Grant Elliott Rodney – Retired Lead for Paediatric Anaesthesia and Paediatric Surgical Services, Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside. For services to Children’s Anaesthesia and Surgery, Dundee, Scotland – 17 April 2025^[21]
Maria da Anunciação Luísa de Sá Carneiro Soraes Beirão – National Director, Duke of Edinburgh International Award Portugal. For services to The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in Portugal – 17 April 2025^[21]

British Empire Medal (BEM)

Ribbon bar of the British Empire Medal (Civil)

Honorary

Bashir Ahmed – Chair, Pathfinderhub. For services to the Bangladeshi community in the UK – 17 April 2025^[21]
Andreja Anžur Černič – Chair, MEPI (The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in Slovenia). For services to UK-Slovenia bilateral relations – 17 April 2025^[21]
Noel Franklin – Chairman Royal British Legion, Wexford. For services to the Royal British Legion in Ireland – 17 April 2025^[21]
Pere Garriga Solà – Mayor of Arbúcies, Spain. For services to the memory of British nationals in Spain – 17 April 2025^[21]
Sarah Goler Solecki – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Engagement and Change Manager, Medical Research Council. For services to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Medical Research – 17 April 2025^[21]
Lyubov Kostova – Member of Board of Trustees, Beautiful Science Foundation. For services to UK Science and Education – 17 April 2025^[21]
Nain Bala Minhas – Director, Networking Key Services Limited. For services to empowering people experiencing Isolation and Deprivation in Edinburgh – 17 April 2025^[21]
Pedro José Molina López – Driver, British Embassy, Spain. For services to the British Embassy in Spain – 17 April 2025^[21]
Marie Reilly – Shared Lives Coordinator, London Borough of Islington. For services to supporting families – 17 April 2025^[21]
William Wright – Chief Creative Officer, Galveston Historic Foundation. For services to UK/US relations – 17 April 2025^[21]

Knight Bachelor

Knight Bachelor ribbon

The Honourable Mr. Justice Nicholas Cusworth, – 21 January 2025 [27]
The Honourable Mr. Justice Timothy Mould, – 21 January 2025 [27]
The Honourable Mr. Justice Clive Sheldon, – 21 January 2025 [27]
The Honourable Mr. Justice Stephen Trowell, – 21 January 2025 [27]
The Honourable Mr. Justice Dexter Dias, – 21 January 2025 [27]
The Honourable Mr. Justice Nicholas Thompsell, – 21 January 2025 [27]
The Honourable Mr. Justice Damian Garrido, – 21 January 2025 [27]
The Honourable Mr. Justice Richard Harrison, – 21 January 2025 [27]

Imperial Service Medal

Ribbon bar of the Imperial Service Medal

Appointments 21 January 2025^[28]
Appointments 8 April 2025^[29]
Appointment 13 May 2025^[30]

Order of St John

Order of St John ribbon

Great Officers of the Order

As Prelate – Archbishop Emeritus Sir David Moxon, – 24 June 2025 [31]
As Sub Prior – Dr Michel C Doré – 24 June 2025^[31]

Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St John (GCStJ)

Sir David Hempleman-Adams, – 23 January 2025 [32]
Stuart Waetzel – 23 January 2025^[32]

Knight of the Order of St John (KStJ)

Alderman Alastair John Naisbitt King, – 23 January 2025 [32]
Rear Admiral Simon Paul Williams, – 23 January 2025 [32]
Major Brendan Patrick Wood, – 23 January 2025 [32]
Captain Mark Charles Keyworth Broughton – 7 April 2025^[33]
Professor Kevin Davies, – 7 April 2025 [34]
Marc Maitland Farror – 7 April 2025^[34]
John Macaskill – 7 April 2025^[34]
Paul Anthony Martin – 7 April 2025^[34]
Daniel Edward Riley – 7 April 2025^[34]
Yau Shu-fung – 7 April 2025^[33]
Professor Mark Alexander Taylor, – 7 April 2025 [33]
James Richard Terzian – 7 April 2025^[34]
David Morris Yudain – 7 April 2025^[34]

Dame of the Order of St John (DStJ)

Nicola Nora Gini – 23 January 2025^[32]
Beryl Ann Greenaway – 23 January 2025^[32]
Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn, – 23 January 2025 [32]
Ellen Metzger Lecompte – 7 April 2025^[34]

Commander of the Order of St John (CStJ)

Appointments 23 January 2024^[32]

Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa – 7 April 2025^[33]
Hilda Naa Sakua Commey – 7 April 2025^[33]
Butler Carson Derrick III – 7 April 2025^[34]
Maryann Morgan Davis – 7 April 2025^[34]
David Alan Disi – 7 April 2025^[34]
The Reverend David Michael Goldberg – 7 April 2025^[34]
Linda Heaney – 7 April 2025^[33]
Howard Bicknell Hodgson Jr – 7 April 2025^[34]
Craig Alexander Jones – 7 April 2025^[34]
Dr. Andrew Derek Ronald Kerr – 7 April 2025^[33]
Matthew Sterrett Leddicotte – 7 April 2025^[34]

Officer of the Order of St John (OStJ)

Appointments 23 January 2024^[32]
Appointments 7 April 2025^[34]

Member of the Order of St John (MStJ)