Order of the Companions of Honour facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Order of theCompanions of Honour |
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Badge and ribbon of the order
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| Awarded by Charles III | |
| Type | Order |
| Established | 4 June 1917 |
| Motto | In Action Faithful and in Honour Clear |
| Eligibility | All living citizens of the Commonwealth realms |
| Criteria | Nationally important service |
| Status | Currently constituted |
| Founder | George V |
| Sovereign | Charles III |
| Grades | Member (CH) |
 Ribbon bar of the order |
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The Order of the Companions of Honour is a special award given in countries that are part of the Commonwealth realms. King George V started this award on June 4, 1917. It was created to recognize people who had done amazing things.
This award is for people who have made a big difference. They might have helped in the arts, science, medicine, or government. It's given for contributions that have lasted a long time. The first people to receive this award were honored for their help during the First World War.
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Who Can Be a Companion of Honour?
The Order includes the King or Queen of the Commonwealth realms. This person is called the Sovereign of the Order. There can also be up to 65 other members.
People from other countries or Commonwealth citizens who are not from the Commonwealth realms can also become honorary members. Members are chosen by the King or Queen. When someone becomes a Companion of Honour, they can use the letters CH after their name. This award does not give them a special title like "Sir" or "Dame."
Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth realms usually suggest who should receive the award. For example, Canadian officials can suggest people from Canada. The number of members has changed over time. It started with 50 members and grew to 65.
Some countries, like Australia, now prefer to give their own national awards. However, people from other Commonwealth realms still receive this honor. For instance, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, an opera singer from New Zealand, received it in 2018. The Canadian author Margaret Atwood was given the award in 2019.
What Does the Award Look Like?
The award is an oval medal. It has a royal crown on top. The medal shows an oak tree with a shield hanging from one branch. This shield has the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom. On the left side, there is a knight on a horse.
The medal has a blue border with gold letters. These letters spell out the motto: "in action faithful and in honour clear." This motto comes from a poem by Alexander Pope. Men wear the medal on a red ribbon around their neck. Women wear it on a bow pinned to their left shoulder.
Current Members of the Order
The Sovereign
The Sovereign is the head of the Order.
| Name | Year of appointment | Present age |
|---|---|---|
| King Charles III (ex officio) | Sovereign since 2022 | 76 |
Royal Companion
This is a special type of member from the Royal Family.
| Name | Year of appointment | Present age | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catherine, Princess of Wales GCVO, CH | 2024 | 43 | First Royal Companion |
Members
Here are some of the people who are currently Companions of Honour. They are recognized for their important work in many fields.
| Member number | Name | Known for | Year of appointment | Present age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-(270) | Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking CH, PC | Former government minister | 1992 | 90 |
| 2-(278) | Tom King, Baron King of Bridgwater CH, PC | Former government minister | 92 | |
| 3-(282) | Dame Janet Baker CH, DBE, FRSA | Opera singer | 1993 | 92 |
| 4-(287) | David Owen, Baron Owen CH, PC | Former government minister | 1994 | 87 |
| 5-(289) | Sir David Attenborough OM, GCMG, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FSA, FRSA, FLS, FZS, FRSGS, FRSB | Television presenter and conservationist | 1995 | 99 |
| 6-(291) | Douglas Hurd, Baron Hurd of Westwell CH, CBE, PC | Former government minister | 95 | |
| 7-(294) | David Hockney OM, CH, RA | Artist | 1997 | 88 |
| 8-(296) | Michael Heseltine, Baron Heseltine CH, PC | Former Deputy Prime Minister | 92 | |
| 9-(297) | Chris Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes KG, CH, PC | Former Governor of Hong Kong | 81 | |
| 10-(299) | Sir John Major KG, CH, PC | Former Prime Minister | 1998 | 82 |
| 11-(300) | Bridget Riley CH, CBE | Artist | 94 | |
| 12-(305) | General John de Chastelain CC, CMM, CD, CH | Former Chief of the Defence Staff (Canada) | 88 | |
| 13-(317) | Dan McKenzie CH, FRS | Geophysicist | 2003 | 83 |
| 14-(318) | David Hannay, Baron Hannay of Chiswick GCMG, CH | Former diplomat | 79 | |
| 15-(320) | Dame Judi Dench CH, DBE, FRSA | Actress | 2005 | 90 |
| 16-(321) | Sir Ian McKellen CH, CBE | Actor | 2007 | 86 |
| 17-(323) | Michael Howard, Baron Howard of Lympne CH, PC, KC | Former political leader | 2011 | 84 |
| 18-(324) | George Young, Baron Young of Cookham CH, PC | Former government minister | 2012 | 84 |
| 19-(325) | Sebastian Coe, Baron Coe CH, KBE | President of World Athletics | 68 | |
| 20-(327) | Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde CH, PC | Former political leader | 2013 | 65 |
| 21-(328) | Menzies Campbell, Baron Campbell of Pittenweem CH, CBE, PC, KC | Former political leader | 84 | |
| 22-(329) | Sir Nicholas Serota CH | Art curator | 79 | |
| 23-(331) | Onora O'Neill, Baroness O'Neill of Bengarve CH, CBE, FBA, FMedSci, MRIA | Philosopher | 83 | |
| 24-(333) | Kenneth Clarke, Baron Clarke of Nottingham CH, PC, KC | Former government minister | 2014 | 85 |
| 25-(336) | Lady Mary Peters LG, CH, DBE, DStJ | Olympic gold medallist | 2015 | 86 |
| 26-(339) | Harry Woolf, Baron Woolf CH, PC, FBA, FMedSci | Former Lord Chief Justice | 92 | |
| 27-(341) | Sir Roy Strong CH, FRSL | Art historian and museum director | 2016 | 89 |
| 28-(343) | Robert Smith, Baron Smith of Kelvin KT, CH, FRSGS | Businessman | 81 | |
| 29-(344) | Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos LG, CH, PC | Former UN official and government minister | 71 | |
| 30-(345) | George Osborne CH, PC | Former Chancellor of the Exchequer | 54 | |
| 31-(347) | Sir Richard Eyre CH, CBE | Director | 82 | |
| 32-(348) | Dame Evelyn Glennie CH, DBE | Musician | 60 | |
| 33-(349) | Sir Alec Jeffreys CH, FRS, MAE | Geneticist | 75 | |
| 34-(353) | Sir Mark Elder CH, CBE | Conductor | 2017 | 78 |
| 35-(355) | Sir Paul McCartney CH, MBE | Musician (from The Beatles) | 83 | |
| 36-(356) | J. K. Rowling CH, OBE, FRSL, FRCPE | Author (Harry Potter series) | 60 | |
| 37-(357) | Dame Steve Shirley CH, DBE, FREng | Entrepreneur and philanthropist | 91 | |
| 38-(358) | Delia Smith CH, CBE | Cook and author | 84 | |
| 39-(359) | Nicholas Stern, Baron Stern of Brentford CH, FRS, FBA, FAcSS | Economist | 79 | |
| 40-(361) | Melvyn Bragg, Baron Bragg CH, FRS, FBA, FRSL | Broadcaster and author | 85 | |
| 41-(362) | Lady Antonia Fraser CH, DBE, FRSL | Author | 92 | |
| 42-(363) | Margaret MacMillan OM CC CH FRSL, FRSC, FBA, FRCGS | Historian and author | 81 | |
| 43-(364) | Richard Henderson CH, FRS, FMedSci | Biologist | 2018 | 80 |
| 44-(365) | Dame Kiri Te Kanawa ONZ, CH, DBE, AC | Opera singer | 81 | |
| 45-(366) | Margaret Atwood CC OOnt CH FRSC FRSL | Author | 85 | |
| 46-(367) | Patrick McLoughlin, Baron McLoughlin CH, PC | Former government minister | 2019 | 67 |
| 47-(368) | Sir Elton John CH, CBE | Musician | 78 | |
| 48-(369) | Sir Keith Thomas CH, FBA, FLSW, FRHistS | Historian | 92 | |
| 49-(370) | Sir Paul Smith CH, CBE, RDI | Fashion designer | 2020 | 79 |
| 50-(371) | Sir David Chipperfield CH, CBE, RA, RDI, RIBA, | Architect | 71 | |
| 51-(372) | Sir Paul Nurse OM, CH, FRS, FMedSci, , , MAE | Geneticist and Nobel Laureate | 2021 | 76 |
| 52-(374) | Sir Quentin Blake CH, CBE, FCSD, FRSL, RDI | Illustrator | 2022 | 92 |
| 53-(375) | Sir Salman Rushdie CH, FRSL | Author | 78 | |
| 54-(376) | Dame Marina Warner CH, DBE, FRSL, FBA | Author | 78 | |
| 55-(377) | Sir Michael Marmot CH, FRCP, FFPM, FMedSci, FBA | Academic | 80 | |
| 56-(379) | Sir Bill Cash CH | Politician | 2023 | 85 |
| 57-(380) | Sir John Bell GBE, CH, FRS, FMedSci, FREng | Physician and academic | 73 | |
| 58-(381) | Ian McEwan CH, CBE, FRSA, FRSL | Author | 77 | |
| 59-(382) | Dame Anna Wintour CH, DBE | Media executive | 75 | |
| 60-(383) | Dame Shirley Bassey CH, DBE | Singer | 88 | |
| 61-(385) | Gordon Brown CH, PC, | Former Prime Minister | 2024 | 74 |
| 62-(386) | Sir Kazuo Ishiguro CH, OBE, FRSA, FRSL | Novelist and screenwriter | 70 | |
| 63-(387) | Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell CH DBE FRS FRSE FRAS | Physicist | 2025 | 82 |
| 64-(388) | Sir Antony Gormley CH, OBE, RA | Sculptor | 74 | |
| 65- | Vacant following the death of Norman Tebbit, Baron Tebbit, on 7 July 2025 |
Honorary Members
These are members who are not citizens of the Commonwealth realms.
| Member number | Name | Known for | Year of appointment | Present age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-(261) | Amartya Sen CH, FBA | Economist | 2000 | 91 |
More Information
- List of members of the Order of the Companions of Honour
- List of honorary British knights and dames
See also
In Spanish: Orden de los Compañeros de Honor para niños
