The table below shows you how to address those with honours and decorations both verbally and in writing.
These should be placed after the name, in the following order of precedence (the list does not include every honour or decoration but covers those most likely to be encountered).
| Abbreviations | Honour/Decoration |
|---|---|
|
Bt/Bart |
Baronet |
| VC | Victoria Cross |
| GC | George Cross |
| KG/LG | Knight (or Lady) of the Most Noble Order of the Garter |
| KT/LT | Knight (or Lady) of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle |
| PC | Privy Counsellor - only to be used as described in section on Peers who are Privy Counsellors |
| GCB | Knight (or Dame) Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath |
| OM | Member of the Order of Merit |
| GCMG | Knight (or Dame) Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George |
| GCVO | Knight (or Dame) Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order |
| GBE | Knight (or Dame) Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire |
| CH | Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour |
| KCB/DCB | Knight or Dame Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath |
| KCMG/DCMG | Knight or Dame Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George |
| KCVO/DCVO | Knight or Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order |
| KBE/DBE | Knight or Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire |
| Knight Bachelor (no suffix) | Knight |
| CB | Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath |
| CMG | Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George |
| CVO | Commander of the Royal Victorian Order |
| CBE | Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire |
| DSO | Companion of the Distinguished Service Order |
| LVO | Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order |
| OBE | Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire |
| ISO | Companion of the Imperial Service Order |
| MVO | Member of the Royal Victorian Order |
| MBE | Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire |
| CGC | Conspicuous Gallantry Cross |
| RRC | Royal Red Cross (First Class) |
| DSC | Distinguished Service Cross |
| MC | Military Cross |
| DFC | Distinguished Flying Cross |
| AFC | Air Force Cross |
| ARRC | Royal Red Cross (Second Class) |
| DCM | Distinguished Conduct Medal |
| CGM | Conspicuous Gallantry Medal |
| GM | George Medal |
| DSM | Distinguished Service Medal |
| MM | Military Medal |
| DFM | Distinguished Flying Medal |
| AFM | Air Force Medal |
| QGM | Queen's Gallantry Medal |
| RVM | Royal Victorian Medal (Gold, Silver or Bronze) |
| BEM | British Empire Medal |
| QPM | Queen's Police Medal |
| QFSM | Queen's Fire Service Medal |
| QVRM | Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal |
| TD | Territorial Efficiency Decoration |
| RD | Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve |
| VRD | Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve |
| AE | Air Efficiency Award |
When a higher class in the same order is awarded, all reference to the lower class is dropped, eg when the holder of the CB is promoted to a Knight in the same Order, the letters KCB alone are placed after his name. The relevant honour or decoration should be used from the moment The Queen's intention to grant it is officially announced (for example, in a published Honours List). The one exception is elevation to the Peerage, in which case the date of the Letters Patent of Creation is the relevant date.
Order of initials and abbreviations of Rank, Honours or Degrees
Bt or Bart for Baronet, and Esq for Esquire, precede all other abbreviations after names. Other designations follow in the order set out below:
- Orders and Decorations conferred by the Crown i.e. CB., OBE. etc.
- Appointments in the following order: Queen's Counsel (QC), Justice of the Peace (JP), Deputy Lieutenant (DL) and Member of Parliament/Devolved Assembly (MP. MSP. AM. MLA.)
- University degrees
- Religious Orders and medical qualifications
- Fellowships of learned societies, Royal Academicians, Associates, Fellowships, Membership of Professional Institutions, Associations etc
- Membership of the Armed Forces