Orders and Decorations Conferred by The Crown
Crown Honours follow immediately after the abbreviations Bt (Baronet) and Esq (if applicable). If an individual has more than one set of letters after their name, the letters should appear in this order:
Crown honours: precedence of letters:
VC |
Victoria Cross |
GC |
George Cross |
KG/LG |
Knight of the Garter; Lady of the Garter |
KT/LT |
Knight of the Thistle; Lady of the Thistle |
GCB |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
OM |
Order of Merit |
GCSI |
Knight Grand Commander of the Star of India (no longer conferred) |
GCMG |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George |
GCIE |
Knight Grand Commander of the Indian Empire (no longer conferred) |
VA |
Order of Victoria and Albert (no longer conferred) |
CI |
Order of the Crown of India (no longer conferred) |
GCVO |
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order |
GBE |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire |
CH |
Companion of Honour |
KCB/DCB |
Knight/Dame Commander of the Bath |
KCSI |
Knight Commander of the Star of India (no longer conferred) |
KCMG/DCMG |
Knight/Dame Commander of St Michael and St George |
KCIE |
Knight Commander of the Indian Empire (no longer conferred) |
KCVO/DCVO |
Knight/Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order |
KBE/DBE |
Knight/Dame Commander of the British Empire |
CB |
Companion of the Order of the Bath |
CSI |
Companion of the Order of the Star of India (no longer conferred) |
CMG |
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George |
CIE |
Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (no longer conferred) |
CVO |
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order |
CBE |
Commander of the Order of the British Empire |
DSO |
Distinguished Service Order |
LVO |
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order |
OBE |
Officer of the Order of the British Empire |
ISO |
Imperial Service Order |
MVO |
Member of the Royal Victorian Order |
MBE |
Member of the Order of the British Empire |
IOM |
Indian Order of Merit (no longer conferred) |
RRC |
Royal Red Cross |
DSC |
Distinguished Service Cross |
MC |
Military Cross |
DFC |
Distinguished Flying Cross |
AFC |
Air Force Cross |
ARRC |
Associate Royal Red Cross |
OBI |
Order of British India (no longer conferred) |
DCM |
Distinguished Conduct Medal |
CGM |
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal |
GM |
George Medal |
IDSM |
Indian Distinguished Service Medal (no longer conferred) |
DSM |
Distinguished Service Medal |
MM |
Military Medal |
DFM |
Distinguished Flying Medal |
AFM |
Air Force Medal |
SGM |
Medal for Saving Life at Sea |
IOM |
Indian Order of Merit (no longer conferred) |
CPM |
Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry |
QGM |
Queen's Gallantry Medal |
BEM |
British Empire Medal |
KPM |
King's Police Medal (no longer conferred) |
KPFSM |
King's Police and Fire Service Medal (no longer conferred) |
QPM |
Queen's Police Medal |
QFSM |
Queen's Fire Service Medal |
CPM |
Colonial Police Medal for Meritorious Service |
ERD |
Army Emergency Reserve Decoration |
VD |
Volunteer Officer's Decoration |
TD |
Territorial Decoration |
ED |
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 |
CD |
Canadian Forces Decoration |
Commonwealth Orders
Some Commonwealth countries have their own honours system and orders and decorations, including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, Canada, Jamaica and New Zealand. Further information may be obtained from the respective Office of the Governor General or equivalent Head of State.