Honours Committee Honours Committee The Honours Committee is a committee within the Cabinet Office of the Government of the United Kingdom formed to review nominations for national honours for merit, exceptional achievement or service. Twice yearly the Honours Committee submits formal recommendations for the British monarch's New Years and Birthday Honours. Members of the Honours Committee—which comprises a main committee and nine subcommittees in speciality areas—research and vet nominations for national awards, including knighthoods and the Order of the British Empire. The honours system is an ancient one, particularly in Britain; Æthelstan, King of the English in the 10th century, was knighted
1976 Birthday Honours before their new honours (and any subsequent honours), and arranged by honour, with classes (Knight, Knight Grand Cross, "etc.") and then divisions (Military, Civil, "etc.") as appropriate. At this time honours for Australians were still being awarded in the UK honours on the advice of the premiers of Australian states, as well as in the new Australian honours system which had been established in the previous year. At this time the two lowest classes of the Royal Victorian Order were "Member (fourth class)" and "Member (fifth class)", both with post-nominals MVO. "Member (fourth class)" was renamed "Lieutenant" (LVO) from the