Honours Committee nominations for peerages, which are created directly by the monarch. 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,
2012 Birthday Honours 2012 Birthday Honours The Birthday Honours List 2012 was released on 16 June 2012 in the United Kingdom. on 11 June 2012 in Australia on 4 June 2012 in New Zealand, on 15 June 2012 in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Belize, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, and The Cook Islands. The Birthday Honours List was released during the height of the Diamond jubilee celebrations, and was therefore styled "The Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours 2012" in New Zealand, while United Kingdom celebrated the jubilee with a separate list later that year. The recipients of honours are displayed or referred to