In the 1985 Queen's Birthday Honours, Major was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to opera, and promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to opera and the community, in the 1991 Queen's Birthday Honours. She was made a Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to opera, in the 2008 New Year Honours. Following the restoration of titular honours by the New Zealand government, she accepted redesignation as a Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009.