Post-Nominal Letters

The Orders of Knighthood, awards and medals have changed little in time. They all remain largely the same, although There have been a few omissions and amendments, like the Order of St Patrick, the Order of the Star of India and the Order of the Indian Empire, which are now virtually extinct. There have been no conferments since about 1947.

In Northern Ireland, the Duke of Abercorn is a KG; the Right Rev the Lord Eames is a Member of the Order of Merit (OM); the former Chief Constable of the RUC, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, is a GBE.

The Royal Ulster Constabulary was presented with the George Cross by HM The Queen at Hillsborough Castle in 1999.

Heads of the NI Civil Service are customarily appointed KCBs. Retiring Lord-Lieutenants usually become KCVO or CVO.

The Victoria Cross (VC) and George Cross (GC) precede all other letters, with the sole exception of the abbreviations "Bt" or "Bart" (for a baronet).

VC

GC

1. KG
2. KT
3. GCB
4. OM
5. GCMG
6. GCVO
7. GBE
8. CH
9. KCB/DCB
10. KCMG/DCMG
11. KCVO/DCVO
12. KBE/DBE
13. CB
14. CMG
15. CVO
16. CBE
17. DSO
18. LVO
19. OBE
20. ISO
21. MVO
22. MBE