Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the mechanism and form of communication used to inform recipients of honours of the awarding of their style, dignity and title; what correspondence is sent from (1) the Government, (2) the Prime Minister, or (3) the Royal Household; and whether Members of Parliament are asked, or permitted, to handle and provide such correspondence to recipients.

Honours lists are published twice a year at New Year and on the Sovereign’s Official Birthday. There are ten independent committees which assess nominations for the Prime Minister’s List.

Once the final honours list is agreed and The King’s informal approval obtained, sounding letters are sent to all those on the list asking if they are content for the Prime Minister to submit their name to The King for formal approval. Letters are sent in strict confidence from the Honours and Memorialisation Secretariat within the Cabinet Office. On occasion, phonecalls may be made to recipients prior to the letters being sent notifying them of the honour, however honours can only be accepted by recipients in writing following receipt of the official letter from the Secretariat. For the Birthday 2025 List, the sounding process began in early May.

On occasion, and following sounding and acceptance of an honour, letters of congratulation may be sent by the relevant Minister.

Following publication of the List, the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood writes to the recipient to invite them to receive their honours at an Investiture.