To ask if you know anyone who's got an honour (MBE, OBE etc)

[Schmetterling1]

Posting for traffic as it must be fairly rare! I nominated someone for an award and really hope that they get selected. While I impatiently wait (it's a long old process!) I'm really interested in what it's like to get one or for someone you nominate to get one. I keep amusing myself with imagining how he'll feel if he gets selected (as he so deserves to and although I know not everyone agrees with the honours system, it would mean the world to him) but I don't know what actually happens. I assume you get a letter in the post? What's it like? How long later do you go to the palace? Do you know what royal you're going to meet? I basically just want to read some positive stories because I haven't told him I've nominated him (as it would be horrible for him to know and then NOT get selected) so can't really talk about it but it's on my mind, especially as it's the Queen's birthday list next month so if he phones I keep thinking maybe he's got a letter and then ending up disappointed.

[CassandraCross]

Yes I knew someone who got an OBE, sadly she is dead now, she got it for all the work she had done fostering children over many years, most of them from horrendous circumstances and with significant needs. The number of children she helped before she stopped due to illness was in the 100's, a huge number of them kept in contact with her until she died. Her honour was well deserved.

[Florencenotflo]

My Nan has an MBE and my FIL has and OBE. And we are the most regular working class family there is. My Nan got hers for services to the charity she set up as is still running 55 years later, my FIL got one for something he did related to his work (not military but took a job supporting troops out in Iraq during the Iraq war).


If I remember rightly, they both got letters informing them they had been selected, but were not allowed to tell anyone until the actual birthday honours were announced. There was a few months between the letter and the announcements. Amazing that my Nan managed to keep it a secret!

Then the actual ceremony, both my Nan and FIL were told it could either be the Queen or Prince Charles I believe, but both had the Queen do them (years apart). There is quite a gap between the announcement and the ceremony too, I think they could have 3 guests attend with them (this was obviously pre-covid) and you had to give all of their details months before so they could do checks on every guest attending.

With my Nans one, my Grandad was too unwell on the day to go, he couldn't manage the car journey and it is a long day. But because of the checks needed, none of us could go in his space.

If your friend does get selected, tell him to start saving. The video and pictures you can purchase are £££. We paid for my Nan's as a present, and I'm glad we did as they are lovely photos.

Fingers crossed for your friend!

[Iamclearlyamug]

My stepmother has one, doesn’t stop her being a massive twat unfortunately

[h0rsewithn0name]

I nominated someone (a newly retired teacher) and was successful. I see it as one of my greatest achievements!
I nominated in the summer, and about 8 months later I had an email asking if she was still alive (yes seriously). I understand she got her letter about six weeks later, but it was shrouded in secrecy.

Because I was tuned into it, I checked the next summer's list as soon as it was published and there she was. I was so chuffed. The person isn't told who nominated them but she guessed.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

Yes I do.
She's completely weird and most people in our small town avoid her like the plague.
She was on "Couples CDWM", and came across terribly.

[YuXV]

I'm a civil servant and it's quite common (well, I have known one or two in each department I've worked in) as we have an internal scheme. Also can get nominated to go to the garden party as a special treat.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

When I say weird, I also mean nasty, and disablist m, which she said publicly.
Horrid woman.

[CorpusCallosum]

My Granny had an MBE due to her service to nursing. We're all more proud of it than she was!

[CosmicComfort]

My Dad got an OBE for services to charity. it was an amazing thing to be able to go to Buckingham Palace for his investiture and we really are incredibly proud of him.

[Ethelswith]

The amazing person, sadly now deceased, who trained me as a Samaritan had a CBE for her work in setting up Samaritans in prisons

[BathTangle]

I know someone who has an OBE for services to her particular industry. She had to keep it a secret until the NY honours but then phoned everyone literally the minute she was allowed to. She is a nightmare to work for but is a master of self promotion...

[Checkingout811]

My uncle has an MBE for services to young people & boxing.
Very well deserved, the most genuine man you could ever meet. Credit to the sport.

[tinytemper66]

Yes my brother in law for his work during the Olympics in 2012.

[jackstini]

Yes my auntie has an MBE - for charity work. Had to keep it secret until the proper announcement came out

On the day you get taken into a room first for a briefing on what to/not to say and do. (Address Queen as Maam - rhymes with ham, don't speak unless spoken to etc.) She said the Queen was tiny, very polite, seemed to ask each person one relevant question, shake hands and give them the award

Was a really special day for her - plus 2 siblings (you got to take 2 people with you at that point, not sure if that still happens)

Hope they get it!

[Devlesko]

I never met him but dh grandad got MBE for services to textiles.
Manager of a Mill.

[78percentLindt]

My dad had an MBE and Florence summed up the process perfectly.
DM,DB and I went to the Palace, it was fantastic, saw some wonderful paintings on the walk to the presentation roomy mum was fussing because I stopped to look at a couple, but we ended up on the front row if the gallery and had a good view. If I'd kept up with her, we would have been on the back row downstairs DPs MP invited us to lunch at the Houses of Parliament afterwards.

[Devlesko]

Forgot, I know someone else OBE services to children's music.
He's a paedo, but never caught. One woman came forward and nobody backed her up. I felt so sorry for her and angry he'll never be punished.

[Saddlesore]

My husband has a CBE (which sits in a drawer). He heard about 2 months before his investiture. We had an amazing morning at the Palace (it was the Queen dishing out the honours that day) and went for a very smart lunch afterwards.

[Osirus]

I used to, he had an MBE and he was an utter prick.

[callingon]

Two head teachers I have worked for - both fine I suppose altho one I am sure will have taken no prisoners to get here she is. I feel like it’s a bit of a swizz to get one for a job you get paid for but I’m sure they worked very hard. I was a bit ‘meh’ both times we got a very gushing email about them!

[Caramelsmadfuzzytail]

My maternal grandfather got an mbe. I'm not sure what it was for, but he was the manager of Euston Station for yonks and met the Queen a few times.

[KingdomScrolls]

One of my very long serving colleagues had an MBE for work in our field, my friend's dad is a mechanic but has an OBE for long service and dedication to working on military vehicles. Both very decent hard working people, both were told by letter but had to keep it a secret until the official announcement and went to a garden party at Buckingham palace, both met the Queen and Prince Philip. The colleague I was asked to contribute to her nomination, which I did, so it was very exciting to hear she was actually getting an honour. She was strongly advised at work after to make sure it was reflected in her email footer, she said 'i will but that's the only thing I'll add, don't dare ever speak to me about pronouns' 😁, she's brilliant

[KillingMeDeftly]

Yes, I knew two OBEs and the old joke that it stands for Other Buggers' Efforts was especially apt as they were infamous for taking the credit for work someone else had done!

[FangsForTheMemory]

I've worked with a few. Some not very nice people who got them for obviously political reasons, some lovely people who hugely deserved recognition.

[frogface69]

My DH got an MBE for developing something to do with artificial limbs. He was an engineer.