Order of Merit: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 10:08, 7 January 2025

File:Order of Merit (Commonwealth realms) ribbon.svg

File:Order of Merit in Westminster Cathedral (cropped).jpg

The Order of Merit is a distinguished honor awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service in various fields such as the armed forces, science, art, literature, or the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by King Edward VII, the Order of Merit is a unique honor that recognizes outstanding contributions to society.

History[edit]

The Order of Merit was established on June 23, 1902, by King Edward VII. It was created to honor individuals who have rendered exceptional service in their respective fields. Unlike many other orders, the Order of Merit is not limited to citizens of the United Kingdom; it can be awarded to individuals from any country.

Criteria and Selection[edit]

The Order of Merit is awarded at the discretion of the reigning monarch, who acts as the sovereign of the order. There are no specific criteria for selection, but recipients are typically individuals who have made significant contributions to their field. The order is limited to 24 living members at any one time, excluding honorary members.

Insignia[edit]

Members of the Order of Merit are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "OM". The insignia of the order consists of a badge, which is worn on a ribbon. The badge is a cross patonce, surmounted by an imperial crown, with the words "For Merit" inscribed on it.

Notable Recipients[edit]

Over the years, the Order of Merit has been awarded to many notable individuals, including:

Also see[edit]

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-[[File:Order of Merit (Commonwealth realms) ribbon.svg|thumb]] [[File:King-Edward-VII (cropped).jpg|thumb]] [[File:Order of Merit in Westminster Cathedral (cropped).jpg|thumb]] {{Infobox order
+[[File:Order of Merit (Commonwealth realms) ribbon.svg|thumb]] [[File:Order of Merit in Westminster Cathedral (cropped).jpg|thumb|left]]
-| title = Order of Merit
+ [[File:King-Edward-VII (cropped).jpg|thumb]]
-| image =
-| caption =
-| awarded_by =
-| type = Order of merit
-| established = 1902
-| eligibility =
-| for = Exceptional service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture
-| status = Currently constituted
-| head_title = Sovereign
-| head =
-| grades = Member
-| date =
-| first_induction =
-| last_induction =
-| total =
-| higher =
-| lower =
-| related =
-}}
 The '''Order of Merit''' is a distinguished honor awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service in various fields such as the armed forces, science, art, literature, or the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by King Edward VII, the Order of Merit is a unique honor that recognizes outstanding contributions to society.
@@ Line 44: / Line 24: @@
 * [[Order of St Michael and St George]]
 * [[Royal Victorian Order]]
-== References ==
-* {{Cite book |last=Smith |first=John |title=The Orders of Chivalry |year=2005 |publisher=Royal Press |isbn=978-1-234-56789-0}}
-* {{Cite web |url=https://www.royal.uk/order-merit |title=The Order of Merit |publisher=The Royal Family |accessdate=2023-10-10}}
 [[Category:Orders of chivalry]]
 [[Category:British honours system]]
 [[Category:Awards established in 1902]]
 {{nt}}