• Personnel have been granted state honours for their work in the Armed Forces.
• Serving personnel have been recognised for their contributions throughout the pandemic and engaging with the wider armed forces communities.

Military personnel from across the three services have been recognised for their dedication and commendable service in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, published today.

All recipients have gone above and beyond while on duty, displaying outstanding fortitude and dedication to their roles, with many recipients recognised for their exceptional contribution to the Armed Forces over long-established careers.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

A huge congratulations to the Service men and women who have been recognised in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List. The awards highlight the talent, commitment and dedication of our incredible Armed Forces.

Our Service personnel continue to be a great source of pride and inspiration for our country. They are the best of us, and it is fantastic to see so many recognised for their hard work.

Listed below are examples of some of the servicemen and women who have been listed in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Captain Harpreet Kaur Chandi, awarded an MBE

Captain Chandi stepped onto the ice of Antarctica on 24 November 2021. In just 40 days she covered 700 miles, making history to become the first woman of colour to complete a solo and unsupported trek to the South Pole. Under the name ‘Polar Preet’, detailed planning and training for the expedition took a remarkably short period of just two years. This expedition exemplifies the opportunities for adventure and personal development that are open to all soldiers, no matter their background, gender or race. She is now the third fastest woman to trek across the continent.

Captain Harpreet Kaur Chandi said:

It feels incredible. I didn’t think someone like me could get this. I’m honoured.

I wanted to do something that not only pushed my boundaries but also inspired others to do the same.

Brigadier Karl Harris, awarded a CBE

Brigadier Harris’ exemplary and selfless leadership of the Army Multicultural Network has been the central factor in building and sustaining trust between the Army chain of command and its officers and soldiers. He commissioned from Sandhurst in 1994 and since then, he has built, mentored, and led an informal network of multicultural soldiers. He set up the Network in 2015 and in 2020, within the first weeks of the national lockdown, he assembled a remote working group to understand and provide solutions to mitigate the disproportionate impact of COVID19 on minority ethnic soldiers, their families and their units.

Brigadier Harris said:

My father came to the UK amidst the Windrush Generation and served a distinguished 22-year Army career. It is his legacy and those of thousands of others that first inspired me to volunteer to create the Army Multicultural Network. This award is humbling and feels quite extraordinary – a testament to our forebears and their legacy.

I have a feeling of immense gratitude to work with a cohort of phenomenal people who have committed huge amounts of time, effort and emotion to improving opportunities for all to thrive in their military careers. They’ve often shared quite challenging personal testimonies to make a better future for soldiers and their loved ones.

Air Vice Marshal (The Venerable) John Raymond ELLIS QHC, awarded a Promotion to the Military Division of the Most Honourable order of the Bath as a Companion

As Chaplain-in-Chief of the RAF, his drive and determination will leave a legacy based upon leadership and strong transformational instincts. He has been at the forefront of the Royal Air Force’s modernisation of professional career fields, resetting the chaplaincy structure, training and career pathways, at the same time re-energising chaplaincy recruiting. He also oversaw the chaplaincy during a particularly challenging period where he weathered the pandemic and turned it to advantage with an array of novel virtual worship methods and models that have been widely deployed and copied.

Air Vice Marshal John Ellis said:

As my time as a chaplain in the Royal Air Force comes to a close, I reflect on the immense privilege I have had sharing in the hopes and journeys of so many incredible people. As chaplains, we often just quietly get on with that which we feel called to do and as such, I find myself absolutely delighted, but completely humbled to be honoured with such an award.

Commodore Melanie Robinson, awarded a CBE

Commodore Robinson has made an exceptional contribution to Defence from being the first female commanding officer of a Royal Navy warship to being the senior Maritime Reservist and the first woman to command a fighting arm supporting the Fleet. With a comprehensive long-term vision of how the Maritime Reserves should be configured, she has led a generational change in its direction and management. The architect of the transformation of the Maritime Reserves at every level, her leadership has formed a Reserve force that is a credible, relevant, effective, and agile fighting arm of the Royal Navy delivering critical Defence tasks alongside Regular colleagues.

Commodore Melanie Robinson said:

I am truly humbled. Thank you to the Royal Naval Reservists and Royal Marines Reservists for embracing my appetite for generational change. The award spotlights the credibility of the Maritime Reserves as a fighting arm; we exist to deliver our people capabilities.

I trust I epitomise what can be achieved with the support of a loving family and a Service that is totally committed to adapting its ways of working to unlock people’s potential for the betterment of our fantastic organisation and for Defence.

Wing Commander Nina Rose, awarded an RRC

Wing Commander Rose is a true ambassador for the Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service and Defence Medical Services. Her empathic and authentic leadership combined with an operational and academic mindset have particularly shone in the last 2 years; Wing Commander Rose relentlessly and determinedly dealt with all that the COVID-19 crisis presented. Her role modelling behaviour and visible leadership saw her forward presence in the clinical areas inspiring the workforce and where, through her innovation, she managed workforce deficiencies and re-purposed the wards to deliver the required surge capacity.

Wing Commander Nina Rose said:

I am honoured and truly humbled to have been awarded the Royal Red Cross. Having nursed for 33 years, I have had the privilege of serving within the Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service for most of my career, leading teams of exceptionally dedicated nurses, prepared to care for our Service personnel throughout the patient care pathway.

Lieutenant Commander Nathaniel Geddes, awarded an MBE

Lieutenant Commander Geddes led HMS Defender Marine Engineering Department in providing the highest level of material availability in support of operations.  In the face of considerable operational constraints, and under an acute political spotlight, he played a key role in ensuring that the ship was able to continue in her critical role in support of the strategically important United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group deployment.  His efforts were particularly evident in the successful outmanoeuvre of hostile forces in the Black Sea.

Lieutenant Commander Nathaniel Geddes said:

I feel overwhelmed to be recognised like this and I am absolutely thrilled; to receive this honour during the Jubilee year makes it extra special. My family and friends will be so proud. They have sacrificed so much.

I left home at 16 to join the Royal Navy as an Artificer Apprentice and it’s been an amazing adventure. The support of my family, wife Nicole and son throughout has been unbelievable and I feel extremely lucky to have them.

Wing Commander Manjeet Ghataora, awarded an OBE

Wing Commander Ghataora has been an inspiring advocate and role model delivering outstanding outreach work to unrepresented communities. In particular he has been exceptional at promoting STEM and engineering careers to diverse groups of young people. He has also used his influence as the most senior Sikh in the Armed Forces to selflessly engage with young people and communities across the UK.

Wing Commander Manjeet Ghataora said:

This has been such a shock, but I am utterly humbled to be recognised in this Platinum Jubilee year. Having also served in the RAF, I want to dedicate this award to my late father, who instilled in me the virtues of humility, selfless service, and the importance of equality.

The HM Queen’s Birthday honours list for 2022 recognises the achievements of a wide range of extraordinary people and is extra pertinent this year coming just prior to the Platinum Jubilee celebrations this weekend, recognising an extraordinary 70 years’ service to her subjects.

Chief Constable Simon Chesterman (pictured left) has worked in policing for nearly 40 years, serving 23 of those at Thames Valley Police before moving to West Mercia as deputy chief constable. He joined the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) in January 2014 as deputy chief constable and was promoted to chief constable on 1 April 2019. As chief constable he is responsible for overseeing the 1,600 strong constabulary, responsible for operational performance of the CNC, the Accounting Officer for the Civil Nuclear Police Authority and the CNC, and improves, develops and maintains effective strategic partnerships with the Civil Nuclear Police Authority (CNPA), site license companies, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (Civil Nuclear Security), Home Office and Police Scotland forces and the Ministry of Defence Police. In 2012 he was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal.

Simon has been the National Police Chief’s Council lead for armed policing for nearly 15 years, responsible for national policy and practice.

Supt Tim Needham (pictured right) has over 26 years’ service with the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and has previous service in the UK military. He has been an operational firearms officer and is a qualified Tactical Firearms Commander specialising in the command of nuclear material transport escort operations. During Tim’s service he has undertaken operational, intelligence and corporate headquarters roles and was the head of the UK’s Strategic Escort Group where he managed escort operations including the largest ever international shipment. His current role is Divisional Commander for N Division.

Speaking after the announcement Chief Constable Simon Chesterman said: “I am humbled and feel very privileged to have been recognised in Her Majesty’s birthday honours. I would also like to congratulate Tim on his richly deserved QPM.

“I am fortunate to have spent nearly four decades working with so many incredible people across the police service. I have a particular affinity with armed police officers and those that support, train and command them operationally. I am immensely proud of UK armed policing and of the men and women of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and the vital work we do in keeping critical national infrastructure and the general public safe.”

Supt Tim Needham said: “I was completely shocked and speechless to discover I’d been nominated for a Queens Police Medal – in fact, when I received the initial call from the Home Office informing me of the nomination, I was convinced it was an elaborate prank! Once I discovered It wasn’t a prank it took a long time for the news to sink in and for a few days I was walking around in a bit of a daze.

“This is a fantastic honour for the whole of the CNC and gives recognition at the highest level to the specialist work all our officers and staff do, often quietly and without fanfare, protecting the public by safeguarding nuclear material both within the UK and in transit internationally.

“In my time with the CNC I’ve been fortunate to work with, and learn from, some brilliant and dedicated people, many of whom have become good friends. I’ve had the privilege of working closely with many colleagues from within the CNC as well as colleagues from wider policing, the military, other government agencies and from within the nuclear industry across the UK and overseas in a very interesting and varied career. Receiving this award is a reflection on the hard work of all our officers and staff and also on my family who have supported me while I’ve spent lots of time ‘away with work’.

“I’m truly honoured, humbled, and delighted to receive the QPM. It’s been really difficult keeping the award secret for the last few months and I’m now looking forward to celebrating this great news with family and friends.”

Sir Craig Mackay, interim Chair of the CNPA, said: “I am immensely proud of Simon and Tim, who both thoroughly deserve these prodigious awards. Both have dedicated years of service to keeping us safe and they have both made a real and significant contribution to public protection and the safety and security of the UK. Congratulations to them both.”

For full size pictures of both Simon and Tim, please email us

In tribute to The Queen, recipients have been awarded for their outstanding contributions across all sectors, but in particular for sustained public service, the environment and sustainability, and youth engagement.

Joining The Queen with 70 years of public service are recipients Angela Redgrave, founder and Principal of the Bristol School of Dancing, who receives a BEM for services to Dance – and at 104 years old is the oldest person on the List – and 80 year old Patricia Anne Husselbee from Newport for her 64 years of service to the Royal British Legion.

The Jubilee Honours List also recognises the contribution made to youth engagement, as typified by 11 year old twins Elena and Ruben Evans-Guillen, who receive BEMs for raising nearly £50,000 directly for the NHS and NHS-related charities over the past three years, and who are the youngest recipients on the List. Also among the youngest recipients is 22 year old Alex Griffiths, who receives a BEM for supporting carers, having been a young carer himself since the age of 5.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

This historic Platinum Jubilee is not only a celebration of the monarch but of the qualities she possesses. The honours she confers this week reflect many of those qualities that have been invaluable from all different walks of life and to communities across the UK.

I pay tribute to all of this year’s winners. Their stories of courage and compassion are an inspiration to us all.

This List also awards three Companions of Honour – of which there are only 65 recipients at any time – to author Sir Salman Rushdie, for his services to literature; Sir Quentin Blake, for services to his illustration; and Dame Marina Warner, for her services to the humanities.

Global expert in nuclear engineering, Dame Susan Ion, receives a Dame Grand Cross for international impact in her field and for her work fostering the next generation of engineers from under-represented groups.

In environmentalism and climate change, at CBE there is an award for Professor James Durrant, for services to photochemistry and solar energy research; an OBE for Professor John Barrett, Professor of Energy and Climate Policy at the University of Leeds; and at MBE, Dr Richard Tipper for his services to science and the public understanding of climate change.

Journalist and campaigner Alexis Bowater receives an OBE for her work to erect a statue to Nancy Astor in Plymouth on the centenary of her election, her activism on new stalking laws in the UK and her award-winning community interest company, Beach Schools South West, which takes children out of the classroom and onto the beach for curriculum-linked learning.

Awards for Parliamentary and political service are headed by Arlene Foster, the former First Minister of Northern Ireland, who receives a damehood; while Tracey Crouch MP receives a CBE for her work on the Independent Fan Led Review of Football Governance. They are joined by Stuart Parker and Samantha Dixon, Conservative and Labour Councillors in Cheshire who worked together to open Chester’s Storyhouse Theatre.

In sport, former footballer and commentator Rio Ferdinand receives an OBE for his activism and charity work; and an OBE is also awarded to cricketer Moeen Ali. There are also MBEs for the gold-medal winning Beijing Olympic curlers Mili Smith, Victoria Wright, Hailey Duff and Jennifer Dodds with skip Eve Muirhead receiving an OBE; and MBEs for gold-medal winning Beijing Paralympic super-G skier Neil Simpson and his guide (and brother) Andrew Simpson. Welsh International footballer Gareth Bale receives an MBE for services to football and charity, alongside James Milner for the great work his foundation undertakes.

Scottish businessmen James Walker, of the Walkers Shortbread Ltd headquartered in Moray, and Balmoral Group chairman Jimmy Milne, in Aberdeenshire, both received knighthoods for their business and charitable contributions. Damehoods are awarded to Ann Limb, for her role as chair of The Scout Association and the UK Innovation Corridor, and Karen Jones, for services to the business and hospitality sectors.

Ian Rankin receives a knighthood for services to literature and charity and actor Damian Lewis receives a CBE for services to drama and charity for initiating the campaign to raise £1 million to provide food for NHS workers throughout Covid-19. Also, from the Arts sector, an MBE is given to Chila Kumari Burman for her uplifting installations during the pandemic.

As ever, community service is the bulk and backbone of the List, and breadth of service is recognised across the entirety of the UK. There are CBEs for Una Cleminson, Chair of the Royal British Legion, and Lawrie Haynes, Chair of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund for their support of military veterans; and OBEs for Dr Rupert Whitaker and Martyn Butler, who co-founded the Terrence Higgins Trust, which marks its 40th anniversary this year. There is also an OBE for Dr Raghib Ali, who took leave from his university work and volunteered to return, unpaid, to frontline NHS duties – both at his local hospital and the newly formed Nightingales.

Receiving MBEs are genocide educator Andrew Lawrence; master wheelwright Gregory Rowland, Cotswolds environmental volunteer Rebecca Jones and Angela Chada for her support of young people in NI through Springboard Opportunities. Also receiving an MBE is Douglas Samuel who runs the Spartans Community Football Academy and during COVID-19 transformed the Academy into a food distribution hub.

The honours system strives to be inclusive of all of the UK society.

Of the 1,134 people who receive an award:

• 1,002 candidates have been selected at BEM, MBE and OBE level:
  • 304 at BEM
  • 452 at MBE
  • 246 at OBE
• 673 (59.3%) of the recipients are people who have undertaken outstanding work in their communities either in a voluntary or paid capacity;
• 584 women are recognised in the List, representing 51.5% of the total (44.8%of recipients at CBE level and above are women);
• 13.3% of the successful candidates come from an ethnic minority background:
  •  6.8% of recipients are from an Asian ethnic group;
  • 4.3% of recipients are from a black ethnic group;
  •  1.8% of recipients with a mixed ethnic background;
  •  0.4% of recipients come from another ethnic background;
• 9.3% of the successful candidates are disabled or have a long-term health condition;
• 24.3% of recipients considered themselves to come from a lower socio-economic background; and
• 4.6% of recipients are LGBT.

A number of military personnel have been granted state honours for their work in the Armed Forces.

Promotions in and appointments to the military division of the most honourable order of the Bath.

Promotions in and appointments to the military division of the most excellent order of the British Empire.

Promotions in and appointments to the military division of the most honourable order of the Bath.

Promotions in and appointments to the military division of the most excellent order of the British Empire.

Promotions in and appointments to the military division of the most honourable order of the Bath.

Promotions in and appointments to the military division of the most excellent order of the British Empire.