Order of Merit | |
|---|---|
| Order | Order of Merit |
| Awarded by | The Sovereign |
| Precedence | 4 |
| Post-nominals | OM |
The Order of Merit (OM) is membership of the Order of Merit. It is part of the honours system, and holders use the letters OM after their name.
Contents
The order
The Order of Merit was founded by King Edward VII in 1902. It is limited to twenty-four members at a time, is the personal gift of the Sovereign, and is one of the most prestigious honours in the country, recognising exceptional distinction in the armed forces, science, art, literature or the promotion of culture. It carries no title or precedence beyond the letters OM.
Appointment
Honours are awarded by The Sovereign, usually on the advice of the Prime Minister. In UKOGB any member can nominate another for an honour on the website, with a citation explaining why. Once it is awarded, the honour and the date it was given appear on the holder's profile, and their styled name changes to include it.
This page was last edited on 3 November 2026.