Orders, Decorations, and Medals of Australia - History - Royal Honours

Royal Honours

The Queen does still confer honours upon Australians that emanate from her personally rather than through the government.

  • The Most Noble Order of the Garter - last awarded to former Governor-General Sir Ninian Stephen, 1994
  • The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle - last awarded to Prime Minister Robert Menzies, 1963
  • The Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick (dormant)
  • Order of Merit - last awarded to former Prime Minister John Howard, 2012
  • Royal Victorian Order - Knighthood grade last awarded to David Smith, 1990
  • Venerable Order of Saint John - for services to St John Ambulance
  • Royal Victorian Chain
No. Portrait Order Foundation Motto Chancellor
1 The Most Noble Order of the Garter 1348 - Edward III Honi soit qui mal y pense
Shame upon him who thinks evil upon it		 The Rt. Hon. Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington
Knights/Dames: Richard Casey, Baron Casey, Sir Paul Hasluck, Sir Ninian Stephen
2 The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle 1687 - James VII of Scotland, II of England Nemo me impune lacessit
No one provokes me with impunity		 The Rt. Hon. David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie
Knights/Dames: Sir Robert Menzies
3 Order of Merit 1902 - Edward VII For Merit HM Elizabeth II
Members: Samuel Alexander, Gilbert Murray, Sir Macfarlane Burnet, Sir Owen Dixon, Howard Florey, Baron Florey, Sir Sidney Nolan, Dame Joan Sutherland, Robert May, Baron May of Oxford, John Howard
4 Order of Australia 1975 - Elizabeth II none HE Quentin Bryce
Knights/Dames: Sir John Kerr, Sir Robert Menzies, Sir Colin Syme, Sir Zelman Cowen, Sir Frank Burnet, Dame Alexandra Hasluck, Dame Enid Lyons, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Sir Roden Cutler, Sir Garfield Barwick, Sir Charles Court, Sir Ninian Stephen, Sir Roy Wright, Sir Gordon Jackson

Honours previously awarded to Australians;

  • The Most Honourable Order of the Bath - 'GCB' grade last awarded to former Private Secretary to the Sovereign Sir William Heseltine, 1990
  • The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George - 'GCMG' grade last awarded to former Governor General of Australia Sir Ninian Stephen, 1982
  • Most Excellent Order of the British Empire - 'GBE' grade last awarded to former Vice-President of the Executive Council Dame Enid Lyons, 1957
  • Order of the Companions of Honour - last awarded to former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Doug Anthony, 1981
No. Portrait Order Foundation Motto Chancellor/
Grand Master
1 The Most Honourable Order of the Bath 1725 - George I Tria iuncta in uno
Three joined in one		 HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales
Knights/Dames Grand Cross: Sir John Hackett, Sir George Reid, Sir Isaac Isaacs, Sir William Heseltine
2 The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George 1818 - George VI Auspicium melioris ævi
Token of a better age		 HRH Prince Edward, 2nd Duke of Kent
The Rt. Hon. The Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Chancellor)
Knights/Dames Grand Cross: Sir William McKell, Sir Arthur Fadden, Sir John Kerr, Sir William McMahon, Sir Zelman Cowen, Sir Ninian Stephen, Sir Garfield Barwick, Sir Henry Ayers, Sir Frederick Matthew Darley, Sir John Forrest, Sir Edmund Barton, Sir John Madden, Sir Joseph Cook, Sir Harry Chauvel, Sir John Monash, Sir John Michael Higgins, Sir John Latham, Sir William Irvine, Sir Robert Garran, Sir Earle Page, Sir James Mitchell, Sir Thomas Playford, Richard Casey, Baron Casey, Sir Paul Hasluck, Sir John McEwen, Sir Henry Bolte, Sir Robert Askin, Sir John Gorton, Sir Harry Gibbs
3 Most Excellent Order of the British Empire 1917 - George V For God and the Empire HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Knights/Dames Grand Cross: Sir Thomas Blamey, Dame Nellie Melba, Sir Owen Cox, Sir Robert Gibson, Sir Thomas B. Robinson, Dame Mary Hughes, Dame Enid Lyons, Dame Pattie Menzies, Dame Flora Reid
4 Order of the Companions of Honour 1917 - George V In action faithful and in honour clear HM Elizabeth II
Companions: Richard Casey, Baron Casey, Malcolm Fraser, Doug Anthony, Harold Holt, Sir Robert Menzies, Billy Hughes, Sir Earle Page, Sir John McEwen, Sir John Gorton, Sir William McMahon, Joseph Lyons (incomplete list)

Read more about this topic:  Orders, Decorations, And Medals Of Australia, History

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