As part of the British honours system, the Special Honours are issued at the monarch's pleasure at any given time. The Special Honours confer the award of the Order of the Garter, Order of the Thistle, Order of Merit, Royal Victorian Order and the Order of St John. Life Peers are at times also awarded as special honours.
Life Peer Conservative Party
Dr Rosalind Miriam Altmann, to be Baroness Altmann, of Tottenham in the London Borough of Haringey – 19 May 2015 Andrew James Dunlop to be Baron Dunlop, of Helensburgh in the County of Dunbarton – 26 May 2015 The Rt Hon. Francis Anthony Aylmer Maude to be Baron Maude of Horsham, of Shipley in the County of West Sussex – 26 May 2015 Dr Terence James "Jim" O'Neill to be Baron O'Neill of Gatley, of Gatley in the County of Greater Manchester – 28 May 2015 James George Robert Bridges, to be Baron Bridges of Headley, of Headley Heath in the County of Surrey – 28 May 2015 The Hon. David Gifford Leathes Prior, to be Baron Prior of Brampton, of Swannington in the County of Norfolk – 29 May 2015 Richard Sanderson Keen, to be Baron Keen of Elie, of Elie in the Fife – 8 June 2015
Crossbench
Sir Robert Walter Kerslake to be Baron Kerslake, of Endcliffe in the City of Sheffield – 20 March 2015
Victoria Cross (VC)
Lance Corporal Joshua Mark Leakey, the Parachute Regiment – 26 February 2015
George Cross (GC)
Colour Sergeant Kevin Howard Haberfield, Royal Marines – 31 July 2015
Order of the Companions of Honour
Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) Honorary Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu, for services to UK communities, international peace and reconciliation – 30 November 2015
Knight Bachelor
The Rt Hon. Eric Pickles, – 14 August 2015 The Hon. Mr Justice Henry James Carr – 10 November 2015 The Hon. Mr Justice Adrian George Patrick Colton – 10 November 2015 The Hon. Mr Justice Peter Donald Fraser – 10 November 2015 The Hon. Mr Justice Andrew James Gilbart – 10 November 2015 The Hon. Mr Justice David John Holgate – 10 November 2015 The Hon. Mr Justice Timothy Julian Kerr – 10 November 2015 The Hon. Mr Justice Alistair William Orchard MacDonald – 10 November 2015 The Hon. Mr Justice Simon Derek Picken – 10 November 2015 The Hon. Mr Justice Richard Andrew Snowden – 10 November 2015
Most Honourable Order of the Bath
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) Honorary Enrique Peña Nieto – President of the United States of Mexico – 3 March 2015 Joachim Gauck – President of the Federal Republic of Germany – 25 June 2015
Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) His Excellency Samuel Weymouth Tapley Seaton, – Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis – 24 November 2015
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) His Honour Judge Howard Andrew Clive Morrison, – For services to international justice and the rule of law – 26 October 2015
Honorary José Antonio Meade Kubireña – Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Mexico – 3 March 2015 Dr Joseph Muscat – Prime Minister of Malta – 26 November 2015 Anders Fogh Rasmussen – 12th Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation – 30 November 2015
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) Honorary Carlos Alberto De Icaza González – Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Mexico – 3 March 2015
Royal Victorian Order
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales – 4 June 2015 Sir Simon Gerard McDonald, – 30 June 2015
Honorary Diego Gómez Pickering – Ambassador of Mexico to the United Kingdom – 3 March 2015
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) Rear Admiral Simon Paul Williams, – On relinquishment of the appointment of Defence Services Secretary. – 3 March 2015 Nicholas Pickard – 30 June 2015 Christopher Jon Martin, – Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister and Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Office. – 1 December 2015 Robert Haydon Vernon Luke – 8 December 2015
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) William Brian Andrews, – On retirement as Superintendent of the State Apartments, St. James’s Palace. – 24 March 2015 Peter Ruskin – 30 June 2015 Susan Jayne Elliott, – 8 December 2015 Jonathan Paul Knight – 8 December 2015
Honorary David Renato Najera Rivas – Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Mexico in the United Kingdom – 3 March 2015 Aníbal Gómez Toledo – Consul of Mexico, Embassy of Mexico in the United Kingdom – 3 March 2015
Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) William Smith, – 30 June 2015 Captain Lok Bahadur Gurung, The Queen’s Gurkha Signals – on relinquishment of his appointment as Queen’s Gurkha Orderly Officer – 4 June 2015 Captain Prakash Gurung, The Royal Gurkha Rifles – on relinquishment of his appointment as Queen’s Gurkha Orderly Officer – 4 June 2015 Andrew Hawkes, – 28 July 2015 Commander Andrew Canale, – On relinquishment of his appointment as Equerry to The Queen. – 1 September 2015 Mark Flanagan – Keeper of the Gardens, Crown Estate, Windsor Great Park – 13 October 2015 Peter Stephen Walter – On relinquishing the role of Finance and Project Co-ordinator, Master of the Household’s Department, Royal Household – 18 December 2015
Honorary Mónica Gabriela Valdez Murphree – Political Affairs Officer, Embassy of Mexico in the United Kingdom – 3 March 2015 Susana Garduño Arana – Multilateral Affairs Officer, Embassy of Mexico in the United Kingdom – 3 March 2015
Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) The Hon. Mrs Justice Philippa Jane Edwards Whipple – 10 November 2015
Honorary Ana Patricia Botín Sanz de Sautuola O'Shea — for services to the financial services sector Claudia Ruiz Massieu Salinas – Minister of Tourism of Mexico – 3 March 2015
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) Civil Division Honorary Mark Getty – for services to arts and philanthropy Dr. Hermann Hauser, – for services to engineering and industry Hiroaki Nakanishi – for services to UK/Japan business cooperation Martin Naughton, – for services to the Northern Ireland economy, art and philanthropic causes Xavier Robert Rolet – for services to the financial services industry and young people Kevin Spacey, – for services to theatre, arts education and international culture Dr. Ralf Dieter Speth – for services to the British automotive sector Luis Miguel Gerónimo Barbosa Huerta – President of the Directive Board of the Senate of Mexico – 3 March 2015 Luis Videgaray Caso – Secretary of State for Finance and Public Credit of Mexico – 3 March 2015 Pedro Joaquín Coldwell – Secretary of State for Energy of Mexico – 3 March 2015 Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal – Secretary of State for Economy of Mexico – 3 March 2015 Emilio Chuayffet Chemor – Secretary of State for Public Education of Mexico – 3 March 2015 Juan José Guerra Abud – Secretary of State for Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico – 3 March 2015 Aurelio Nuño Mayer – Head of the Presidential Office of Mexico – 3 March 2015
Military Division Honorary General Roberto Miranda Moreno – Presidential Chief of Staff of Mexico – 3 March 2015
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) Military Division Brigadier Martin Patrick Mooew, late The Royal Logistic Corps Brigadier Paul Anthony Edward Nanson, , late The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Colonel David James Lord Swann, , late The Queen’s Royal Hussars Colonel Gary Paul Wilkinson, , late Royal Regiment of Artillery Brigadier James Medley Woodham, , late The Royal Anglian Regiment Brigadier Hugh Hollingworth Blackman, late The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
Honorary Dr Paul Vincent Peter Beresford-Hill, , For services to UK/US educational and cultural exchange Prof. Rivka Carmi, For services to UK/Israel scientific collaboration Mr Tae Young Chung, For services to enhancing the reputation of contemporary British art in Korea and investment in the UK James Julian Coleman, Paul Joseph Drechsler, For services to the construction industry Karin Birgitta Forseke, For services to the financial services industry Mr David Carroll Grevemberg, For services to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Syed Anwar Hasan, For services to the economy Prof. Nathu Ram Puri, , For services to business and to charity in the UK and abroad Professor Owen Patrick Smith, For services to child and adolescent cancer Eitan Wetheimer, For services to UK/Israel business cooperation David López Gutiérrez – Head of the Media and Communications Office of the Presidency of Mexico – 3 March 2015 Enrique Cabrero Mendoza – Director of CONACYT– 3 March 2015 Rafael Tovar y de Teresa – President of CONACULTA – 3 March 2015
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) Civil Division Honorary Kamal Abu Kalloub, For services to British nationals in Gaza Ms Angela Maria Brady, For services to architecture and education Mrs Diane Marguerite Briere de Isle Engelhardt, For voluntary and charitable services in Wales Etta Cohen, For services to women in business and entrepreneurship Dr Randy Lee Comfort. For services to children and families Professor Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz, For services to scientific cooperation between the UK and Brazil Mr Patrice Philippe de Martin DE Vivies, For services to Franco-British trade and investment and the energy industry Kamal Gherbawi, For services to British interests in Gaza Sung-Joo Kim, For services to UK/South Korea business relations and British social causes Dr Marion Lyons, For services to public health in Wales Mr Denis Mulcahy, For services to peace building and youth development in Northern Ireland Joseph Gerard Mulligan, For services to first aid and community resilience James Martin O’Callaghan, For services to the construction industry Dr Frederik Dag Arfst Paulsen, For services to philanthropy, education, the environment, scientific and historical research and to young people Thomas Evert Petri, For services to UK/USA Parliamentary/Congress relations Prof. Agostino Pierro, For services to medicine and charity Dr Ursula Elisabeth Steingenberger-McEwen, For services to science Dr Isolde Louise Victory, For services to Parliament Ruby C Wax, For services to mental health Professor Winston Wen-young Wong, For services to education and research in the UK and to UK/Taiwan education relations Professor Ulrike Andrea Hildegard Zeshan, For services to higher education and the international deaf community Jorge Corona Méndez – Assistant Secretary to the President of Mexico – 3 March 2015 Francisco Guzmán Ortiz – Chief of Staff to the President of Mexico – 3 March 2015 Juan Manuel Valle Pereña – General Director AMEXICID – 3 March 2015 Miguel Malvafón Andrade – Director General for Protocol – 3 March 2015 Alejandro Negrín Muñoz – Director General for Europe – 3 March 2015
Military Division Acting Colonel Jaimie Fraser Roylance, Royal Marines Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Derek Griffiths Adjutant General’s Corps (Staff and Personnel Support Branch) Major Neil Alexander Kelly, The Mercian Regiment Lieutenant Colonel David Brian Kenny, The Royal Irish Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Richard Oliver Slack, , 9th/12th Royal Lancers Wing Commander James Peter Penelhum, Royal Air Force Commander Daniel Clarke, Royal Navy Commander Michael Daren Smith, Royal Navy Captain Michael Keith Utley, Royal Navy Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Peter Norman Ramsay, , Welsh Guards Lieutenant Colonel Graeme Crichton Wearmouth, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
Honorary General Gumaro Cabrera Osornio – Deputy Head of Logistics of the Presidential Guard of Mexico – 3 March 2015 General Enrique García Jaramillo – Coordinator of Sports Promotion of the Presidential Guard of Mexico – 3 March 2015
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)