Knighthoods, Garter and Ambassadors

There has been some discussion recently in 'The Times' both from
columnists and in the letter pages about HM government's reluctance to
award knighthoods to those who would normally get one in the past. The

CJ Buyers...

This is the spin and there is some evidence for it, but the changes
have only been marginal.

last Garter King of Arms to receive one was Sir Anthony Wagner, which
is surprising considering the work done by Garter and the lack of
remuneration he receives. Lords Mayor no longer receive automatic
knighthoods, neither do ambassadors and High Commissioners of either
major countries or countries to which The Queen is paying a state

CJ Buyers...

Cole became KCB and KCO, Swann a KCVO.

Nevertheless, these honours are in the Sovereign's personal gift, not
the government.

Becoming Garter doesn't itself involve a salary but still carries with
it a virtual license to print money through the College of Arms.

CJ Buyers...

True, but they all seem to have managed to receive knighthoods during
or at the end of their terms for this or that "other" reason.

visit. It seems that businessmen are more likely to jump straight to a

CJ Buyers...

Knighthoods are conferred more sparingly but then the role of
Ambassador or High Commissioner has diminished a good deal over the
years. He isn't as important a personage as he used to be. Improved
communications have vastly reduced his importance. Indeed, within EU
countries it is doubtful if the position is really even needed. The
same probably applies between the UK and US.

It sin't true that the award of a KCVO or GCVO during a State Visit has
ceased.

knighthood (or peerage) whereas civil servants say, have to move
inexorably through the various grades.

CJ Buyers...

Part of the reasoning behind large numbers of awards for civil servants
used to be that they were not highly paid. Honours, and to some extent
secure pensions, were really their only recognition. Nowadays that
isn't true. They are now paid very well and often go on to use their
civil service positions to gain even better paid positions in the
private sector, once they retire. Even the promotion structure within
the service has changed so that 'buggins' turn applies less and less,
and leap frog promotions for merit are more common.

Turenne...

I should have made it clear that I was not referring to knighthoods
that were in The Queen's gift but The Government's. The fact that civil

CJ Buyers...

Garter's honours were always conferred by personal gift, not by the

CJ Buyers...

Obviously so.

government.

servants go on to lucrative positions in The City should not preclude
them from receiving honours if they are deserved.

CJ Buyers...

True, but one of the reasons why they used to receive a "higher
allocation" of honours was because it was felt that they were not paid
very highly, in comparison to those in other professions or outside
government service.

To say that Ambassadors and High Commissioners are an increasing
irrelevance (I'm paraphrasing), and therefore not deserving of higher
honours is patently incorrect. To award a particular ambassador or H.C

CJ Buyers...

I di not, of course, say they were an irrelevance. Just that they are
not as important as they once were. Modern communications and
inter-governmental contact at all levels between EU countries tend to
circumvent them.

a knighthood is as much a reflection on the country to which his is
posted, as it is a personal honour.

CJ Buyers...

Well, that isn't quite how it worked even when knighthoods were awarded
in greater number. Everything depended on the career of the individual
concerned, rising up gently in stages from "call me God", to "king's

CJ Buyers...

That is one version, it certainly isn't the only one.

call me God", to "God calls me God". Consequently, one finds many
examples of diplomats and governors who had reached stage three, but
held appointments to a relatively junior posting, receiving the highest
honour. It just so happens that as one rose in seniority, the more
likely one was to be sent to the more important or powerful countries.

CJ Buyers...

No, but the numbers were being exceeded because of the large number of
Governor-Generals who received the honour during the 1970s and 1980s.
They still do, but the rate has reduced since Australia and New Zealand
went their own ways, Fiji and Mauritius became republics, etc.

Richard Lichten