Full List: Military New Year Honours 2025 Recognises Extraordinary Service Across UK Forces

The dawn of 2025 brought with it a moment of reflection and celebration across the United Kingdom’s armed forces, as the annual Military New Year Honours list was announced. This year, the honours highlighted a tapestry of dedication spanning the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, and the behind-the-scenes staff who keep the monarchy’s wheels turning. While the full list includes nearly 1,200 individuals from all walks of life (Manchester Evening News), the military division stands out for its focus on operational excellence, lifetime service, and the unsung heroes who support national defence and the royal household.

Let’s dive into the details, exploring the individuals and teams whose commitment—often quietly delivered—has earned recognition from His Majesty King Charles in 2025.

Royal Navy and Royal Marines: Devotion, Leadership, and Frontline Bravery

From the highest echelons to the youngest officers, twenty-seven sailors and Royal Marines received honours this year (Royal Navy). Admiral Sir Antony Radakin, holding the military’s top position, was awarded the Knight Grand Cross in the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE). His leadership in turbulent times, steering the Navy through global challenges, is a testament to calm under pressure and a lifetime of service.

Vice Admiral M Utley and Rear Admiral J Parkin followed, with knighthoods and companion awards acknowledging their strategic impact. Commodores, captains, warrant officers, and even engineering technicians found their names on the list, some cited specifically for operational achievements—proof that heroism isn’t limited to the battlefield, but also the engine rooms, medical bays, and logistics hubs that keep ships and submarines operational.

Special recognition went to the King’s Volunteer Reserve Medal recipients, as well as those earning the Meritorious Service Medal—a roll call of technical specialists, divers, band leaders, and catering chiefs who, though rarely in the spotlight, are essential for mission success. Commendations from the First Sea Lord and Royal Navy itself reflected a culture that values innovation, teamwork, and resilience, with digital infrastructure and supply chain teams (such as those aboard HMS Caledonia and HMS Dauntless) gaining collective applause.

Cyber & Specialist Operations Command: The Changing Face of Defence

The New Year Honours list also spotlighted the modern battlefield, where cyber and specialist operations are increasingly critical (gov.uk). Past and present members of the Cyber & Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) were recognised for their services to defence, illustrating how digital expertise and adaptability have become as vital as physical courage.

Among the standout honourees: Brigadier S J J Marks received the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for operational leadership, while Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels across the Army earned OBEs and MBEs for both traditional and cyber-based operations. The list also included medical staff, such as Lieutenant Colonel H D Saunders, honoured with the Royal Red Cross for outstanding nursing service—reminding us that care under fire is as heroic as combat.

Commendations extended to team awards, with the British Defence Singapore Support Unit and the Global Support Organisation Digital Service Team praised for their international and digital contributions. The inclusion of civilian specialists, as well as cross-force recognitions (including the Royal Navy’s Commander R McClurg and Surgeon Lieutenant Commander K John), signals an era where defence is a shared responsibility, blending military tradition with innovation.

International collaboration was also evident: British Army officers received the Canadian Special Service Medal, US Legion of Merit, and France’s Médaille D’Outre-Mer, underscoring the global nature of UK defence efforts and the value placed on partnership and interoperability.

Royal Household: Quiet Service, Personal Dedication

Not all honours are for those in uniform. The New Year Honours reached deep into the royal household, recognising the Waleses’ driver, Lance Sergeant Scott Robin Bishop, and their nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo (Hello Magazine). Both received the Royal Victorian Medal (Silver), a personal gift from the monarch, awarded for service that is often invisible but vital to the daily lives of Prince William, Princess Kate, and their children.

In a world that sometimes overlooks the staff behind the royal facade, these medals are a reminder that loyalty, discretion, and day-to-day reliability matter. Medical staff serving King Charles and Queen Camilla were also recognised, with eye surgeons, travelling physicians, and plastic surgeons awarded the Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO)—emphasising the human side of monarchy, where health and trust are paramount.

A Nationwide Celebration of Service

While social media and public forums buzzed with debate and congratulations (Manchester Evening News), the overwhelming theme was gratitude. Nearly 1,200 people from across the UK were honoured, reflecting a society that values both headline-grabbing heroics and the quieter forms of excellence.

In the military division, the 2025 Honours List paints a picture of evolving defence—where frontline bravery is matched by cyber expertise, engineering skill, and compassionate care. Whether steering ships, protecting digital borders, or ensuring royal children have the right breakfast before school, these recipients remind us that national strength is woven from thousands of individual threads.

The 2025 Military New Year Honours list is more than a roll call; it’s a mirror reflecting the changing face of service in Britain. From admirals to engineers, cyber specialists to royal drivers, the diversity and depth of recognition show that excellence is not bound by rank, role, or tradition—it is earned, every day, by those willing to serve.