| Order of Merit | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Badge and ribbon bow of the order (for wear by female recipients) | |
| Awarded by Monarch of the United Kingdom | |
| Type | Order of merit |
| Established | 26 June 1902 |
| Motto | For Merit |
| Eligibility | All living citizens of the Commonwealth realms |
| Criteria | At the monarch's pleasure |
| Status | Currently constituted |
| Founder | Edward VII |
| Sovereign | Charles III |
| Secretary and Registrar | The Lord Janvrin |
| Grades | Member (OM) |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Dependent on state |
| Next (lower) | Dependent on state |
.svg){kind=small} Ribbon bar of the order | |
The Order of Merit (French: Ordre du Mérite)[n 1] is an order of merit for the Commonwealth realms, recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by Edward VII, admission into the order remains the personal gift of its Sovereign—currently Edward VII's great-great-grandson Charles III—and is restricted to a maximum of 24 living recipients from the Commonwealth realms, plus honorary members.[1][2] While all members are awarded the right to use the post-nominal letters OM and wear the badge of the order,[3] the Order of Merit's precedence among other honours differs between countries.
Cite error: There are <ref group=n> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=n}} template (see the help page).
- ^ "Order of Merit". Royal Household. Archived from the original on 18 July 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
- ^ "Order of Merit". The Governor General of Canada. Archived from the original on 21 February 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Jackson, Michael (Summer 2007). "Book review: The Order of Merit 1902–2002: One Hundred Years of Matchless Honour" (PDF). Canadian Monarchist News. No. 26. Oakville, Ontario: Monarchist League of Canada. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2009.