Appointments to the Order of Merit

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY THE PRESS SECRETARY TO THE QUEEN

1 January 2012

The Queen has been pleased to appoint British artist David Hockney and former Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, to be members of the Order of Merit.

Background

The Order of Merit, founded by 1902 by King Edward VII, is a special mark of honour conferred by the Sovereign on individuals of exceptional distinction in the arts, learning, sciences and other areas such as public service. Appointments to the Order are in the Sovereign's personal gift and ministerial advice is not required. The Order is restricted to 24 members as well as additional foreign recipients. For further information, see http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Honours/OrderofMerit.aspx

David Hockney is a British painter and photographer; he was made a Companion of Honour in 1997.

John Howard served as Prime Minister from 1996 to 2007, and was Australia’s second longest serving Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies.

A number of Australians have been members of the Order of Merit: Samuel Alexander, Gilbert Murray, Sir Macfarlane Burnett, Sir Owen Dixon, Lord Florey, Sir Sidney Nolan, Dame Joan Sutherland and Lord May of Oxford.

Members of the Order of Merit in Appointment Order

Honorary Members

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, O.M. 21st March, 1995

Substantive Members

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, K.G., K.T., O.M., G.B.E., A.C., Q.S.O., F.R.S. 10th June, 1968

The Reverend Professor William Owen Chadwick, O.M., K.B.E., F.B.A.

11th November, 1983

Sir Andrew Fielding Huxley, O.M., F.R.S.

11th November, 1983

Doctor Frederick Sanger, O.M., C.H., C.B.E., F.R.S.

11th February, 1986

The Right Honourable Margaret Hilda, Lady Thatcher, L.G., O.M., F.R.S.

7th December, 1990

Sir Michael Francis Atiyah, O.M., F.R.S.

17th November, 1992

Sir Aaron Klug, O.M., F.R.S.

23rd October, 1995

Norman Robert, Lord Foster of Thames Bank, O.M., R.A.

25th November, 1997

Sir Anthony Alfred Caro, O.M., C.B.E.

9th May, 2000

Professor Sir Roger Penrose, O.M., F.R.S.

9th May, 2000

Sir Thomas Stoppard, O.M., C.B.E.

9th May, 2000

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, K.G., K.T., G.C.B., O.M., A.K., Q.S.O., A.D.C.

27th June, 2002

Robert McCredie, Lord May of Oxford, O.M., A.C., F.R.S.

28th October, 2002

Nathaniel Charles Jacob, Lord Rothschild, O.M., G.B.E.

28th October, 2002

Sir David Frederick Attenborough, O.M., C.H., C.V.O., C.B.E., F.R.S.

28th April, 2005

The Right Honourable Betty, Baroness Boothroyd, O.M.

28th April, 2005

Professor Sir Michael Eliot Howard, O.M., C.H., C.B.E., M.C.

28th April, 2005

The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Robert Henry Alexander, Lord Eames, O.M.

13th June, 2007

Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee, O.M., K.B.E.

13th June, 2007

The Right Honourable Martin John, Lord Rees of Ludlow, O.M., P.R.S.

13th June, 2007

The Right Honourable Jean Chretien O.M., P.C.,C.C., Q.C.

13th July, 2009

Neil MacGregor, O.M.

4th November, 2010

David Hockney O.M., C.H., R.A.

1st January, 2012

The Honourable John Howard O.M., A.C., S.S.I.

1st January, 2012