英国的荣誉制度.doc

英国荣誉制度 英国荣誉制度是旨在奖励那些为英国做出过贡献的人士，不同的荣誉头衔代表了不同的重要性，有些头衔早在几个世纪之前就已经创立。 获荣誉的人员名单由首相向英国君主推荐。个人还可以向首相提名人选，而英国外交部可以向首相提名外国公民接受荣誉。英联邦国家政府也可以向英国政府提名自己的公民，不过大多数英联邦国家都建立了自己的荣誉制度。君主还可以自己决定将荣誉授予个人。 一般每年会有两次公布获得荣誉人士的名单君主的生日和新年。颁发荣誉的盛典总是受到注目，其中最着名的当然是封爵仪式，在仪式中君主手持一把象征性的剑，轻轻敲打被册封为爵士的人的肩膀。但是一些时候获得荣誉的人也会拒绝接受荣誉，2003年英国的报章就曾公布过一份所有曾拒绝获册封人士的名单。 荣誉头衔 世袭贵族(Peerage)：现在已经很少授予王室以外的公众人士；即使是王室人士，最近的一次也在爱德华王子结婚之时，获封为西撒克逊伯爵。自从英国国会在1999年通过新法例以後，受封者不会再自动成为上议院成员。最後一次授予王室以外成员是在1984年，当时获得册封的是前首相哈罗德麦克米伦。世袭贵族分为五个级别：公爵、候爵、伯爵、子爵和男爵。 终身贵族：所有终身贵族都拥有男爵的头衔，并且都是上议院成员。终身贵族的头衔不能继承。一些人获封为终身贵族并不是由于他的成就，而是通过册封让他可以进入上议院，比如大法官等。该头衔是根据1876年的上诉权法案（Appellate Jurisdiction Act）和1958年的终身贵族法案（Life Peerage Act）而设立的。 从男爵爵位（Baronetcy）：与骑士爵位类似，获册封後名字前可加入Sir（爵士）的头衔。从男爵爵位可以继承，但并不属于贵族。 骑士爵位（Knighthood）：从中世纪的骑士制度流传下来，受册封者大多是最高法院的法官，获册封後名字前可加入Sir（爵士）的头衔，女性的头衔则是Dame（女爵士）。 其他等级、荣誉或奖章：获册封者没有“Sir”的头衔，但是可以在名字後面加入荣誉头衔。 骑士勋章 以下是按照等级高低排列的骑士勋章： 嘉德勋章（Most Noble Order of the Garter，1348年设立） 蓟花勋章（Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle，1687年设立） 圣帕特里克勋章（Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick，1783年设立） 巴思勋章（Most Honourable Order of the Bath，1725年设立） 印度之星勋章（Most Exalted Order of the Star of India，1861年设立） 圣迈克尔和圣乔治勋章（Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George，1832年设立） 印度帝国勋章（Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire，1877年设立） 维多利亚女王勋章（Royal Victorian Order，1896年设立） 不列颠帝国勋章（Most Excellent Order of the British Empire，1917年设立） 英格兰、苏格兰和爱尔兰都拥有各自的最高勋章，例如嘉德勋章是英格兰的最高勋章，蓟花勋章是苏格兰的最高勋章，爱尔兰的最高勋章圣帕特里克勋章已经废除。每一枚勋章都只能授予固定的人数，像嘉德勋章只能授予24人，蓟花勋章16人，圣帕特里克勋章22人。 印度之星勋章和印度帝国勋章都是授予在印度做出过贡献的人士的，现在也已经废除。 荣誉奖励 其他国家的公民有时候也会获得荣誉头衔，但是他们不得在其名字前加入“Sir”等字样，而只能在名字後加入头衔。当这些获得荣誉头衔的外国人加入英国国籍後，就可以以女王子民的身份申请将相对应的头衔放在名字前面。 英国没有法律规定外国人不得成为英国贵族，但是却规定只有英联邦国家的公民才可以称为英国的上议员。一些国家比如美国的法律禁止公民接受外国的贵族荣誉称号。總的來說, 從高到低的排列順序是: 女皇 - 公爵 - 侯爵 - 伯爵 - 子爵 - 男爵. 這些貴族身份都是世代相襲的. 可以說現代中國並沒有類似的貴族制度. 想當貴族並不是有錢就行的. 那是十幾代甚至數十代先人的文化積澱, 禮儀傳承. 貴族的孩子總是大方得體, 彬彬有禮. 就像威廉王子. ROYAL FAMILYthe Queen not usually necessary to write Her Majesty or HM the Queen, though occasionally Her Majesty can be usedthe Duke of Edinburgh, thereafter the Duke or (sparingly) Prince Philipthe Prince of Wales, thereafter the Prince or (sparingly) Prince Charles. In England and Wales, refer to the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall (the Prince and the Duchess at subsequent mention). In Scotland, the usage the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay is permissible. The Duchess is technically the Princess of Wales, but does not use the title; nor do we. Prince William at first mention, thereafter simply William (or for variation the Prince, if not ambiguous); similarly, Prince Harry at first mention, thereafter simply Harry (or for variation the Prince, if not ambiguous)the Duke of York, thereafter Prince Andrew or the Dukethe Earl of Wessex, thereafter the Earl or Prince Edward; similarly, the Countess of Wessex, the Countess, or the former Sophie Rhys-Jones the Princess Royal, thereafter the Princess; “Princess Anne” is no longer acceptable except in historical contextCommodore Tim Laurence, the Princess Royals husband. No longer CaptainQueen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (no commas); at first mention now write the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, thereafter the Queen Mother Diana, Princess of Wales, at first mention, thereafter the Princess (cap). The late Princess wherever appropriate. Never refer to Princess Diana or (even worse) Princess Di or Lady Di Note also that the Duchess of York is no longer a member of the Royal Family since her divorce. After her first mention as Duchess of York, refer to the duchess (l/c) subsequently - never “Fergie” or any such vulgarity. Neither should she be called Sarah, Duchess of York Royal Dukes keep the cap at subsequent mentions (eg, the Duke of Kent, later the Duke); other dukes do not retain the cap (see below)PEERAGE AND KNIGHTSTitles of nobility in descending order are as follows: duke, marquess (not marquis, except in foreign contexts and occasional Scottish titles), earl, viscount and baron. At first mention, give the formal title (as in Whos Who) eg, the Marquess of Paddington, the Earl of Waterloo, but then Lord Paddington, Lord Waterloo etc. This does not apply to barons, who are always Lord except in the announcement of new baronies. Dukes are always dukes and do not become Lord (eg, the Duke of Rutland). Note style of the 2nd Earl, the 3rd Viscount etc.Baronesses in their own right or life peeresses are Baroness at first mention, and then Lady (eg, Baroness Thatcher, then Lady Thatcher).The wife of a duke is a duchess (and is always called Duchess, eg, the Duchess of X); the wife of a marquess is a marchioness, of an earl a countess, of a viscount a viscountess. Use Lady at second and subsequent mentions. The wife of a baronet, eg, Sir John Euston, should be called Lady Euston from the start. Widows or former wives of all these titles who have not remarried use their Christian name before the title, eg, Margaret Duchess of Argyll (no commas). A widow may also be known as the Dowager Duchess of Y, or the Dowager Lady Z.Apart from royalty (eg, the Duke of York), all these titles take l/c rather than cap after the first mention (eg, the Duke of Argyll, thereafter the duke).Some titles include a place name , eg, Lord Callaghan of Cardiff, Baroness Jay of Paddington, while others do not. Again, follow Whos Who, where those whose place name must be included appear in bold caps.Always give the full title at first mention, thereafter the abbreviated form, eg, Lord Bingham of Cornhill, thereafter Lord Bingham. Among titles spelt differently from the place name are the Marquess of Ailesbury, Marquess of Donegall, Earl of Guilford, Earl of Scarbrough.Take great care with the use of first names with titles, especially the wives of peers, baronets and knights. The wife of Lord St Pancras is simply Lady St Pancras. The wife of Sir John Fenchurch is simply Lady Fenchurch (together, Sir John and Lady Fenchurch). However, when the name is a common one and there is no other convenient identification, or where there is some other compelling reason to give the first name, it is permissible to say Lady (John) Brown (brackets essential; see last sentence of next paragraph).Baronets and knights are known as Sir John Smith, thereafter Sir John. Again, to repeat this essential point, no wife of a baronet or knight takes her Christian name in her title unless she is the daughter of a duke, a marquess or an earl. If a baronet has had more than one wife, the first wife is, eg, Mary Lady Smith (no commas) - the same form applies to the widow of a baron. If a knight has had more than one wife, the former wife puts her Christian name in brackets, eg, Lady (Alice) Brown, to distinguish her from the present wife, Lady Brown.Also, if there are two baronets or knights with the same name, their wives (when mentioned apart from their husbands), put his Christian name in brackets, eg, Lady (Stephen) Brown, Lady (Andrew) Brown.Dames of an order of chivalry take the same style as knights, eg, Dame Felicity Brown, thereafter Dame Felicity. A dame who is married may prefer to use her own style, eg, Dame Margaret Arrowroot, wife of Lord Arrowroot of Nice; personal preferences should be respected.CHILDREN OF PEERSEldest sons of a duke, marquess or earl use the fathers second title as a courtesy title (eg, the Duke of Bedfords son is the Marquess of Tavistock). These people are not peers, eve