Catalogue description Records of the Ceremonial Branch

The Ceremonial Branch, headed by a Ceremonial Officer, was established in 1937 to work under the Head of the Home Civil Service. The branch is assisted in its work by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (known during the Second World War as the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals in Time of War) which considers all major changes and developments in honours policy. This committee is chaired by the Head of the Home Civil Service and consists of certain Permanent Secretaries and the private secretaries to the Queen and the Prime Minister. In addition the Ceremonial Officer normally, although not necessarily, acts as Secretary of the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee. This is a committee of the Privy Council which considers the names of individuals proposed by the Prime Minister to be honoured for their political services.

Advice to the Sovereign in war-time was given by the Committee on the grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals in Time of War (HW Committee); this was the war-time equivalent of the permanent standing Committee of the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee), both of which were under the Chairmanship of the Head of the Home Civil Service.

This action formalised previous arrangements whereby the Head of the Home Civil Service had advised the Sovereign and the Prime Minister on aspects of honours policy.

In addition the Head of the Home Civil Service assisted the Prime Minister in drawing up lists of recommendations for the bestowal of honours at the New Year and on the Sovereign's Official Birthday in mid-year. Recommendations came from a variety of sources including the public, however the final selection was the sole prerogative of the Prime Minister, without reference to the Government; any advice offered by the Head of the Home Civil Service could be accepted or rejected.

The Branch's major function is the preparation of the Prime Minister's half yearly honours list. In addition the Branch determines the allocations or 'scales' of awards (i.e. the number and types of awards which are to be made available). It formulates policy on the wearing of foreign decorations by British personnel and on the award of British honours to foreign subjects. The branch is also responsible for drawing up regulations on the design and wearing of civil uniforms on Court and State occasions.

In 1968 the Ceremonial Branch was transferred to the Civil Service Department. When the Civil Service Department was dissolved in 1981 the Branch passed briefly to the new Management and Personnel Office. In 1982 it moved to the Cabinet Office, where in 1991 it became part of the Office of Public Service and Science. After the 2001 general election, the name was changed from Branch to Secretariat.