From politicians, entertainers, and actresses to senior diplomats and top athletes, the New Year's Honours recognize the more than 1,200 individuals in the UK who have made exceptional contributions to their communities and the nation.Honours as part of orders of chivalry have been given by monarchs since the Middle Ages but the British honours system now recognises people who have “made achievements in public life” and “committed themselves to serving and helping Britain”.

It acknowledges long-term volunteers, innovators, entrepreneurs, individuals displaying “moral courage”, those making a difference in their community or field of work or people improving life for others less able to help themselves.Honours are given to people involved in a range of fields, including sport, health, science and technology, education, business, and the arts and media.The list comprise knights and dames, appointments to the Order of the British Empire and gallantry awards. The most senior ranks of the Order of the British Empire are Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) and Knight or Dame Commander (KBE or DBE).

These ranks permit the use of the title “Sir“ for men and “Dame” for women, with the honour given to those who have made major contributions in any field, usually at a national level. The order’s ranks, after knighthood or damehood, are Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE) and Member (MBE).While each award is a high honour, the different categories can be confusing, so we have ranked each in descending order, as well as listing some of the people being recognised in this year's Honours.

Companions of Honour (CH)

The Order of the Companions of Honour has been awarded since June 4 1917 and was founded by George V. It is limited to 65 members at any one time and appointments go to those who have made a long-standing contribution to arts, science, medicine or government. One has been named in the latest list – author and screenwriter Sir Kazuo Ishiguro, who is honoured for services to literature.

Dame and Knights Grand Cross

A Dame or Knight Grand Cross is the highest rank in many of the Orders. The bestselling author Dame Jacqueline Wilson is on the latest list, and will become a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) for services to literature, along with Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, former chair of Cancer Research UK, who is made a Knight Grand Cross of the same order (GBE) for services to cancer research, clinical research, medicine and charities.

Order of the Bath (GCB/KCB/DCB/CB)

This recognises the work of senior military officials and civil servants, such as MI5 Director General Ken McCallum, who becomes Knight Grand Cross (GCB) in the New Year Honours while Tamara Finkelstein, permanent secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) becomes Dame Commander (DCB).

Vice Admiral Martin Connell and General Gwyn Jenkins become Knight Commanders (KCB) along with Lieutenant Tom Copinger-Symes, while another eight military figures are made Companions (CB), as are seven civilians.

Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG/KCMG/DCMG/CMG)

This recognises service in a foreign country or achievements in relation to foreign and Commonwealth affairs, such as the work of diplomats overseas. Simon Walters, the UK’s ambassador to Israel, is appointed a Companion of the Order (CMG) this year.

Knights and Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE/DBE)

These are usually bestowed on people who have made a major contribution at national level, who can use the titles Dame and Sir. On this year’s main list there are 13 damehoods including artist Barbara Rae and Labour politicians Patricia Hewitt and Emily Thornberry.

Knights Bachelor

According to the Cabinet Office, The Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor does not constitute a royal order. Rather it is an appointment, for men only, which originates from the medieval period. Recipients can use the title Sir but do not have post nominal letters as in other orders. There is also no direct equivalent appointment for women. Actor Stephen Fry and former England football team manager Gareth Southgate are among the 22 men knighted.

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

People are recognised with this honour if they have a prominent but lesser role at national level or a leading role at regional level.

It also goes to those who make a distinguished, innovative contribution to any area, and there are 95 this time.

Actors Carey Mulligan, Anne Reid and Sarah Lancashire and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh were all made CBEs.

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

People are made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire if they have a major local role in any activity, including people whose work has made them known nationally. Among the 244 honoured in this way in the latest list are Post Office campaigners Lee Castleton, Jo Hamilton, Christopher Head and Seema Misra, and journalist Rebecca Thomson, who wrote about the scandal in Computer Weekly.

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

This rank recognises outstanding achievements or service to the community with a significant long-term impact. Those made Members of the Order of the British Empire in the latest list include sporting figures Dina Asher-Smith, Keely Hodgkinson and Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

British Empire Medal (BEM)

The BEM was reintroduced in 2012 by then-prime minister David Cameron as part of his bid to make the honours system “classless”, saying too few people making a difference in their areas were made MBEs.

The medal goes to 317 people in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Sadiq Khan knighthood makes 'UK a laughing stock' - London Mayor's honour sparks anger

Following Sadiq Khan's knighthood in the New Year's Honours list, Lee Anderson has launched a vicious attack on the London mayor.After the decision was confirmed this evening, Tory shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused Labour of prioritizing party politics before national interests. Along with Stephen Fry and former England manager Gareth Southgate, Mr. Khan, who has served as London's mayor since 2016, was honored.Under his tenure, London has seen significant investments in infrastructure and a focus on environmental initiatives such as the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

However, Mr Khan's leadership has not been without controversy and critics point to spiralling knife crime, plus the ongoing housing crisis, and challenges in delivering key projects as notable shortcomings.Certainly Reform UK MP for Ashfield Mr Anderson was deeply unimpressed, telling Express.co.uk: "This country is fast becoming a laughing stock."Most Brits will struggle to name one positive thing Sadiq Khan has done for our capital city.

"If the man had any shame he would hand the award back and apologise for ruining our capital city."

Mr Philp, the Conservative MP for Croydon South, who served as Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire in the administration of Rishi Sunak, was similarly critical.He said: "Under Sadiq Khan Londoners have faced a 61 per cent increase in knife-crime, a housing crisis and a 70% increase in Council Tax."They will rightly be furious his track-record of failure is being rewarded.

"By rewarding the failing Sadiq Khan, Keir Starmer has shown once again that for Labour it is Party first, country second."

Reacting to his award, Sir Sadiq, the son of a London bus driver, said: "I couldn't have dreamed when growing up on a council estate in south London that I would one day be mayor of London."It's the honour of my life to serve the city I love and I will continue to build the fairer, safer, greener and more prosperous London that all of the capital's communities deserve."

A former human rights lawyer, he was elected as MP for Tooting in 2005, serving as a junior minister under Gordon Brown and then as shadow justice secretary under Ed Miliband.

Earlier this year, he was accused of not taking knife crime "seriously" earlier this year by then cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch.

A petition started by a Conservative councillor opposing his knighthood has attracted more than 200,000 signatures since December 5.

He has also courted controversy over a series of public spats with Donald Trump, set to return to the White House next month.

In 2018, Sir Sadiq's office gave permission for an inflatable depicting Mr Trump as a baby to fly in Parliament Square as the then-US president visited the UK.