Queen Elizabeth II bestows honour on Indonesian ambassador to Britain

... It was an honorary title bestowed upon Hamzah by the Queen... "

London (ANTARA NEWS) - Queen Elizabeth II has bestowed on Indonesian Ambassador to Britain TM Hamzah Thayeb the title of Knight Commander of the Victorian Order (KCVO), in view of the successful visit of President Susilo Yudhoyono to the region last month.

"President Yudhoyono, who made a state visit to the UK last month, also received an honorary title of Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Bath (GCB) from Queen Elizabeth II," First Secretary of Socio-Cultural Information Division Heni Hamidah told ANTARA here on Thursday.

She said the title was conferred on the Ambassador because of his efforts to ensure the success of Indonesian President's state visit to Britain.

"It was an honorary title bestowed upon Hamzah by the Queen," Heni added.

Queen Elizabeth II also bestowed similar honours on five other officers and staff of the Indonesian Embassy one of them being the Deputy Chief of Indonesian Mission in London, Harry RJ Kandou, who received the title of Commander of the Victorian Order (CVO).

Minister Counsellor for Political Affairs Haris Nugroho was conferred with the Lieutenant of the Victorian Order (LVO) title.

Heni and Second Secretary of Sociocultural Affairs Billy Wibisono received the title of Member of the Victorian Order.

The Defence AttachE of Indonesian Embassy in London, Colonel Jonni Mahroza, was conferred with Officer of the British Empire (OBE), a title usually bestowed upon military officers.

Royal Victorian Order is an honorary title that the Head of State of the United Kingdom bestows upon a person in recognition of their personal services to the King or the Queen of Britain.

The first such title was given in 1896 by Queen Victoria. The members of the order are classified into five hierarchical categories: Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order (GCVO), Knight Commander of the Victorian Order (KCVO), Commander of the Victorian Order (CVO), Lieutenant of the Victorian Order (LVO) and Member of the Victorian Order (MVO).

Only those who hold the GCVO and KCVO titles reserve the right to prefix their names with "Sir" (for men) or "Dame" (for women).

(B019/INE/KR-BSRO001)