Honorary distinctions

The following are the five kinds of honorary distinctions which recognise deserving individuals in different fields:

• Medal of the Order of Saint Charles
• Medals of the Order of the Grimaldi
• Medals of the Order of Cultural Merit
• Medals for Physical Education and Sports
• Long Service Medals

The awarding of honorary distinctions takes place every year in November, as part of the Fête Nationale.

Proposals for an attribution of honorary distinctions may be made each year between April and mid-June.

Find full details of the procedure and dates, by following this link.

The Order of Saint Charles is intended to recognise an individual’s merit and to acknowledge services rendered to the State or the Prince.

This Order is divided into five classes:

• The Grand-Croix
• The Grands-Officers
• The Commanders
• The Officers
• The Knights

Promotion to a higher class is subject to seniority spanning at least:

• Four years for promotion from Knight to Officer
• Three years for promotion from Officer to Commander
• Four years for promotion from Commander to Grand-Officer
• Five years for promotion from Grand-Officer to Grand-Croix

The Order of the Grimaldi is intended to honour and recognise individuals who have enhanced the prestige of the Principality.

Corporate bodies as well as public, civil or military services may be admitted into the Order, without any class distinction.

The Order of the Grimaldi is divided into five classes:

• The Grand-Croix
• The Grands-Officers
• The Commanders
• The Officers
• The Knights

Promotion to a higher class is subject to seniority spanning at least:

• Four years for promotion from Knight to Officer
• Three years for promotion from Officer to Commander
• Four years for promotion from Commander to Grand-Officer
• Five years for promotion from Grand-Officer to Grand-Croix

The Order of Cultural Merit is intended to honour and recognise individuals who have participated in the development of the arts, humanities and sciences in Monaco through their work or their teaching. These individuals, in their respective fields, will also have contributed to the intellectual standing of the Principality.

The Order of Cultural Merit is divided into three classes:

• The Knights
• The Officers
• The Commanders

In order to be nominated for the class of Knight, you must be at least 40 and you must make use of your civil rights.

Promotion to a higher class is subject to seniority spanning at least:

• Eight years for promotion from Knight to Officer
• Five years for promotion from Officer to Commander

Medals for Physical Education and Sports are intended to recognise individuals who, through remarkable performance, exemplary and sustained practice or teaching contribute to the development of physical education and sports in the Principality.

The medal for physical education and sports is divided into three grades:

• Third grade bronze medal
• Second grade silver medal
• First grade gilded silver medal

In order to qualify for a bronze medal, the duration of services rendered to physical education and sports must be at least eight years.

Holders of the bronze medal may only be nominated for the silver medal after a minimum of four years of additional services rendered to physical education and sports.

Holders of the silver medal may only be nominated for the gilded silver medal after a minimum of four years of additional services rendered to physical education and sports.

Long service medals are intended to recognise the good work of employees.

The long service medal is divided into two grades:

• First grade silver medal
• Second grade bronze medal

The second grade medal may only be granted once 20 years have passed in the service of the same public or private employer.

The first grade medal may be attributed to holders of the second grade medal a minimum of three years after the latter has been awarded and on the condition that the individual has provided 30 years of service to the same public or private employer.