The National Order of Merit is a

state order A state order, or national order, is an order bestowed by a sovereign state as part of a national honours system.https://www.pressreader.com/lebanon/the-daily-star-lebanon/20180724/281573766486143 These orders, conferred for the merit of the recip ...

of the

Republic of Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...

. The order is divided into four grades that may be awarded to Maltese citizens. The grade of Companion of Honour of the National Order of Merit is the highest

honour Honour (British English) or honor (American English; American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, see spelling differences) is the idea of a bond between an individual and a society as a quality of a person that is both of socia ...

that the

government of Malta A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...

may confer upon its citizens. Citizens of other countries may be awarded the order on an honorary basis.

Recipients

The National Order of Merit pays tribute to Maltese citizens who distinguish themselves in different fields of endeavour. The motto of the Order is ''Virtute et Constantia''. Only Maltese citizens are eligible to be appointed members of the Order. However, honorary membership may be conferred on foreign nationals who have distinguished themselves by their service in the promotion and fostering of

international relations International relations (IR), sometimes referred to as international studies and international affairs, is the scientific study of interactions between sovereign states. In a broader sense, it concerns all activities between states—such as ...

, or who have earned the respect and gratitude of the people of the

Maltese Islands Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...

. In addition to past and present presidents and prime ministers who are by virtue of their offices members of the National Order of Merit in the grade of Companion of Honour, there can be only three other members in this grade at any one time. In the other grades the maximum at any one time is twelve Companions, twenty Officers and one hundred Members. Annual appointments may not exceed two Companions, three Officers and ten Members, provided that in determining the number of appointees to the Order, no account shall be taken of the appointment of Honorary Members.

Grades

National appointments

The four grades of the Order are designed to embrace a wide spectrum of achievement and service. Appointees to the National Order of Merit are entitled in terms of the law to place the following letters after their names: * Companions of Honour – K.U.O.M. (''Kumpannji tal-Unur'') * Companions – K.O.M. (''Kumpannji'') * Officers – U.O.M. (''Uffiċjali'') * Members – M.O.M. (''Membri'')

Honorary appointments

In addition to the same rank as national appointments, two ranks have been added * Honorary Companions of Honour with Collar – K.U.O.M. ''approved by Legal Notice No. 178 of 7/12/94 * Honorary Companions of Honour – K.U.O.M. * Honorary Companions with Breast Star – K.O.M. ''approved by Legal Notice No. 162 of 14/11/95'' * Honorary Companions – K.O.M. * Honorary Officers – U.O.M. * Honorary Members – M.O.M.

Insignia

;Companions of Honour The insignia for a Companion of Honour includes a breast star with silver rays in diameter. Superimposed over the rays is a

silver-gilt Silver-gilt or gilded/gilt silver, sometimes known in American English by the French term vermeil, is silver (either pure or sterling) which has been gilded with gold. Most large objects made in goldsmithing that appear to be gold are actually ...

white enameled Maltese Cross in diameter. In the center of the cross is the

Coat of arms of Malta The coat of arms of Malta is the national coat of arms of the country of Malta. The present coat of arms is described by the Emblem and Public Seal of Malta Act of 1988 as a shield showing an heraldic representation of the national flag of Malta ...

. The badge of the order is similar to the star, but only includes the Maltese Cross and the coat of arms. The

badge A badge is a device or accessory, often containing the insignia of an organization, which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath (e.g., police and fi ...

of the order is suspended from a blue

sash A sash is a large and usually colorful ribbon or band of material worn around the body, either draping from one shoulder to the opposing hip and back up, or else running around the waist. The sash around the waist may be worn in daily attire, bu ...

wide with a central stripe of red. The sash for female recipients is wide. Honorary companions who are heads of state at the time of their appointment are entitled to wear the badge of the order from a

collar Collar may refer to: Human neckwear *Clerical collar (informally ''dog collar''), a distinctive collar used by the clergy of some Christian religious denominations *Collar (clothing), the part of a garment that fastens around or frames the neck ...

long and wide. The collar consists of two silver-gilt chains wide linked together with alternating wide red and white enamelled discs, wide enameled Maltese Crosses, and wide black enameled discs bearing five-turreted silver-gilt mural crowns with a total of five of each on the collar. ;Companions The breast star for a companion is the same as that of the Companion of Honour but without the silver rays. It is a Maltese Cross in diameter. In the center of the cross is the

Coat of Arms of Malta The coat of arms of Malta is the national coat of arms of the country of Malta. The present coat of arms is described by the Emblem and Public Seal of Malta Act of 1988 as a shield showing an heraldic representation of the national flag of Malta ...

. The badge of the order for a companion is wide and worn suspended from a neck ribbon of identical colors to the sash but in width. For ladies, the badge of the order is worn on a wide ribbon fashioned into a bow. ;Officers Officers wear the badge of the order suspended from a ribbon wide on the chest. The badge for officers is in diameter. When worn by a female recipient the ribbon suspending the badge is fashioned into a bow. ;Members Members wear the badge of the order in the same manner as officers. The Maltese Cross on a member's badge is silver instead of enamelled.

References

{{reflist

External links

* Prime Minister website
Presentation of the Order

List of National appointments

List of honorary appointments

Malta - National Order of Merit
''Queen and the Commonwealth The Royal Tour''. The Royal Collection. Orders, decorations, and medals of Malta Merit (Malta), National Order of