New Year Honours 2026
Benjamin James FENDER, CMG
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)
• British Embassy
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George · 2026
“For services to British Foreign Policy.”
Officer of the Order of the British Empire · 2014
“For services to British interests in Afghanistan.”
Timeline
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
For services to British interests in Afghanistan.
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Recognised for
Topics
London Gazette notice
Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
Overseas and International List
Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood
St. James’s Palace, London SW1
30 December 2025
THE KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George:
C.M.G.
To be Ordinary Members of the Third Class, or Companions, of the said Most Distinguished Order:
Benjamin James FENDER O.B.E.
Director Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
For services to British Foreign Policy.
Source: The London Gazette, issue 64940 · Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0
London Gazette page
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) · 2014
View this issue on the London Gazette ↗ · Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0
In context
Each honour in context
Role, region and citation as recorded for each award.
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Birthday Honours 2014- Role at the time
- British Embassy
“For services to British interests in Afghanistan.”
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
New Year Honours 2026“For services to British Foreign Policy.”
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New Year Honours 2026
Benjamin James Fender,
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)
“For services to British Foreign Policy.”
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New Year Honours 2026
Benjamin James Fender,
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)
“For services to British Foreign Policy.”
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New Year Honours 2026
Benjamin James Fender,
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)
“For services to British Foreign Policy.”
Print · from £5.99
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In context
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How common is this award?
The Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George was awarded 9 times in the New Year Honours List 2026 — about 1% of the list.
Counts reflect the 2000–2026 honours lists in our records; earlier years are not yet included.
Honoured alongside them
Others awarded the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the New Year Honours 2026
Bethan Hopkins
PersonCompanion Of The Order Of St Michael And St George · 2026
“For services to National Security.”
Comfort Ero
PersonCompanion Of The Order Of St Michael And St George · 2026
“For services to Crisis Response and Conflict Prevention.”
Deborah Moffat (debbie Palmer)
PersonCompanion Of The Order Of St Michael And St George · 2026
“For services to International Development.”
George Williamson
PersonCompanion Of The Order Of St Michael And St George · 2026
“For services to National Security.”
Maxwell Gandell
PersonCompanion Of The Order Of St Michael And St George · 2026
“For services to UK Security Overseas.”
Nicholas Day
PersonCompanion Of The Order Of St Michael And St George · 2026
“For services to Global Health.”
Sarah Cliffe
PersonCompanion Of The Order Of St Michael And St George · 2026
“For services to Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and International Development.”
Stephen Hickey
PersonCompanion Of The Order Of St Michael And St George · 2026
“For services to British Foreign Policy.”
Source & provenance
Where this record comes from
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George · 2026
London Gazette (official record), issue 64940, notice 5027396. View the official notice ↗
Cabinet Office / gov.uk published honours list (New Year Honours List 2026).
Published 29 December 2025.
Officer of the Order of the British Empire · 2014
London Gazette (official record), published supplement. View the issue ↗
Cabinet Office / gov.uk published honours list (Birthday Honours List 2014).
Published 13 June 2014.
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