CHARLES THE THIRD by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of Our other Realms and Territories King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to all to whom these Presents shall come,

GREETING!

WHEREAS We are desirous of instituting a new Medal instituted by the Cabinet Office on behalf of all Government Departments, We hereby do ordain that it shall be governed by the following rules and ordinances:-

Firstly: A new medal shall be instituted and shall be styled and designated “The Humanitarian Medal” to be awarded to those in public service, and members of organisations such as charities, who respond in support of human welfare during or in the aftermath of a crisis - for example, in combating a life-threatening crisis; providing disaster relief or aid provision; or in peace-keeping or policing; whether in hazardous circumstances such as conflict zones or otherwise; both in the UK and internationally.

Secondly: It is ordained that the Award shall be circular in form and silver in colour, bearing on the obverse the Crowned Effigy of The Sovereign, and on the reverse the inscription “For Humanitarian Service” surrounded by a Laurel Wreath. The reverse design presents the laurel wreath as a symbol of overcoming a crisis, interwoven with a banner proclaiming "For Humanitarian Service".

Thirdly: The medal shall be suspended on the left breast by a ribbon one inch and a quarter in width. The basic design of the ribbon shall be of a central stripe of white to represent civilians and peace, with four narrow stripes on either side of red, light blue, dark blue and purple. Red represents humanitarian organisations and light blue the NHS. Dark blue and purple represent the other services. The ribbon design reflects the different paths for humanitarian service and the variety of services involved in such responses.

Fourthly: It is ordained that reproductions of the Medal, known as ‘a miniature’ may be worn on certain occasions by those to whom the Medal is awarded.

Fifthly: The Central Chancery will confirm the order in which the Humanitarian Medal will be worn but it will not be placed before any Campaign, Operational or General Service Medals which require the recipient to be at risk from physical action from an enemy within an operational area.

Sixthly: It is ordained that the Medal shall be awarded only to those of Our Faithful Subjects and Others who meet the approved eligibility criteria that will be jointly agreed upon. The criteria will be reflective of the level of personal risk or exposure in hazardous circumstances greater than that expected in the course of normal duties. Recipients will be mostly directly involved in crisis response on the frontline. It may be awarded posthumously to Subjects and Others who meet the other foregoing eligibility criteria.

Seventhly: A clasp will be used as the means of differentiation between humanitarian operations and/or operational areas

. Eighthly: It is ordained that delegated powers to make awards under the terms of this warrant shall be vested in the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals which shall provide for suitable assessment processes. Government Ministers will be expected to submit a case for each event to the Committee, outlining the criteria and eligibility to be approved.

Ninthly: It is ordained that the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals shall make the Regulations for the carrying into effect of this Our Royal Warrant. Such Regulations may vary for military and civilian personnel but will require commensurate agreed qualifying service.

Tenthly: It is ordained that it shall be competent for an approved Deciding Body to cancel and annul the conferment of the Medal on any person and also to restore a Medal which has been so forfeited. These approved Deciding Bodies shall be the Defence Council for any military personnel and the Forfeiture Committee for any civilian personnel, or their successor organisations.

Lastly: We reserve to Ourself, Our Heirs and Successors, full power of annulling, altering, abrogating, augmenting, interpreting or dispensing with these rules and ordinances, or any part thereof, by a notification under Our Sign Manual.

Given at Our Court of Saint James’s this 27th day of July, Two thousand and twenty-three in the first year of Our Reign. BY HIS MAJESTY’S COMMAND