Royal Order of Merit

The Royal Order of Merit, abbreviated to O.M, is a decoration in the gift of the Crown to those who "excell in their service to the nation". It was founded in 1910 by King Frederick I and is not influenced by the government of the day but remains in the personal gift of the Sovereign.

History
In 1894, King Albert II began to award the Cross of Merit to members of his household. Cast in bronze on a purple ribbon, the medal was unrestricted and not conferred under any regulations. In 1910, the honours system was reformed and King Frederick I chose to resurrect the Cross of Merit as the Royal Order of Merit.

Current Use
The Royal Order of Merit is governed by the 1910 Statutes of the Royal Order of Merit which restrict it to 25 members plus additional royal members who are not counted among the roll. It is awarded to any citizen who has "excelled in their chosen field" and for service to the nation. It's motto is: "Excellence in Service". Those appointed to the order hold the award for their lifetime with their insignia returned to the Crown upon their death which means that members often use the insignia previously held by former members. Members use the post nominal of O.M. Though it is described as an 'order', the Royal Order of Merit is not counted as an order of chivalry and is considered a decoration rather than a chivalric order.