One of the most common questions we receive at Medal Mounting Services is: "Which order should my medals be worn in?" It's a question that matters — wearing medals in the wrong order is considered a serious breach of protocol, so getting it right is important for any parade, Remembrance Sunday service, or formal occasion.
The good news is that there are clear rules, and we're here to walk you through them.
The Golden Rule: Precedence
British medals are always worn in order of precedence — that is, by the seniority of the award, as established by the Sovereign. The most senior decoration is worn closest to the heart (on the left breast), with subsequent medals following to the right.
The order is governed by the Wearing of Uniforms, Decorations and Medals regulations, which are updated periodically by the Ministry of Defence.
General Order of Precedence
While the full list is extensive, the broad sequence runs as follows:
- The Victoria Cross (VC) — always first, regardless of date
- The George Cross (GC)
- Orders of Chivalry (e.g. KBE, CBE, OBE, MBE) — worn as neck decorations or miniatures depending on class
- Gallantry Decorations (e.g. CGM, DSO, MC, MM, MiD)
- Campaign Medals — in order of the date the campaign began (earliest first)
- Accumulated Campaign Service Medal (ACSM)
- Long Service and Good Conduct Medals (e.g. LS&GC)
- Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)
- Efficiency Decorations and Medals (e.g. TD, VD, EM)
- Foreign Decorations — worn last, after all British awards
- Jubilee Medals and Coronation Medals (e.g. King's Coronation Medal 2023, Platinum Jubilee Medal)
Campaign Medals: Which Comes First?
For veterans who have served on multiple operations, campaign medals are ordered by the date the campaign started, not the date the medal was awarded. For example, a Falklands Medal (1982) would be worn before a Gulf Medal (1991), which in turn comes before an Op TELIC Iraq Medal (2003).
Where two campaigns overlapped, the medal for the one that commenced first takes precedence.
Jubilee and Coronation Medals
Jubilee Medals — such as the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal and Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal — and the King's Coronation Medal are worn after Long Service medals. They do not take precedence over campaign medals or gallantry decorations.
Multiple Recipients in a Family
It's common for a family member to wear a deceased relative's medals on their right breast at Remembrance events. When doing so, the same order of precedence applies, and the medals should be reversed (so the senior medal remains closest to the centre of the body).
Get It Right — Have Your Medals Professionally Mounted
Professional mounting ensures not only the correct order, but also the correct spacing, ribbon widths, and court or swing fittings appropriate to your service. Our Full Size Medal Mounting service is carried out by veterans who understand the protocols inside out.
Browse our full range of medal mounting options or full size medal mounting to find the right service for you.
Not sure about the order for your specific medals? Drop us a message — we're always happy to help.