The 1903 New Year Honours, announced at the time as the Durbar Honours, were appointments to various orders and honours of the United Kingdom and British India. The list was announced on the day of the 1903 Delhi Durbar held to celebrate the succession of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra as Emperor and Empress of India. The membership of the two Indian Orders were expanded to allow for all the new appointments.
The list was published in The Times on 1 January 1903,[1] and the various honours were gazetted in The London Gazette on 1 January 1903.[2]
A list of appointments to the Royal Victorian Order was announced in the London Gazette on 30 December 1902.[3] These were not included in the Durbar Honours list, as the individuals had already received their decorations in late 1902. They have been added to the end of this page to show the most complete picture of orders awarded.
The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour, and arranged by honour, with classes (Knight, Knight Grand Cross, etc.) and then divisions (Military, Civil, etc.) as appropriate.
It had been the King′s intention to appoint His Highness Raja Bije Sen Bahadur of Mandi to be a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India, had he not died in December 1902.
It had been the King′s intention to appoint Sir John Woodburn, KCSI to be a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire, had he not died in November 1902.
It had been the King′s intention to confer a Companionship of the Order of the Indian Empire on Mr. Harry Charles Hill, for his service in the Forest department in India, had he also not died in November 1902.
The King has been graciously pleased on the occasion of the Coronation Durbar to grant the following salutes: