Queen’s honours recipients are left thinking their gong is a hoax

People set to receive a gong from the Queen this autumn are crying ‘hoax’ because formal posted letters informing them of their honour are being replaced by humble emails.

Sources confirmed last night that the virus lockdown has forced honours officials to resort to emails to tell recipients of their impending awards.

The digital messages have prompted a flurry of baffled telephone calls to the Cabinet Office, which administers the honours, from recipients asking if the emails are genuine.

One Government insider said: ‘It’s normal for people getting honoured – well, the modest ones at least – to react with disbelief when they get a letter through the post about it.

But just getting an email is sparking even more confusion.’

Cabinet Office sources said they had sent emails before to announce honours but were now using them as the ‘primary method of contact’ for the 2020 Birthday Honours list.

The List, due to have been unveiled this month, has been put back till the autumn to allow people fighting coronavirus to be included. 

In a statement last month, Boris Johnson said: ‘This step will allow us to ensure that the list, agreed before this public health emergency developed, reflects the Covid-19 effort.’ 

Sources confirmed last night that the virus lockdown has forced honours officials to resort to emails to tell recipients of their impending awards [File photo]