Meet the under-30s who just got honoured by the Queen

JK Rowling, Ed Sheeran and David Walliams are some of the more high profile names being acknowledged.

But it’s not just famous people who are recognised for their service to their country.

Newsbeat has caught up with three people under the age of 30 who are set to be given MBEs and BEMs.

“It’s been a shock and I genuinely didn’t fully know what the British Empire Medal was, never mind thinking that I was going to receive it,” she told Newsbeat.

To appear on the Birthday Honours list, you need to be nominated and have made achievements in public life or committed to serving and helping Britain.

This usually means you’ve made life better for other people along the way.

Cara’s getting her British Empire Medal (BEM) for voluntary work she does with young people with learning disabilities.

She told us how she hopes her work will encourage other people working in care to remain in the profession.

“Working within care is not the best paid job, so a lot of people feel like they can’t afford to continue going down this pathway,” she said.

“It’s a very rewarding thing to do and by me receiving this award it just shows that people do genuinely cherish the work that you do.”

“Normally when things come from HMRC or anything to do with the Queen I fear it’s a tax bill – but this was a totally different experience opening this letter,” the social media entrepreneur told us.

He told Newsbeat how he’s spent the past 10 years mentoring and training young people interested in entrepreneurship.

Michael’s picking up his BEM for his services to those young people in the West Midlands.

Although the honours for this year have been decided, there’s still a few weeks to go until they’re given out at the Queen’s garden party.

Michael’s got a lot of work to do between now and then.

“I’m going to Nigeria to continue working with young entrepreneurs in Lagos – I’m running a week of training programmes out there with the British Council,” he said.

“There are lots of things to keep me busy until I meet the Queen but that will definitely be the highlight of my summer.

“It’s quite far from my normal days spent not hanging out at Buckingham Palace.”

Ruby wants to use her MBE to show other young people that you’re never too young to make a change in your community.

She’s being awarded for her services to fundraising for young and elderly vulnerable people in Sheffield.

“In the area that I’m from I recognise that there are a lot of older people, a lot of them bereaved [and] living alone,” said the 26-year-old.

So she decided to do something about it, organising Christmas celebrations and hampers for locals in the area.

“I didn’t ever expect that I’d receive an MBE, particularly not at a young age,” she said.

“But there’s no reason why at 26 you shouldn’t be [recognised for hard work].

“You don’t need to wait until you’re old to be able to reflect back on your career and the things that you’ve done and be proud of them.”

Correction 18 June 2017: This page has been amended in light of incorrect information from the Cabinet Office about whether some honours were MBEs or BEMs.