This new medal, which marks the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, will be presented to members of the emergency services, Prison service, Armed Forces and members of the Royal Household on 6 February 2012.

The commemorative medal will be awarded to members of the Armed Forces (regular and reserve) who have completed five full years of service on 6 February 2012. It will also be awarded to living holders of the Victoria Cross and George Cross.

Detailed criteria for qualifying will be issued to MOD personnel in late summer 2011.

The medal was designed by Timothy Noad. It depicts a formal image of the Queen on one side; the reverse shows a hexagon with the crown and royal cipher and the dates 1952-2012. It hangs from a red ribbon with blue and white stripes.

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