Correct me if I'm wrong here. When discussing the Queen's birthday list for honors, it was suggested that the Queen honor some of her own family. From what I understand, there is a difference between the Honors list and what the Queen deems to award her family with.
The Honors List actually is drawn up by the Prime Minister (the government) and not HM. The Queen can and does approve the list but basically, those that are honored are those that have come to the government's attention or have been nominated for accomplishments in service to the UK.
So therefore, for a member of the royal family to be chosen and awarded and put on the Honors List, it would have to come through the government.
Chivalrous orders and the personal honors that HM bestows as her gift are totally separate from the Honors List.
Please correct me if I'm wrong on this but thought I'd take a shot at it anyways. Too early in the morning and not enough coffee in the system yet.