Rantzen was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1991 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting,[30] Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2006 Birthday Honours for services to children and young people,[31] and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to children and older people through ChildLine and The Silver Line.[32]