| 2009 |
Rory Stewart OBE In recognition of his work in Afghanistan and his travel writing, and for his distinguished contribution to geography |
| 2008 |
Michael Palin In recognition of his outstanding contribution through public outreach, particularly television, to a greater understanding of the world and its peoples |
| 2007 | Professor Wangari Maathai Africa's first female Nobel Peace Prize winner (2004) |
| 2006 | The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme |
| 2005 | No award |
| 2004 | HRH The Princess Royal |
| 2003 | No award |
| 2002 | Christopher Brasher CBE |
| 2001 | Robert D. Ballard |
| 2000 | The Rt. Hon. Baroness Chalker of Wallasey |
| 1998 | HRH The Duke of Edinburgh |
| 1997 | David Hempleman-Adams |
| 1996 | H.E. Chief Emeka Anyaoku |
| 1995 | Medecins Sans Frontieres |
| 1994 | Dr. Richard Leakey |
| 1993 | Sir Martin Holdgate |
| 1992 | Sir Stephen Runciman |
| 1991 | Chris Bonington |
| 1989 | David Attenborough |
| 1988 | Tim Severin |
| 1982 | Sir Ranulph Twistleton-Wykeham Fiennes |
| 1981 | Dr. David R. Stoddart |
| 1978 | Professor Ronald R.E.W. Peel |
| 1975 | The 1975 British Everest Expedition |
| 1974 | Lt.-Col. John Blashford-Snell |
| 1971 | Neil Armstrong |
| 1967 | Sir Francis Chichester |
| 1966 | Paul-Emile Victor |
| 1964 | Professor Eduard Imhof |
| 1962 | Wilfred P. Thesiger |
| 1961 | Professor André Allix |
| 1956 | Sir John Bagot Glubb KCB CMG DSO OBE MC |
| 1955 | Sir Robert Charles Evans FRCS |
| 1953 | Sir John Hunt Kt CBE DSO |
| Sir Edmund Hillary KBE | |
| 1951 | Eric Shipton |
| 1950 | Professor Alan G. Ogilvie OBE |
| 1947 | Captain Ejnar Mikkelsen |
| 1944 | Major N.E. Odell |
| 1943 | Miss Mildred Cable |
| Miss Eva French | |
| Miss Francesca French | |
| 1939 | The Rt.Hon. Lord Hailey KCSI KCIE, for his direction of the African Research Survey |
| 1936 | F. Kingdon Ward |
| 1932 | Bertram Thomas |
| 1931 | Sir Hubert Wilkins |
| 1930 | Sir Wilfred Grenfell |
| 1928 | Sir Alan Cobham KBE |
| 1927 | Dr. Isiah Bowman |
| 1926 | The Rt.Hon. Viscount Allenby GCB GCMG |
| 1925 | Captain Roald Amundsen, in recognition of his recent unique aerial exploration of the north polar regions |
| 1924 | Dr. Marion I. Newbigin, for her numerous contributions to geographical science, based largely on her own observations |
| 1921 | Colonel Frederick M. Bailey CIE |
| 1916 | Douglas W. Freshfield |
| 1915 | Lord Kitchener of Khartoum |
| 1913 | Captain Evans CB RN |
| 1912 | Captain Roald Amundsen |
| 1910 | Sir John Murray KCB DSc |
| 1909 | Ernest H. Shackleton CVO FRSGS |
| 1908 | The Rt.Hon. Lord Avebury PC DCL LLD |
| 1907 | The Rt.Hon. Viscount Milner PC GCB GCMG |
| 1906 | The Rt.Hon. Sir George D. Taubman Goldie PC KCMG |
| 1905 | Sir Archibald Geikie LLD |
| 1904 | Captain R.F. Scott RN |
| 1903 | Commander R.E. Peary USN |
| 1902 | Dr. Sven Hedin |
| 1901 | Sir Harry H. Johnston GCMG KCB |