The orders of the Garter, Thistle, and of St Patrick honoured royals, peers, statesmen, and eminent military commanders.King George V founded the order to fill gaps in the British honours system: History Ĭlose-up of an MBE from 1945 showing the 'For God and the Empire' An example is Irish broadcaster Terry Wogan, who was appointed an honorary Knight Commander of the Order in 2005, and on successful application for British citizenship, held alongside his Irish citizenship, was made a substantive member and subsequently styled as Sir Terry Wogan.

Honorary appointees who later become a citizen of a Commonwealth realm can convert their appointment from honorary to substantive, then enjoy all privileges of membership of the order, including use of the title of Sir and Dame for the senior two ranks of the Order. Occasionally, honorary appointees are, incorrectly, referred to as Sir or Dame. Honorary knighthoods are appointed to citizens of nations where the queen is not head of state, and may permit use of post-nominal letters but not the title of Sir or Dame. Most members are citizens of the United Kingdom or the Commonwealth realms that use the Imperial system of honours and awards. The senior two ranks of Knight or Dame Grand Cross, and Knight or Dame Commander, entitle their members to use the title of Sir for men and Dame for women before their forename. Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).Knight Commander or Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE or DBE).Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE).The five classes of appointment to the Order are, in descending order of precedence: 10 Recommendations by Commonwealth countries.9 Current Knights and Dames Grand Cross.Most Commonwealth countries ceased recommendations for appointments to the Order of the British Empire when they created their own honours. Nominations continue today from Commonwealth countries that participate in recommending British (Imperial) honours. Recommendations for appointments to the Order of the British Empire were originally made on the nomination of the United Kingdom, the self-governing Dominions of the Empire (later Commonwealth) and the Viceroy of India. There is also the related British Empire Medal, whose recipients are affiliated with, but not members of the order. It was established on 4 June 1917 by King George V and comprises five classes across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two of which make the recipient either a knight if male or dame if female. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,Īnd public service outside the civil service.