Order of the British Empire
Also known as Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
British order of chivalry
AI overview
The Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, which is a formal honor system that ranks members into different levels. It matters because it represents official recognition and prestige from the British government, and being appointed to it is considered a significant distinction in British society.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Wikidata facts
- Image
- CBE AEAColl.jpg
- Motto
- For God and the Empire
Show 5 more facts
- Commons category
- Order of the British Empire
- Commons gallery
- Order of the British Empire
- inception
- 1917-06-04
- native label
- The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
- P8168
- 250 East 57th Street
Sources (6)
~32 min read
Article
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two of which make the recipient either a knight if male or a dame if female. There is also the related British Empire Medal, whose recipients are affiliated with the order, but are not members of it.
The order was established on 4 June 1917 by King George V, who created the order to recognise "such persons, male or female, as may have rendered or shall hereafter render important services to Our Empire". Equal recognition was to be given for services rendered in the UK and overseas. The order was retained after the decline of the British Empire in the second half of the 20th century. Today, the majority of recipients are UK citizens, though a number of Commonwealth realms outside the UK continue to make appointments to the order. Honorary awards may be made to citizens of other nations of which the order's sovereign is not the head of state.