Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order

of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work
Most Excellent
with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside Order of the British
the civil service.[2] It was established on 4 June 1917 by King Empire
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.[3] There is also the related British
Empire Medal, whose recipients are affiliated with, but not members
of the order.

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Empire were originally made on the nomination of the United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. Nominations continue
today from Commonwealth countries that participate in
recommending British (Imperial) honours. Most Commonwealth
countries ceased recommendations for appointments to the Order of
the British Empire when they created their own honours.[a]

Contents CBE neck decoration (in civil

division)
Current classes
Awarded by the sovereign of the
Styles and honorary knighthoods
United Kingdom
History
Type Order of chivalry
Composition
Established 1917
Officers
Motto For God and the
Gallantry
Empire
Vestments and accoutrements
Eligibility British nationals,
Chapel citizens of the
Precedence and privileges Commonwealth
Current Knights and Dames Grand Cross realms, or anyone
Knights and Dames Grand Cross who has made a
Honorary significant
achievement for
Recommendations by Commonwealth countries
the United
Criticism Kingdom
See also Awarded for Prominent national
Notes or regional
References achievements[1]

Further reading Status Currently

External links constituted
Sovereign Queen Elizabeth II
Grand Master Prince Philip, Duke
Current classes
of Edinburgh

The five classes of appointment to the Order are, in descending order Grades Knight/Dame
of precedence: Grand Cross
(GBE)
1. Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross of the Most
Knight/Dame
Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE)[b]
Commander
2. Knight Commander or Dame Commander of the Most
Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE or DBE) (KBE/DBE)

3. Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Commander

Empire (CBE) (CBE)
4. Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Officer (OBE)
(OBE)
Member (MBE)
5. Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
(MBE) Former grades Medal of the Order
of the British
Empire for
Styles and honorary knighthoods
Gallantry

The senior two ranks of Knight or Dame Grand Cross, and Knight or Medal of the Order
Dame Commander, entitle their members to use the title of Sir for of the British
men and Dame for women before their forename. Most members are Empire for
citizens of the United Kingdom or the Commonwealth realms that Meritorious
use the Imperial system of honours and awards. Service

Honorary knighthoods are appointed to citizens of nations where the Precedence

queen is not head of state, and may permit use of post-nominal Next (higher) Royal Victorian
letters but not the title of Sir or Dame. Occasionally, honorary Order
appointees are, incorrectly, referred to as Sir or Dame. Honorary
appointees who later become a citizen of a Commonwealth realm Next (lower) Varies, depending
can convert their appointment from honorary to substantive, then on rank
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. An
Military ribbon
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 Civil ribbon
citizenship, was made a substantive member and subsequently styled
as Sir Terry Wogan.[4][5]

History
King George V founded the Order to fill gaps in the British honours system:

The Orders of the Garter, Thistle, and of St Patrick honoured royals, peers, statesmen, and
eminent military commanders;
The Order of the Bath honoured senior military officers and civil servants;
The Order of St Michael and St George honoured diplomats and colonial officials;
 The Order of the Star of India and the Order of the Indian Empire
honoured Indian rulers and British and Indian officials of the British
Indian Empire; and
The Royal Victorian Order, in the personal gift of the monarch,
honoured those who had personally served the royal family.

In particular, King George V wished to create an Order to honour many thousands

of those who had served in a variety of non-combatant roles during the First World
War. When first established, the Order had only one division. However, in 1918,
soon after its foundation, it was formally divided into Military and Civil
Divisions.[6] The Order's motto is For God and the Empire.[2]

At the foundation of the Order, the 'Medal of the Order of the British Empire' was
instituted, to serve as a lower award granting recipients affiliation but not
membership. In 1922, this was renamed the 'British Empire Medal' (BEM). It
stopped being awarded by the United Kingdom as part of the 1993 reforms to the
honours system, but was again awarded beginning in 2012, starting with 293 MBE (civil division)
as awarded in 1918
BEMs awarded for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.[7] In addition, the BEM
is awarded by the Cook Islands and by some other Commonwealth nations. In
2004, a report entitled "A Matter of Honour: Reforming Our
Honours System" by a Commons committee recommended to phase
out the Order of the British Empire, as its title was "now considered
to be unacceptable, being thought to embody values that are no
longer shared by many of the country's population".[8]

Composition
The British monarch is Sovereign of the Order, and appoints all
other members of the Order (by convention, on the advice of the
governments of the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth
realms). The next most senior member is the Grand Master, of Grand Cross Star of the Order of the
whom there have been three: Prince Edward, the Prince of Wales British Empire
(1917–1936); Queen Mary (1936–1953); and the current Grand
Master, the Duke of Edinburgh (since 1953).

The Order is limited to 300 Knights and Dames Grand Cross, 845 Knights and Dames Commander, and
8,960 Commanders. There are no limits applied to the total number of members of the fourth and fifth
classes, but no more than 858 Officers and 1,464 Members may be appointed per year. Foreign appointees,
as honorary members, do not contribute to the numbers restricted to the Order as full members do. Although
the Order of the British Empire has by far the highest number of members of the British Orders of Chivalry,
with over 100,000 living members worldwide, there are fewer appointments to knighthoods than in other
orders.[2]

Though men can be knighted separately from an order of chivalry (Knight Bachelor), women cannot, and so
the rank of Knight/Dame Commander of the Order is the lowest rank of damehood, and second-lowest of
knighthood (above Knights Bachelor). Because of this, an appointment as Dame Commander is made in
circumstances in which a man would be created a Knight Bachelor. For example, by convention, female
judges of the High Court of Justice are created Dames Commander after appointment, while male judges
become Knights Bachelor.

From time to time, individuals are appointed to a higher grade within the Order, thereby ceasing usage of the
junior post-nominal letters.
Officers

The Order has six offices:[9] The King of Arms is not a member of
the College of Arms, as are many other heraldic officers. Gentleman
Usher of the Purple Rod does not – unlike the Order of the Garter
equivalent, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod – perform any
duties related to the House of Lords.

Prelate: Bishop of London, the Rt Hon. & Rt Rev. Dame

Sarah Mullally DBE[10]
Dean: Dean of St Paul's (ex officio), the Very Rev. Dr
David Ison
Secretary: The Secretary of the Central Chancery of the
Orders of Knighthood, Lt-Col Michael Vernon
Registrar: The Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the
Home Civil Service
Close-up of an MBE from 1945
King of Arms: Lt-Gen Sir Robert Fulton KBE
showing the "For God and the
Lady Usher of the Purple Rod: Dame Amelia Fawcett Empire"
DBE CVO

Gallantry
Although initially intended to recognise meritorious service, the Order began to
also be awarded for gallantry. There were an increased number of cases in the
Second World War for service personnel and civilians including the merchant
marine, police, emergency services and civil defence, mostly MBEs but with a
small number of OBEs and CBEs. Such awards were for gallantry that did not
reach the standard of the George Medal, but, as an Order, were listed before it OBE silver oak-leaf
on the Order of Wear. Awards for meritorious service usually appear without a emblem for gallantry
citation but there were often citations for gallantry awards, some detailed and
graphic.[11] From 14 January 1958, these awards were designated Commander,
Officer or Member of the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry.[12]

Any individual made a member of the Order for gallantry after 14 January 1958 wears an emblem of two
crossed silver oak leaves on the same ribbon as the badge, with a miniature version on the ribbon bar when
worn alone. When the ribbon only is worn the emblem is worn in miniature.[12] It could not be awarded
posthumously, and was replaced in 1974 with the Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM). If recipients of the
Order of the British Empire for Gallantry received promotion within the Order, whether for gallantry or
otherwise, they continued to wear also the insignia of the lower grade with the oak leaves.[13] However, they
only used the post-nominal letters of the higher grade.

Vestments and accoutrements

Members of the Order wear elaborate vestments on important occasions (such as quadrennial services and
coronations), which vary by rank (the designs underwent major changes in 1937):

The mantle, worn by only Knights and Dames Grand Cross, was originally made of yellow
satin lined with blue silk, but is now made of rose pink satin lined with pearl-grey silk. On the
left side is a representation of the star (see below).
 The collar, also worn by only Knights and Dames Grand Cross, is made of gold. It consists of
six medallions depicting the Royal Arms, alternating with six medallions depicting the Royal
and Imperial Cypher of George V (GRI, which stands for "Georgius Rex Imperator"). The
medallions are linked with gold cables depicting lions and crowns.
Knight and Dame Grand Cross insignia

Mantle worn by Knights and Close-up of the Star on the mantle

Dames Grand Cross (GBE)

Collar and Star of a Knight or

Dame Grand Cross of the Order

On certain "collar days" designated by the Sovereign, members attending formal events may wear the
Order's collar over their military uniform, formal day dress, or evening wear. When collars are worn (either
on collar days or on formal occasions such as coronations), the badge is suspended from the collar. Collars
are returned upon the death of their owners, but other insignia may be retained.

At less important occasions, simpler insignia are used:

 The star is an eight-pointed silver star used by only Knights and Dames Grand Cross and
Knights and Dames Commander. It is worn pinned to the left breast. Varying in size depending
on class, it bears a crimson ring with the motto of the Order inscribed. Within the ring, a figure
of Britannia was originally shown. Since 1937, however, the effigies of George V and Mary of
Teck have been shown instead.
The badge is the only insignia used by all members of the Order. Until 1937, it was suspended
on a purple ribbon, with a red central stripe for the military division; since then, the ribbon has
been rose-pink with pearl-grey edges, with the addition of a pearl-grey central stripe for the
military division. Knights and Dames Grand Cross wear it on a riband or sash, passing from
the right shoulder to the left hip. Knights Commander and male Commanders wear the badge
from a ribbon around the neck; male Officers and Members wear the badge from a ribbon on
the left chest; all females other than Dames Grand Cross wear it from a bow on the left
shoulder. The badge is in the form of a cross patonce (having the arms growing broader and
floriated toward the end), the obverse of which bears the same field as the star (that is, either
Britannia or George V and Queen Mary); the reverse bears George V's Royal and Imperial
Cypher. Both are within a ring bearing the motto of the Order. The size of the badges varies
according to rank: the higher classes have slightly larger badges. The badges of Knights and
Dames Grand Cross, Knights and Dames Commander and Commanders are enamelled with
pale blue crosses and crimson rings; those of Officers are plain gold; those of Members are
plain silver.
The British Empire Medal is made of silver. On the obverse is an image of Britannia
surrounded by the motto, with the words "For Meritorious Service" at the bottom; on the
reverse is George V's Imperial and Royal Cypher, with the words "Instituted by King George V"
at the bottom. The name of the recipient is engraved on the rim. This medal is nicknamed 'the
Gong', and comes in both a full-sized and miniature versions – the latter for formal white-tie
and informal black-tie occasions.
A lapel pin for everyday wear was first announced at the end of December 2006, and is
available to recipients of all levels of the Order, as well as to holders of the British Empire
Medal. The pin design is not unique to any level. The pin features the badge of the Order,
enclosed in a circle of ribbon of its colours of pink and grey. Lapel pins must be purchased
separately by a member of the Order.[14] The creation of such a pin was recommended in Sir
Hayden Phillips' review of the honours system in 2004.[15]

OBE insignia Badge as awarded to a

female MBE
 Order of the British Empire ribbon bars
Civil Military
1917–
1935
Since
1936

Chapel
The chapel of the Order is in the far eastern end of the crypt of St
Paul's Cathedral, but it holds its great services upstairs in the main
body of the Cathedral. (The Cathedral also serves as the home of the
chapel of The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St
George.) Religious services for the whole Order are held every four
years; new Knights and Dames Grand Cross are installed at these
services. The chapel was dedicated in 1960.

Chapel of the Order in the crypt of St

Precedence and privileges Paul's Cathedral

Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commander prefix Sir, and

Dames Grand Cross and Dames Commander prefix Dame, to their
forenames.[c] Wives of Knights may prefix Lady to their surnames,
but no equivalent privilege exists for husbands of Knights or spouses
of Dames. Such forms are not used by peers and princes, except
when the names of the former are written out in their fullest forms.
Male clergy of the Church of England or the Church of Scotland do
not use the title Sir as they do not receive the accolade (they are not
dubbed "knight" with a sword), although they do append the post-
nominal letters: dames do not receive the accolade, and therefore
female clergy are free to use the title Dame.

Knights and Dames Grand Cross use the post-nominal, GBE;

Knights Commander, KBE; Dames Commander, DBE;
Commanders, CBE; Officers, OBE; and Members, MBE. The post-
nominal for the British Empire Medal is BEM.
Knights, Dames and Commanders of
Members of all classes of the Order are assigned positions in the the Order may display its circlet
order of precedence. Wives of male members of all classes also around (and suspend its Badge
feature on the order of precedence, as do sons, daughters and below) their coat of arms.
daughters-in-law of Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commander;
relatives of Ladies of the Order, however, are not assigned any
special precedence. As a general rule, individuals can derive precedence from their fathers or husbands, but
not from their mothers or wives.

Knights and Dames Grand Cross are also entitled to be granted heraldic supporters. They may, furthermore,
encircle their arms with a depiction of the circlet (a circle bearing the motto) and the collar; the former is
shown either outside or on top of the latter. Knights and Dames Commander and Commanders may display
the circlet, but not the collar, surrounding their arms. The badge is depicted suspended from the collar or
circlet.

Current Knights and Dames Grand Cross

Sovereign: Queen Elizabeth II
Grand Master: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Knights and Dames Grand Cross

Military ranks listed denotes the awarded being in the military division.
 Year
Military rank Name Post-nominals
appointed
Admiral of the KG KT OM GCVO ONZ GBE AK QSO GCL CC CMM PC
The Duke of Edinburgh 1953
Fleet CD ADC(P)

General Sir Frank Kitson GBE KCB MC* DL 1985

Air Chief
Sir David Harcourt-Smith GBE KCB DFC 1989
Marshal
Sir Alexander Graham GBE 1990

Air Chief
Sir Patrick Hine GCB GBE 1991
Marshal
Sir Brian Jenkins GBE 1991

Sir Francis McWilliams GBE 1992

Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton GBE KCB 1994

Air Chief
Sir Bill Wratten GBE CB AFC 1998
Marshal
The Lord Rothschild OM GBE CVO 1998

Sir Stephen Brown GBE 1999

Air Chief
Sir Anthony Bagnall GBE KCB 2002
Marshal
Sir Michael Sydney
GBE 2002
Perry
Sir Ronnie Flanagan GBE QPM 2002

The Baroness Butler-

GBE PC 2005
Sloss
Sir David Cooksey GBE 2007

Sir Timothy Granville-

General GBE KCB 2011
Chapman
The Lord King of
KG GBE 2011
Lothbury
The Earl of Selborne GBE DL 2011

Sir John Parker GBE 2012

The Baroness Hayman GBE PC 2012

Sir Keith Mills GBE DL 2013

Sir Alan Budd GBE 2013

Sir John Bell GBE FRS 2015

Air Chief
Sir Stuart Peach GBE KCB ADC DL 2016
Marshal
Sir Ian Wood KT GBE 2016

Sir Cyril Chantler GBE 2017

Sir Michael Rawlins GBE 2017

Sir Keith Peters GBE 2018

Sir Craig Reedie GBE 2018

 Sir Christopher GBE CMG QC 2018
Greenwood
The Lady Higgins GBE QC 2019

Sir Michael Burton GBE QC 2019

Honorary

Recommendations by Commonwealth countries

Recommendations for appointments to the Order of the British
Empire continue to be made by some Commonwealth realms. In
2019, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada,
Papua New Guinea, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu, as
well as the New Zealand associated state of the Cook Islands all
included Order of the British Empire awards in their New Year's Countries making recommendations
and/or Queen's Birthday honours lists.[16] to the Order of the British Empire
(2020)
Since the Second World War, several Commonwealth realms have
established their own national system of honours and awards and
have created their own unique orders, decorations and medals. Canada seldom made recommendations for
appointments to the Order of the British Empire except for the Second World War and Korea but continued
to recommend gallantry awards for both military and civilians until the creation of the Order of Canada.[17]
Although Commonwealth of Australia recommendations ended with the creation of the Order of Australia,
States of Australia governments continued to recommend the Order of the British Empire until the 1989
Queen's Birthday Honours, nearly 15 years later.[18] The New Zealand Government ceased to recommend
the Order in 1996, upon the establishment of the New Zealand Order of Merit, but the Government of the
Cook Islands continues to do so.[19]

Criticism
In 2003, the Sunday Times published a list of the people who had rejected the Order of the British Empire,
including David Bowie, John Cleese, Nigella Lawson, Elgar Howarth, LS Lowry, George Melly and J. G.
Ballard.[20] In addition, Ballard voiced his opposition to the honours system, calling it "a preposterous
charade".[20] The Order has attracted some criticism for its naming having connection with the idea of the
now-extinct British Empire.[21] Benjamin Zephaniah, a British Jamaican poet, publicly rejected appointment
as an Officer in 2003 because, he asserted, it reminded him of "thousands of years of brutality". He also said
that "It reminds me of how my foremothers were raped and my forefathers brutalised".[22]

In 2004, a House of Commons Select Committee recommended changing the name of the award to the
Order of British Excellence, and changing the rank of Commander to Companion; as the former was said to
have a "militaristic ring".[21][23]

A notable person to decline the offer of membership was the author C. S. Lewis (1898–1963), who had been
named on the last list of honours by George VI in December 1951. Despite being a monarchist, he declined
so as to avoid association with any political issues.[24][25]
The Beatles were appointed Members in 1965: John Lennon justified the comparative merits of his
investiture by comparing military membership in the Order: "Lots of people who complained about us
receiving the MBE [status] received theirs for heroism in the war – for killing people ... We received ours
for entertaining other people. I'd say we deserve ours more". Lennon later returned his MBE insignia on 25
November 1969, as part of his ongoing peace protests.[26] Other criticism centres on the claim that many
recipients of the Order are being rewarded with honours for simply doing their jobs; critics claim that the
Civil Service and Judiciary receive far more orders and honours than leaders of other professions.[21]

Chin Peng, a veteran guerrilla fighter of the Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army, was appointed as an
Officer for his role in fighting against the Japanese occupation of Malaya during World War II, in close co-
operation with the British commando Force 136. Several years after WWII his OBE membership was
withdrawn by the British government (and became undesirable to Chin Peng himself) when the Communist
leader headed his party's guerrilla insurgency against the British Empire during the Malayan Emergency.[27]

See also
Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom – the British honours system
List of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
List of Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
List of honorary British knights and dames
United Kingdom order of precedence
Honours Committee

Notes
a. The last Canadian recommendation for the Order of the British Empire was an MBE for
gallantry gazetted in 1966, a year before the creation of the Order of Canada. The Australian
Honours System unilaterally created in 1975 did not achieve bi-partisan support until 1992
when Australian federal and state governments agreed to cease Australian recommendations
for British honours. The last Australian recommended Order of the British Empire
appointments were in the 1989 Queen’s Birthday Honours. New Zealand ceased to use the
order when it introduced its own honours system.
b. It is commonly written without "of the Most Excellent Order" and other words not implied by the
post-nominals.
c. Never surnames – thus Sir Antony Sher may be shortened to Sir Antony, but not to Sir Sher.

References
1. "Guide to the Honours" (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-11990088). BBC News. BBC. 10 June
2015. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
2. "Order of the British Empire" (https://web.archive.org/web/20100327214051/http://www.royal.g
ov.uk/MonarchUK/Honours/OrderoftheBritishEmpire.aspx). The Official Website of the British
Monarchy. The Royal Household. Archived from the original (http://www.royal.gov.uk/Monarch
UK/Honours/OrderoftheBritishEmpire.aspx) on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
3. "No. 30250" (https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30250/supplement/8791). The
London Gazette (2nd supplement). 24 August 1917. pp. 8791–8999.
4. "No. 57855" (https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57855/supplement/26). The London
Gazette (1st supplement). 31 December 2005. p. 26.
 5. "Radio's Wogan becomes Sir Terry" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4503018.stm).
BBC News. BBC. 6 December 2005. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
6. "No. 31084" (https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31084/page/15135). The London
Gazette. 27 December 1918. p. 15135.
7. "Birthday Honours: 'Working class' British Empire Medal revived" (https://www.bbc.com/news/u
k-18456068). BBC News. BBC. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
8. "A Matter of Honour: Reforming Our Honours System" (https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/c
m200304/cmselect/cmpubadm/212/212.pdf) (PDF). House of Commons Public Administration
Select Committee. Parliament.uk. 13 July 2004. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
9. "The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire : Newsletter" (https://www.centralchancery.org.
uk/Content/documents/OBE%20Newsletter%20Dec2015.pdf) (PDF). Centralchancerry.org.uk.
December 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
10. HM Government (7 December 2018). "Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood" (https://
www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3162918). The London Gazette. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
11. Abbott, PE; Tamplin, J.M.A. (1981). British Gallantry Awards. London: Nimrod Dix & Co.
ISBN 978-0-902633-74-2. Chapters 35–38.
12. "No. 41285" (https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41285/supplement/365). The London
Gazette (Supplement). 14 January 1958. p. 365.
13. "No. 56878" (https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/56878/supplement/3353). The
London Gazette (Supplement). 17 March 2003. p. 3353.
14. "Emblem for honours (Archived 4 April 2012)" (http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/2012
0404103105/http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/UKgovernment/Honours
awardsandmedals/DG_067923). The National Archives. DirectGov (UK). Archived from the
original (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/UKgovernment/Honoursawa
rdsandmedals/DG_067923) on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
15. "BEM Recipients Entitled to New Emblem" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140729200444/htt
p://www.berwickshirenews.co.uk/news/local-news/all-local-news/bem-recipients-entitled-to-ne
w-emblem-1-241213). The Berwickshire News. 12 November 2008. Archived from the original
(http://www.berwickshirenews.co.uk/news/local-news/all-local-news/bem-recipients-entitled-to-
new-emblem-1-241213) on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
16. New Year and Birthday Honours (https://www.thegazette.co.uk/awards-and-accreditation/conte
nt/100138%7CCommonwealth). The Gazette, Retrieved 19 May 2020.
17. However, there were awards of the related British Empire Medal for Gallantry, whose recipients
are affiliated with, but not members of the Order of the British Empire, after the creation of the
Order of Canada. see "No. 44630" (https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44630/page/76
07). The London Gazette. 9 July 1968. p. 7607.
18. London Gazette 51778, Sat, 17 June 1989, p. 45
19. New Zealand Royal Honours System: History (https://dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zeal
and-royal-honours/new-zealand-royal-honours-system/history%7CThe), Department of the
Prime Minister and Cabinet, Retrieved on 19 May 2020
20. McGavin, Henry (22 December 2003). "Honoured? No thanks, say elite of arts and TV" (http
s://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/honoured-no-thanks-say-elite-of-arts-and-tv-83
635.html). Independent. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
21. A reformed Honours system (https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmpub
adm/212/21209.htm), Select Committee on Public Administration, 7 July 2004, Retrieved 13
May 2012
22. Mills, Merope (27 November 2003). "Rasta poet publicly rejects his OBE" (https://www.theguar
dian.com/uk/2003/nov/27/iraq.monarchy). The Guardian. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
23. "Honours system outdated, say MPs" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3888581.stm),
BBC News, 13 July 2004, Retrieved 28 February 2007
24. "Chronology of the Life of C.S. Lewis" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120206021046/http://ww
w.cslewis.org/resources/chronocsl.html). Archived from the original (http://www.cslewis.org/res
ources/chronocsl.html) on 6 February 2012.
25. C.S., Lewis (1994). W. H. Lewis, Walter Hooper (ed.). Letters of C.S. Lewis (https://www.amaz
on.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0156508710/heroesofhistory). New York: Mariner Books. p. 528.
ISBN 978-0-15-650871-1.
26. Brian Roylance; George Harrison; John Lennon; Paul McCartney; Ringo Starr (2000). The
Beatles Anthology (https://archive.org/details/beatlesanthology0000unse/page/183). Chronicle
Books. pp. 183 (https://archive.org/details/beatlesanthology0000unse/page/183). ISBN 978-0-
8118-2684-6.
27. Dead or Alive (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,806357,00.html),(subscription
required) TIME Magazine, 12 May 1952

Further reading
Galloway, Peter (1996). The Order of the British Empire. Central Chancery of the Orders of
Knighthood. ISBN 978-0-907605-65-2.
Hood, Frederic (1967). The Chapel of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, with a
foreword by Prince Philip.
"Knighthood and Chivalry" (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th ed., London: Cambridge
University Press.

External links
Order of the British Empire (https://www.royal.uk/queen-and-honours) – official website of the
British Monarchy
The Honours system (https://www.gov.uk/honours) – UK Government
Queen's Birthday and New Year honours (https://www.TheGazette.co.uk/honours-lists) – The
London Gazette, lists recipients of honours
"The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire" (2002) (https://web.archive.org/web/2004042
0141242/http://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/cuhags/orderofc/brit_emp.htm) – Cambridge
University Heraldic and Genealogical Society
"Order of Precedence in England and Wales", Velde, F. R. (2003) (http://heraldica.org/topics/br
itain/order_precedence.htm) – Heraldica.org
Search recommendations for the Order of the British Empire on the UK National Archives'
website (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/recomme
ndations-military-honours-awards-1935-1990/)
The Chapel of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire – OBE Chapel Exterior detail (htt
p://ianmcgrawphotos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/st_pauls_wedding_london_ianmcgra
wphotos_2010_146.jpg) – JPEG image, IanMcGrawPhotos.co.uk

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