Order of the British Empire

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 six classes of appointments 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.

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. The majority of recipients are UK citizens, though a number of Commonwealth realms outside the UK continue to make appointments to the order. Honorary appointments may be made to citizens of other nations of which the order's sovereign is not the head of state.

Appointments are announced in The Gazette.