ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

8/8/2019 ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

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Order of the British Empire

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_British_Empire

For other uses, see disambiguations CBE, DBE, GBE, KBE, MBE, orOBE

Order of the British Empire

Grand Cross's star of the Order of theBritish Empire

Awarded by the Sovereign, on the

advice of the Government

Type

MottoFor God and the

Empire

Awarded for

A national order

of merit

StatusCurrently

constituted

SovereignElizabeth II of the

United Kingdom

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Grand MasterPhillip, Duke of

Edinburgh

Grades (w/

post-nominals)

Knight/Dame

Grand Cross

(GBE)

Knight/Dame

Commander

(KBE/DBE)

Commander

(CBE)

Officer (OBE)

Member (MBE)

Established 1917

Precedence

Next (higher)Royal Victorian

Order

Next (lower)Varies, depending

on rank

Ribbons: civil (upper), military

(lower)

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Close up of an MBE from 1945 showing the "For God and the Empire"

Lieutenant General SirRobert Fulton, KBE

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Orders are given to people from all walks of life. Examples include the singerJoan

Armatrading, MBE, who was born in Saint Kitts

Female appointees may wear their insignia on a bow, as displayed in this image of

Bessie Rischbieth, the Australian social reformer

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry

established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom.[1][2] The Order

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comprises five classes in civil and military divisions. In decreasing order of

seniority, these are:

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) orDame

Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)[3]

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) orDame

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Only the highest two ranks admit an individual into knighthood ordamehood

automatically, an honour allowing the recipient to use the title "Sir" (male) or

"Dame" (female) before his or her first name (though men canbe knighted

separately from the Orders of Chivalry). Honorary knighthoods, given to individuals

who are not nationals of a realm where Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is Head of

State, permit usage of the honour as apost-nominal but not as a title before their

name. These recipients are classified as honorary members of the Order they

receive, and do not contribute to the numbers restricted to that Order as full

members do.

There is also a related British Empire Medal, whose recipients are not members of

the Order, but who are nonetheless affiliated with the Order. The British Empire

Medal has not been used in the United Kingdom or its dependencies since 1993,[4]

but is still used by the Cook Islands and by some otherCommonwealth nations.

The Order's motto isFor God and the Empire. It is the most junior of the British

orders of chivalry, and the largest, with over 100,000 living members worldwide.[2]

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Contents

1 History

2 Composition

3 Gallantry

4 Vestments and accoutrements

5 Chapel

6 Precedence and privileges

7 Criticism

8 See also

9 References

10 External links

History

King George V founded the order to fill gaps in the British honours system: The

Most Honourable Order of the Bath honoured only senior military officers and civil

servants; The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George honoured

diplomats; and the Royal Victorian Orderhonoured those who had personally

served the Royal Family. In particular, King George V wished to honour the many

thousands of people who had served in numerous non-combatant capacities during

the First World War. Originally, the Order included only one division; however, in

1918, soon after its foundation, it was formally divided into Military and Civil

Divisions.

This order has a more democratic character than the exclusive Order of the Bath or

the Order of St Michael and St George, and in its early days was not held in high

esteem. This, however, has changed over the years.

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Several past American statesmen and diplomats who have performed service for, or

on behalf of, the United Kingdom have been given the designation of Knight

Commander of the order. However, since membership requires swearing allegiance

to a foreign head of state (currently Queen Elizabeth II), the title is officiallyconsidered "honorary", and the person is/was not "officially" titled Sir or Dame.

Occasionally, media influence and lack of public awareness lead to foreign

recipients being incorrectly accorded the prefix title, a well known example being

Bob GeldofKBE, an Irish citizen, who is widely referred to as 'Sir Bob'.

Composition

The British monarch is Sovereign of the Order, and appoints all other members of

the Order (by convention, on the advice of the Government). The next most senior

member is the Grand Master, of which there have been three: Edward, Prince of

Wales (19171936), Queen Mary (19361953), and the current Grand Master, HRH

The Duke of Edinburgh (1953present).

The Order is limited to 300 Knights and Dames Grand Cross, 845 Knights andDames Commander, and 8960 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 1464 Members may be appointed per year. Appointments are made on the

advice of the governments of the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth

realms. By convention, female judges of the High Court of Justice are created

Dames Commander after appointment, while male judges become Knights

Bachelor.

Although the Order of the British Empire has by far the highest number of members

of the British Orders of Chivalry, there are fewer appointments to knighthoods than

in other orders. Most Knights Commander are honorary members or British subjects

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living abroad, with only a handful being residents of the United Kingdom. The

grade of Dame Commander, on the other hand, is the most common grade of dame

in the British honours system, and is awarded in circumstances in which men would

be created Knights Bachelor.

Most members are citizens of the United Kingdom or other Commonwealth realms.

Citizens of other countries, however, may be admitted as "honorary members". They

do not count towards the aforementioned numerical limits, and are not formally

addressed as "Sir" or "Dame". They may be made full members if they subsequently

become citizens of Commonwealth realms. See List of honorary British Knights.

At the foundation of the Order, the "Medal of the Order of the British Empire" was

instituted. In 1922, it was renamed the "British Empire Medal". Recipients, who are

not members of the Order itself, are grouped into the Civil and Military Divisions.

Only junior government and military officials are awarded the medal; senior

officials are directly appointed to the Order of the British Empire. The United

Kingdom's Government has not recommended the awarding of the medal since

1992, although some Commonwealth realms continue the practice.

The Order has six officials: the Prelate, the Dean, the Secretary, the Registrar, the

King of Arms, and the Usher. The Bishop of London, a senior bishop in the Church

of England, serves as the Order's Prelate. TheDean of St Paul's is ex officio the

Dean of the Order. The Order's King of Arms is not a member of the College of

Arms, as are many otherheraldic officers. The Usher of the Order is known as the

Gentleman Usher of the Purple Rod; he does not unlike his Order of the Garter

equivalent, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod perform any duties related to

the House of Lords.

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If one is appointed to a higher class within the order, one must return one's existing

insignia in exchange for the more senior one, and cease using the junior post-

nominal letters. Some people, however, have been appointed to both divisions, such

as Dame Kelly Holmes, who has been appointed an MBE in the military divisionand a DBE in the civil division, and is therefore known as "Dame Kelly Holmes,

DBE, MBE (Mil.)".[citation needed]

Gallantry

From 1940, a person could be appointed a Commander, Officer or Member of the

Order of the British Empire for gallantry, for acts of bravery (not in the face of the

enemy) which were below the level required for the George Medal, with the grade

being determined by the same criteria as usual and not by the level of gallantry (and

with more junior people instead receiving the British Empire Medal). Oddly, this

meant that it was awarded for lesser acts of gallantry than the George Medal, but, as

an Order, was worn before it and listed before it in post-nominal initials. From 14

January 1958 these awards were designated the Order of the British Empire for

Gallantry.[5] Any individual made a member of the Order for gallantry could wear an

emblem of two crossed silver oak leaves on the same riband, ribbon or bow as the

badge. It could not be awarded posthumously and was effectively replaced in 1974

with the Queen's Gallantry Medal. If a recipient of the Order of the British Empire

for Gallantry was promoted within the Order, whether for gallantry or otherwise,

they continued to also wear the insignia of the lower grade with the oak leaves.[6]

However, they only used the post-nominal letters of the higher grade.

Vestments and accoutrements

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Members of the Order wear elaborate costumes on important occasions (such as

quadrennial services and coronations), which vary by rank (the designs underwent

major changes in 1937):

The mantle, worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross, was originally

made of yellow satin lined with blue silk, but is now made of purple satin

lined with pearl-grey silk. On the left side is a representation of the cross (see

below).

The collar, also worn only by 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.

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:

Thestaris an eight-pointed silver star used only by Knights and Dames

Grand Cross and 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 ofBritannia was originally shown. Since

1937, however, the effigies of George V and his wife Queen Mary have been

shown instead.

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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. Knightsand 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.

TheBritish Empire Medalis 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," andcomes 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 will soon become available to recipients of all levels of the Order,

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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 at the fixed price of 15.00.

[7]

Thecreation of such a pin was recommended in Sir Hayden Phillips' review of the

honours system in 2004,[8] not unlike many other countries.

Grand

Cross's

mantle

Member's badge,

obverse and reverse

Close up of star

on mantle

Full MBE including ribbon and

case in which the MBE was

presented.

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 ofSt 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 ofThe 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.

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Precedence and privileges

A Knight or Dame may display the circlet of the Order on the coat of arms, with the

badge of the Order suspended from it[9]

Members of all classes of the Order are assigned positions in the order of

precedence. Wives of male members of all classes also feature on the order of

precedence, as do sons, daughters and 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 (see order ofprecedence in England and Wales for the exact positions).

Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commander prefix "Sir", and Dames Grand Cross

and Dames Commander prefix "Dame", to their forenames (never surnames thus

SirAntony Shermay be shortened to Sir Antony, but not to Sir Sher). Wives of

Knights may prefix "Lady" to their surnames, but no equivalent privilege exists for

husbands 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 do not use the title "Sir" as they do not receive the accolade (i.e., they

are not dubbed "knight" with a sword), although they do append thepost-nominal

letters.

13
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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 and Dames Grand Cross and Knights and Dames Commander who are not

citizens ofCommonwealth realms are not entitled to the prefix "Sir" or "Dame", but

may still use the post-nominal abbreviations. For example, American Bill Gates was

made a Knight Commander, yet he is not entitled "Sir William" or "Sir William

Gates III", although he may use the title "William Henry Gates III, KBE". Honorary

knights do not receive the accolade. Bob Geldof, KBE received a knighthood in

1986, and up until now people still refer to him as "Sir Bob" as if it were his correct

title; however, he is not a citizen of a commonwealth realm, so he is not entitled to

use the prefix "Sir". If recipients later become citizens of Commonwealth realms,

then they are usually made substantive members of the Order, and are entitled to

begin using the Sir prefix. For example, Irish broadcasterTerry Wogan was

appointed an honorary KBE in 2005. He subsequently took dual British and Irish

nationality, was made a substantive member, and is now entitled to use the name

"Sir Terry Wogan".[10]

Knights and Dames Grand Cross are also entitled to receive heraldic supporters.

They may, furthermore, encircle their arms with a depiction of thecirclet (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.

Criticism

Main article: List of people who have declined a British honour

14
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The order has attracted some criticism for its connection with the idea of the British

Empire. ThepoetBenjamin Zephaniah publicly rejected an OBE in 2003 because,

he said, it reminded him of "thousands of years of brutality." He went on to say, "It

reminds me of how my foremothers were raped and my forefathers brutalised."

[11]

Others have declined honours, but, at the request of the Prime Minister's office, did

not reveal the fact until some years later. In 2004, a House of CommonsSelect

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."[12][13]

Another notable person to decline the offer of an Order of the British Empire was

the authorC.S. Lewis (1898-1963), who had been named on the last list of honours

by George VI in December 1951.[14]

The members ofThe Beatles were made MBEs in 1965, to much criticism. John

Lennon justified the comparative merits of his investiture by comparing military

membership in the order, saying, "Lots of people who complained about usreceiving the MBE received theirs for heroism in the war for killing people." He

continued: "We received ours for entertaining other people. I'd say we deserve ours

more."[15]

Other criticism centres on the claim that many recipients of the Order are being

rewarded with honours for simply doing their jobs.[16]

See also

British honours system

Knight Bachelor

List of celebrities appointed to the Order of the British Empire

15
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16/34

List of Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire

List of Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire

List of honorary British Knights

List of Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire United Kingdom order of precedence

References

1. ^London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30250, pp. 77917999, 1917-08-24.

Retrieved 2010-06-13.Original Order of the British Empire Statutes dated 24

Aug 1917

2. ^ abThe Monarchy Today > Queen and public > Honours > Order of the

British Empire royal.gov.uk: The Official Website of the British Monarchy,

Accessed 24 August 2009

3. ^ It is incorrect to omit "of the Order" and other important words not implied

by the initials. The British Empire no longer exists as a formal entity, but the

Order of the British Empire continues.

4. ^ The UK Honour System official website Types of Honour> Download

Orders of Chivalry (PDF) Under Order of the British Empire section, reads

"The British Empire Medal has not been used in the United Kingdom since

1993".

5. ^London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 41285, p. 365, 14 January 1958.

6. ^London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 56878, p. 3353, 17 March 2003.

7. ^ Emblems for honours at the Cabinet Office website, 11 January 2007

8. ^ Reform of the Honours system, Cabinet Office, February 2005, PDF, 648

kb download

16
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dames_Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dames_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_honorary_British_Knightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Knights_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_order_of_precedencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Gazettehttp://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30250/supplements/7791http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-obe_royal_1-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-obe_royal_1-1http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Honours/OrderoftheBritishEmpire.aspxhttp://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Honours/OrderoftheBritishEmpire.aspxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-3http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/UKgovernment/Honoursawardsandmedals/DG_176568?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=86622&Rendition=Webhttp://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/UKgovernment/Honoursawardsandmedals/DG_176568?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=86622&Rendition=Webhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Gazettehttp://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/41285/supplements/365http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Gazettehttp://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/56878/supplements/3353http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-6http://www.honours.gov.uk/emblems.aspxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-7http://www.honours.gov.uk/upload/assets/www.honours.gov.uk/honours_reform_command_paper.pdfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dames_Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dames_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_honorary_British_Knightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Knights_Grand_Cross_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_order_of_precedencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Gazettehttp://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30250/supplements/7791http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-obe_royal_1-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-obe_royal_1-1http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Honours/OrderoftheBritishEmpire.aspxhttp://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Honours/OrderoftheBritishEmpire.aspxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-3http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/UKgovernment/Honoursawardsandmedals/DG_176568?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=86622&Rendition=Webhttp://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/UKgovernment/Honoursawardsandmedals/DG_176568?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=86622&Rendition=Webhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Gazettehttp://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/41285/supplements/365http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Gazettehttp://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/56878/supplements/3353http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-6http://www.honours.gov.uk/emblems.aspxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-7http://www.honours.gov.uk/upload/assets/www.honours.gov.uk/honours_reform_command_paper.pdf


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9. ^ In the image provided, the recipient has also been received into the

Venerable Order of Saint John, and so that badge is shown also, on the black

ribbon to the right

10. ^ Radio's Wogan becomes Sir Terry. BBC News, 6 December 2005,Retrieved 7 February 2009

11. ^ Rasta poet publicly rejects his OBE, Guardian, 27 November 2003,

Retrieved 28 February 2007

12. ^ A Reformed Honours system, Select Committee on Public Administration,

7 July 2004, Retrieved 28 February 2007

13. ^ Honours system outdated, say MPs. BBC News, 13 July 2004, Retrieved 28

February 2007

14. ^ [1]

15. ^ Brian Roylance; George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo

Starr (2000). The Beatles Anthology. Chronicle Books. pp. 183.

ISBN0811826848.

16. ^ Thetimes.co.ukLetters to The Times 15 June 2010

External links

Honours, Decorations & Awards UK Government

Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society, (2002), "The Most

Excellent Order of the British Empire"

Galloway, Peter (1996). The Order of the British Empire. Central Chancery of

the Orders of Knighthood. ISBN0-907605-65-6.

"Knighthood and Chivalry" (1911).Encyclopdia Britannica, 11th ed.

London: Cambridge University Press

Velde, F. R. (2003). "Order of Precedence in England and Wales

17
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venerable_Order_of_Saint_Johnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-9http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4503018.stmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-10http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1094118,00.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-11http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmpubadm/212/21209.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-12http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3888581.stmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-13http://www.cslewis.org/resources/chronocsl.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Numberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0811826848http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-15http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/letters/article2555141.ecehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Timeshttp://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/UKgovernment/Honoursawardsandmedals/index.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_University_Heraldic_and_Genealogical_Societyhttp://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/cuhags/orderofc/brit_emp.htmhttp://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/cuhags/orderofc/brit_emp.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Numberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-907605-65-6http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/order_precedence.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venerable_Order_of_Saint_Johnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-9http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4503018.stmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-10http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1094118,00.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-11http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmpubadm/212/21209.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-12http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3888581.stmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-13http://www.cslewis.org/resources/chronocsl.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Numberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0811826848http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBE#cite_ref-15http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/letters/article2555141.ecehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Timeshttp://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/UKgovernment/Honoursawardsandmedals/index.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_University_Heraldic_and_Genealogical_Societyhttp://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/cuhags/orderofc/brit_emp.htmhttp://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/cuhags/orderofc/brit_emp.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Numberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-907605-65-6http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/order_precedence.htm


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The Chapel of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Frederic

Hood, with a foreword by Prince Phillip

Search recommendations for the Order of the British Empire on The UK

National Archives' website The Chapel of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire - OBE Chapel

Exterior detail

v d e

Orders and Honours of the United Kingdom

Current

orders

Garter Thistle Bath Merit St. Michael and

St. George Royal Victorian British Empire

Companions of Honour Distinguished Service Imperial

Service

Formerorders

St. Patrick Royal Guelphic Star of India Indian

Empire Crown of India Indian Merit British India

Victoria and Albert Burma

Other

honours

Royal Family Orders Hereditary peerage Life peerage Privy

Counsellor Baronet Knighthood Hereditary knighthood

St. John ADC more

See also : Order of Wear, Revocations, UK orders, decorations and medals and UKcampaign medals

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_British_Empire"

Categories: Order of the British Empire | Orders of knighthood of the United

Kingdom | 1917 establishments

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Hidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced

statements from August 2008

This page was last modified on 29 September 2010 at 22:04.

Declining a British honour

List of people who have declined a British honour

The following is a partial list of people who have declined a British honour, such

as a knighthood or an honour, usually within theOrder of the British Empire. In

most cases, the honour was rejected privately; others were rejected publicly, or

accepted then returned later, as with John Lennon and Rabindranath Tagore.

Nowadays potential recipients are contacted by Downing Street, well before any

public announcement is made, to confirm in writing whether they wish to be put

forward for an honour. Therefore, those who now decline an honour when it is

announced normally will have indicated acceptance beforehand, but not always

(i.e. Keith Hill).

Some potential recipients have rejected one honour then accepted another one (suchas SirAlfred Hitchcock[1] ), or have initially refused an honour then accepted it, or

have accepted one honour then declined another (such as Vanessa Redgrave[2] ), or

refused in the hopes of another (Roald Dahl was offered an Officer of the Order of

the British Empire, or OBE, but refused.[1] It is claimed he refused because he

wanted a knighthood so that his wife would be Lady Dahl).[citation needed]

Sometimes a potential recipient will refuse a knighthood orpeerage, but will accept

an honour that does not carry a title, such as theOrder of Merit (OM) orOrder of the

Companions of Honour(CH); Bertrand Russell, Paul Scofield, Doris

Lessing, Harold Pinter, David Hockney, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Augustus

John and Francis Crickare famous examples.

Many modern examples were identified in December 2003 when a confidential

document containing over 300 names of such people was leaked to The Sunday

Times.

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Contents

1 Honours declined

o 1.1 Dukedom

o

1.2 Marquessateo 1.3 Earldom

o 1.4 Viscountcy

o 1.5 Barony

o 1.6 Life peerage (barony)

o 1.7 Knighthood

o 1.8 Appointment to the Order of Merit (OM)

o 1.9 Appointment as a Companion of Honour (CH)

o 1.10 Appointment to the Order of the Bath 1.10.1 As a Knight Commander (KCB)

o 1.11 Appointment to the Royal Victorian Order

1.11.1 As a Commander (CVO)

o 1.12 Appointment to the Order of the British Empire

1.12.1 As a Dame Commander (DBE)

1.12.2 As a Commander (CBE)

1.12.3 As an Officer (OBE)

1.12.4 As a Member (MBE)o 1.13 Unknown honour

2 Renouncing an honour

3 Declining a baronetcy

4 In fiction

5 References

Honours declined

Dukedom

Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, KG, PC, FRS, statesman and

Prime Minister (in 1880; had previously accepted theEarldom of Beaconsfield)

SirWinston Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC (Can), statesman and

Prime Minister (offered Dukedom of London, declined in order to remain in

the House of Commons and to allow his son Randolph a political career;

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Randolph was to die only three years after his father, so the dukedom would have

had little time to affect his career as he had already been out of the commons for

10 years)

Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne, KG, PC, FRS,

statesman (1857) Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of

Lansdowne, KG, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC Viceroy of India (in the 1890s, as did

not want to keep up the lifestyle expected of a duke)

Robert Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, KG, GCVO, PC statesman and

Prime Minister (in 1886 and 1892 and possibly in 1901[3] - citing the prohibitive

cost of the lifestyle dukes were expected to maintain.)

Marquessate

Isaac Wallop, 5th Earl of Portsmouth (later declined appointment as KG)

John Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer, KG, PC Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland (in the

1890s)

Brigadier Sir Alexander Cambridge, GCB, GCVO, CMG, DSO, formerly

Prince Alexander of Teck (in 1917, as thought the title did not sound British

enough; accepted the Earldom of Athlone instead)

Henry Lascelles, 5th Earl of Harewood, GCVO (in 1922, as he thought

marquessates tended to die out more quickly than earldoms)

[citation needed]

Earldom

Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon (declined the Earldom of Wiltshire on his

death bed in 1596, possibly out of delicacy to his Boleynfamily members who

had been tragically associated with it.)

William Legge (MP), had also declined a knighthood as well, his son was

created Baron Dartmouth instead.

Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth, PC outgoing Prime Minister(declined the Earldom of Banbury in 1804 as wished to remain in the Commons;

later accepted the Viscountcy of Sidmouth)

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, PC, statesman (in 1809)

William Ewart Gladstone, Prime Minister (in 1885)

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ty's_Most_Honourable_Privy_Councilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ewart_Gladstone


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Neville Chamberlain, after his retirement as Prime Minister in 1940 (also

declined appointment as KG, October 1940)

Anthony Eden, KG, MC, PC (on his retirement as Prime Minister in 1957;

later accepted the Earldom of Avon in 1961)

Harold Macmillan, OM, PC statesman and Prime Minister (in 1963; lateraccepted the Earldom of Stockton in 1984)

R. A. Butler, KG, CH, PC, Conservative politician (in 1964; accepted life

peerage as Baron Butler of Saffron Walden in 1965)

Sir Angus Ogilvy, KCVO, PC (in 1963 on his marriage to Princess Alexandra

of Kent)

Viscountcy

Benjamin Disraeli, KG, PC, FRS outgoing Prime Minister (in 1868; the titlewas instead conferred on his wife; he later did accept the Earldom of

Beaconsfield)

Charles Booth (philanthropist), disenchanted with politics, declined

Gladstone's overtures, although was made a Privy Councillorby Balfour in 1904

Field Marshal SirDouglas Haig, 1st Earl

Haig, KT, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCIE ADC First World War commander, until the

Government had made what he felt was sufficient provision for returned Great

War veterans (later became the Earl Haig). John Henry Whitley, retiring Speaker of the House of Commons (in 1928)

Barony

George Macaulay Booth, Director of the Bank of England, refused Lloyd

George's offer.[citation needed]

Acting Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, GCVO, KCB, DSO (in 1946, as he

thought it was too low a grade; accepted the Viscountcy of Mountbatten of

Burma instead; later accepted the Earldom of Mountbatten of Burma)[citation needed]

Life peerage (barony)

Sir Isaiah Berlin, OM philosopher (in 1980)[1]

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tp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Indian_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Haighttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_Whitleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booth_Baronetshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_Englandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Mountbatten,_1st_Earl_Mountbatten_of_Burmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Victorian_Orderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Bathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Orderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Mountbatten_of_Burmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_peerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah_Berlinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Merithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_who_have_declined_a_British_honour#cite_note-Guardian2003-0


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John Major, CH, outgoing Prime Minister (in 2001 as he thought a seat in the

Lords was incompatible with retiring from politics; later accepted appointment

as KG)[citation needed]

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, KG, KT, OM, GBE, AC, QSO, CD, PC (in

1999) Charles, Prince of Wales (in 1999)

Prince Andrew, Duke of York(in 1999)

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (in 1999)

Knighthood

Frank Auerbach, artist (in 2003)[2]

SirEdmund Barton, GCMG, KC, first Prime Minister of Australia (in 1887,

1891 and 1899; accepted appointment as GCMG in 1902) Charles Bean, Australian journalist

Peter Benenson, founder ofAmnesty International

Alan Bennett, playwright (in 1996; had previously declined appointment as

CBE in 1988)[1]

David Bowie, musician (in 2003; had previously declined appointment as

CBE in 2000)

Lester Brain, aviator and arline executive (in late 1960s; later accepted

appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1979)[4]

Benjamin Britten, OM, CH composer (later accepted appointment as CH and

OM and a life barony)

The Hon. Iqbal Chand Chopra, CBE, QC, barrister/politician in then

Tanganyika, declined a knighthood on grounds that his partner in Williamson

Diamonds Ltd., Dr. J.T. Williamson, could not accept a knighthood as a

Canadian citizen.[citation needed]

The Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill, MP, PC, Leader of the Opposition and

formerPrime Minister(in 1945; was offered a knighthood for his service asPrime Minister during the war. He later accepted a knighthood in 1953.)[citation

needed]

Joseph Conrad, author and naturalized British citizen

Francis Crick, OM, FRS, scientist (refused both CBE in 1963 and knighthood,

but later accepted appointment as OM in 1991)

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ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

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