Order of the British Empire

Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
CBE neck decoration (in civil division)
Awarded by the monarch of the United Kingdom
Type	Order of chivalry
Established	1917
Motto	For God and the Empire
Eligibility	British nationals, citizens of the Commonwealth realms, or anyone who has made a significant achievement for the United Kingdom
Awarded for	Prominent national or regional achievements[1]
Status	Currently constituted
Sovereign	Charles III
Grand Master	Queen Camilla
Grades	Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight/Dame Commander (KBE/DBE) Commander (CBE) Officer (OBE) Member (MBE)
Former grades	Medal of the Order for Gallantry
Precedence
Next (higher)	Royal Victorian Order
Next (lower)	Varies, depending on rank
Military ribbon Civil ribbon

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, and public service outside the civil service.^[2] 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.^[3] There is also the related British Empire Medal, whose recipients are affiliated with, but not members of, the order.

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'.^[3] Equal recognition was to be given for services rendered in the UK and overseas.^[4] Today the majority of recipients are UK citizens, though a number of Commonwealth realms outside the UK continue to make appointments to the order.^[5] Honorary awards may be made to citizens of other nations of which the order's sovereign is not the head of state.