Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire | |
|---|---|
| Order | Most Excellent Order of the British Empire |
| Awarded by | The Sovereign |
| Precedence | 7 |
| Post-nominals | GBE |
| Style | Sir or Dame |
The Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) is the highest class of the Order of the British Empire. It is part of the honours system, and a holder is styled "Sir" or "Dame", and holders use the letters GBE after their name.
Contents
The order
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire was founded by King George V in 1917, during the First World War, to honour the many civilians as well as servicemen and women who contributed to the war effort. It is now the order most widely given, recognising contributions in every walk of life. It has five classes: Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GBE), Knight or Dame Commander (KBE or DBE), Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE) and Member (MBE). Its chapel is in St Paul's Cathedral, and its motto is "For God and the Empire".
Appointment
Honours are awarded by The Sovereign, usually on the advice of the Prime Minister. In UKOGB any member can nominate another for an honour on the website, with a citation explaining why. Once it is awarded, the honour and the date it was given appear on the holder's profile, and their styled name changes to include it.
This page was last edited on 3 November 2026.