United Kingdom
Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Civil and military divisions. The Cabinet Office describes the CBE as a prominent but lesser role at national level, or a leading role at regional level, the OBE as a distinguished regional or county-wide role, and the MBE as outstanding achievement or service to the community.1,2
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Established
- 19171
- Conferred by
- The Sovereign, founded by King George V
- How announced
- New Year and Birthday Honours lists published in The London Gazette.3
- Revocation
- Only the monarch can remove an honour, acting on ministerial advice. The Honours Forfeiture Committee advises the King through the Prime Minister. The main test is whether the holder has brought the honours system into disrepute, for example a prison sentence of at least three months. Forfeiture applies only to living holders. Removal is published in The Gazette as a direction that the appointment be cancelled and annulled. Examples include Paula Vennells (CBE, 2024) and Lord Ranger (CBE, 2024).4,5,6
Grades
- Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GBE)
- Knight or Dame Commander (KBE or DBE)
- Commander (CBE)
- Officer (OBE)
- Member (MBE)
- British Empire Medal (BEM), presented separately from the five classes
Notable holders on this record
- Harvey Weinstein RevokedHonorary Commander (CBE) 19 January 2004
- John Lennon ReturnedMember (MBE) 1965
- Paula Vennells RevokedCommander (CBE) 29 December 2018
- Rami Ranger (Lord Ranger) RevokedCommander (CBE) 31 December 2015
- Rolf Harris RevokedCommander (CBE) 17 June 2006
Official page: honours.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/about/orders-and-medals/
Sources
- Cabinet Office Honours and Appointments Secretariat, Orders and medals
- GOV.UK (Cabinet Office), Types of honours and awards (15 September 2026)
- The London Gazette, Order of the Companions of Honour, Birthday Honours 2017, issue 61961 (16 June 2017)
- House of Commons Library, Honours: refusal and removal
- The London Gazette, Honours and Awards, issue 64326 (23 February 2024)
- The London Gazette, The London Gazette, issue 64589 (Honours and Awards, cancellations) (9 December 2024)