The Order of The British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of The British Empire is a British order of chivalry.

Several characters on the show as well as members of The Crown cast and crew have received the honour in the various Birthday and New Years Honours Lists which are published annually.

History

The Order of the British Empire was established by King George V in 1917 to honour those who had served in a non-combative role and expanded the Order to reward contributions to the Arts, Sciences, Charitable work and Public Service. It also aimed to fill in gaps in the British Honours system. The Order comprises five classes across both military and civilian divisions. The Order also includes the British Empire Medal presented to those who have contributed to service in their community.

The ‘Home Chapel’ of the Order is located within St Paul’s Cathedral. Members and Medallists can request use of the Chapel for weddings, baptisms and memorial services. A Service of Thanksgiving is held at the Cathedral for Members and Medallists every four years.

The motto of the order is ‘For God and the Empire’.

Grades

There are six grades of the order, which are as follows:

1. British Empire Medal (BEM)
2. Member of the Order of The British Empire (MBE)
3. Officer of the Order of The British Empire (OBE)
4. Commander of the Order of The British Empire (CBE)
5. Knight/Dame of the Order of The British Empire (KBE/DBE)
6. Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GBE)

Members Portrayed on "The Crown"

Sovereigns

• King George V (Founder, 1917-1936)
• King Edward VIII (later Duke of Windsor) (1936)
• King George VI (1936-1952)
• Queen Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
• King Charles III (2022-present)

Grand Masters

• Edward, Prince of Wales (1917-1936, appointed GBE in 1917)
• Queen Mary (1936-1953, appointed GBE in 1917)
• Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1953-2021, appointed GBE in 1953)
• Vacant (2021-2024)
• Queen Camilla (2024-present, appointed GBE in 2024)

Royal and Non-Royal Members

Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GBE)

• Princess Mary, Viscountess Lascelles (later HRH The Princess Royal & Countess of Harewood, 1927)
• The Duchess of York (later HM The Queen then HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, 1927)
• The Duchess of Gloucester (later HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, 1937)
• The Duchess of Kent (later HRH The Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, 1937)
• Clementine Churchill (later Baroness Spencer-Churchill, 1946)
• The Countess Mountbatten of Burma (1948)
• Lady Dorothy Macmillan (1964)
• Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk (1968)

Officers

In addition to the sovereign and the grand master, the order has six further officers:

• Prelate: Bishop of London, The Rt Hon. & Rt Rev. Dame Sarah Mullally DBE
• Dean: Dean of St Paul's (ex officio), The Very Rev. Andrew Tremlett
• Secretary: Secretary of the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave
• Registrar: Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service, Sir Chris Wormald KCB
• King of Arms: Lieutenant General Sir Simon Mayall KBE CB
• Lady Usher of the Purple Rod: Dame Amelia Fawcett DBE CVO

Cast and Crew Members

This is as complete as possible a list of cast and crew members of The Crown who have received the order:

Member of the Order of The British Empire (MBE)

• Tim Bentinck (2018 Birthday Honours)

Officer of the Order of The British Empire (OBE)

• Charles Dance (2006 Birthday Honours)
• Gillian Anderson (2016, Honourary appointment)
• Andy Harries (2019 Birthday Honours)

Commander of the Order of The British Empire (CBE)

• Derek Jacobi (1985 Birthday Honours, appointed a Knight Bachelor: 1994)
• Stephen Daldry (2004 New Year Honours)
• Jonathan Pryce (2009 Birthday Honours, appointed a Knight Bachelor: 2021)
• Helena Bonham Carter (2012 New Year Honours)
• Peter Morgan (2016 New Year Honours)
• Olivia Colman (2019 Birthday Honours, as Sarah Caroline Sinclair)
• Lesley Manville (2021 New Year Honours, appointed OBE: 2015)
• Alex Jennings (2024 Birthday Honours)
• Jane Lapotaire (2025 Birthday Honours)

Knight/Dame of the Order of The British Empire (KBE/DBE)

• Eileen Atkins (2001 Birthday Honours, appointed CBE: 1990)
• Harriet Walter (2011 New Year Honours, appointed CBE: 2000)
• Imelda Staunton (2024 Birthday Honours, appointed OBE: 2006; CBE: 2016)

Notes

• Gillian Anderson received an honorary OBE because she is an American citizen by birth. Although Anderson has lived in London periodically through much of her life and works in the United Kingdom as well as the United States, she does not hold British citizenship, and thus can only be awarded an honorary order of chivalry.