The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is one of the British orders of chivalry. It is the newest order, created on 4 June 1917, by King George V.

Classes 
The order is cut into two parts, civil and military. Both parts have five classes or ranks. In order, from highest to lowest, these are:

 Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GBE)
 Knight or Dame Commander (KBE or DBE)
 Commander (CBE)
 Officer (OBE)
 Member (MBE)

Only the two highest ranks are knighthoods, and allow the holder to call themselves 'Sir' (male) or 'Dame' (female). If the person is not a citizen of a country where the Queen is Head of State, the award is called honorary, and the holder cannot use the title before their name. For example Terry Wogan became a British citizen and was therefore called Sir Terry Wogan, but Bob Geldof is still an Irish citizen, and is therefore not "Sir Bob". He can, however, style himself "Bob Geldof KBE".

The British Empire Medal (BEM) was restarted in 2012, but only in the civil group.  Although the BEM it is the newest British order of chivalry, it has more members than any other.

History 
King George V wanted to be able to honour the thousands of people who helped to win the First World War, but were not soldiers. 

This Order of Knighthood has a more democratic character than the exclusive Order of the Bath or Saint Michael and Saint George, and in its early days was not held in high esteem. This changed over the years.

Structure 
The British monarch is Sovereign of the Order and appoints all other members of the Order but only on the advice of the Government. The next-most senior member is the Grand Master. There have been three: 
Edward, Prince of Wales (1917–1936) (later called King Edward VIII and then the Duke of Windsor)
Queen Mary (1936–1953)
 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1953–2021), Queen Elizabeth II's husband.

The order's rules, called statutes, say that the Order can only have 100 Knights and Dames Grand Cross, 845 Knights and Dames Commander, and 8960 Commanders, but there is no limit to the number of members of the Officers and Members 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. 

Some jobs are usually rewarded with the Order. Usually female judges of the High Court of England and Wales are created Dames Commander after appointment. Male judges are not, because they are usually made Knights Bachelor instead.

Officials 
Like the orders of chivalry, this order has six officials: 
 Prelate - The Right Rev. and Right Hon. Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Bishop of London
Dean - The Very Rev. David Ison, Dean of St Paul's Cathedral (The Dean of St Paul's always holds this office).
 Secretary - Michael Vernon
 Registrar - Sir Mark Sedwill, Cabinet Secretary
 King of Arms - Sir Robert Fulton KBE
 Lady Usher of the Purple Rod - Dame Amelia Fawcett DBE CVO. Many years ago the ushers helped to organise royal events, now only the usher of the Order of the Garter has any official duties. He is the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, the House of Lords's Messenger.

Revocation 
Anyone who behaves in a way that might bring the order into disrepute, may have his or her award taken away.

 1921: Cecil Malone was stripped of his OBE (awarded 1919) following his conviction under the Defence of the Realm (Acquisition of Land) Act 1920.
 1940: Vidkun Quisling was stripped of his CBE (awarded 1929) following his work with Nazi Germany in the occupation of Norway.
 1949: Man Wai Wong was stripped of his OBE (awarded 1947) following his conviction for outlawry in Malaya.
 1965: Kim Philby was stripped of his OBE (awarded 1946) following his exposure as a spy.
 1975: William Spens was stripped of his MBE (awarded 1954) following his conviction for theft.
 1980: Albert Henry was stripped of his KBE (awarded 1974) following his conviction for election fraud.
 1988: Lester Piggott was stripped of his OBE (awarded 1975) following his conviction for tax fraud.
 2006: Michael Eke was stripped of his MBE (awarded 2003) following his conviction for theft and deception.
 2006: Naseem Hamed was stripped of his MBE (awarded 1999) following his conviction for dangerous driving.

John Lennon once criticised military membership in the order, saying:

"Lots of people who complained about us receiving the MBE received theirs for heroism in the war - for killing people. We received ours for entertaining other people. I'd say we deserve ours more."

References