The most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry. It was started on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, who became King George IV of the United Kingdom. It started when he was Prince Regent for his father, King George III.

It is named in honour of two military saints, Saint Michael and Saint George.

Description 

The Order has three classes, listed below from highest to lowest:

 Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GCMG)
 Knight Commander (KCMG) or Dame Commander (DCMG)
 Companion (CMG)

It is used to honour people who have done important things for the Commonwealth or foreign nations.

People are appointed to the Order rather than given it. British Ambassadors to foreign nations are often appointed as KCMGs or CMGs. For example, the British Ambassador to the United States, Sir David Manning, was appointed a CMG when he worked for the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

After his appointment as British Ambassador to the United States, he was promoted to a Knight Commander (KCMG). Often, when the Queen visits a nation, the British ambassador to that nation automatically becomes a Knight Commander of the Order, and afterwards they may use the title "Sir", before their name.

It is the normal award for members of the FCO.

The Order's motto is Auspicium melioris ævi (Latin for "Token of a better age"). Its patron saints are Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint George. One of its primary symbols is that of St Michael standing over Satan.

The Order is the sixth-most important in the British honours system, after The Most Noble Order of the Garter (the highest British honour), The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick, The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, and The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India.

The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick (for Ireland) has not been appointed since 1934 as the Republic of Ireland is no longer part of the United Kingdom. The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India has not been used since India's independence in 1947.

History 

The Order was started to remember the British protectorate over the Ionian Islands. The Islands had come under British control in 1814. It was given its own constitution as the United States of the Ionian Islands, in 1817.

The order was to reward people, who lived on their Ionian Islands and on Malta, who worked for the King.

The protectorate ended in 1864, and the Ionian Islands became a part of Greece.

The reasons for being appointed to the Order were changed in 1868. Anyone who did important work in Queen Victoria's government (especially overseas) could be appointed. After this change, many Governors-General and Governors were appointed to the Order.

Members of the Order 
The British Sovereign is the Sovereign of the Order and appoints all other members of the Order. The sovereign follow the advice of the Government.

After the sovereign, the next-most senior member is the Grand Master. The office used to be held by the Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands, but now they are chosen by the Sovereign.

Grand Masters include:
 1818–1825: Sir Thomas Maitland
 1825–1850: Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge
 1850–1904: Prince George, Duke of Cambridge
 1904–1910: George V, then Prince of Wakes
 1910–1917: None
 1917–1936: The Prince of Wales
 1936–1957: Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone
 1957–1959: E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
 1959–1967: Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis
 1967–present: Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

The number of members originally in the Order included:
 15 Knights Grand Cross (now there can be up to 125 Knights Grand Cross)
 20 Knights Commander (now there can be up to 375 Knights Commander)
 25 Companions (now there can be up to 1750 Companions)

Members of the Royal Family who are appointed to the Order are not counted as part of these limits and neither are foreigners appointed as "honorary members" (this means that they cannot use the title 'Sir' or 'Dame', and do not receive all the privileges of the order)

The Order has six officers:
 the Prelate (since May 2005, this has been the Rt Revd David Urquhart)
 the Chancellor
 the Secretary
 the Registrar
 the King of Arms of the Order of St Michael and St George
 the Usher.

The Order's King of Arms is not a member of the College of Arms.

The Usher of the Order is known as the Gentleman Usher of the Blue Rod. He does not perform any duties related to the House of Lords, unlike the Usher of the Order of the Garter (the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod).

Clothing 
Members of the Order wear decorated costumes on important occasions (such as coronations), which vary by rank:

The  Sovereign will name some days "collar days". On these days, members attending formal events may wear the Order's collar over their military uniform or evening wear. When collars are worn (either on collar days or on formal occasions such as coronations), the badge is hung from the collar.

All collars which have been awarded since 1948 must be returned to the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood. The other symbols can be kept..

Chapel 
The original home of the Order was the Palace of St Michael and St George in Corfu This was the home of the Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands. It was also the location of the Ionian Senate meetings.

Since 1906, the Order's chapel has been in St Paul's Cathedral in London. (The Cathedral also serves as home to the chapels of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and The Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor.) Religious services for the whole Order are held every four years. New Knights and Dames Grand Cross are 'installed' at these services (this means that they are officially appointed and make an oath of loyalty to the Sovereign).

The Sovereign and the Knights and Dames Grand Cross have stalls in the choir's area of the chapel.

Over their stall, their heraldic devices are displayed: The Knight's helm, decorated with a mantling (cloth tied to the helpmet) and topped by his crest (often an animal).

Under English heraldic law, women who are not monarchs do not bear helms or crests - this is because in the past, women did not fight in wars or tournaments, so they did not have a helmet. Instead of a helmet, Dames will have a coronet (a small crown). The exact design will depend on how important the Dame's  is in society.

Above the crest or coronet hangs the Knight or Dame's heraldic banner, showing the coat of arms. At the back of the stall there is a piece of brass (a "stall plate") displaying its occupant's name, arms and date of admission into the Order. Upon the death of a Knight, the banner, helm, mantling and crest are taken down. The stall plates are not removed, but remain permanently placed somewhere in the stall, so that the stalls of the chapel are covered with a colourful record of the Order's Knights and Dames Grand Cross since 1906.

The reredos (decorated panels) within the chapel were designed by Henry Poole, in 1927.

Precedence and privileges 
Members of the Order of St Michael are given positions in the order of precedence (the order in which members of the nobility should be placed in a procession or other events). Wives of male members are also given positions in the order of precedence. So are sons, daughters and daughters-in-law of Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commanders. Relatives of female members are not given any special precedence.

Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commanders use the title "Sir" before their given name, and Dames Grand Cross and Dames Commanders use "Dame". For example, John Smith and Jane Doe would be called Sir John Smith and Dame Jane Doe.

Wives of Knights may use the title "Lady" before their surname (for example Lady Smith), but husbands of Dames have no title.

These titles are not used by peers and princes, except when the names of peers are written out in their fullest forms. Honorary members (usually members from other countries) and clergymen do not receive the accolade or use the title.

Knights and Dames Grand Cross use the post-nominal "GCMG". Knights Commanders and Dames Commanders use "KCMG" and "DCMG" respectively. Companions use "CMG". Examples are:
 Male Companion: John Smith CMG
 Female Companion: Jane Doe CMG
 Male Commander: Sir Fred Smith KCMG
 Female Commander: Dame Joanna Doe DCMG
 Male Grand Cross: Sir George Smith GCMG
 Female Grand Cross: Dame Janice Doe GCMG

Knights and Dames Grand Cross are also allowed to receive heraldic supporters (figures on either side of the shield, which look like they are holding it up). These may be real or imaginary animals, or human figures. They may also surround their arms with the design of the circlet (a circle bearing the motto) and the collar. The circlet is shown either outside or on top of the collar.

Knights and Dames Commanders and Companions may display the circlet (but not the collar) around their arms. The badge is depicted hanging from the collar or circlet.

Popular references 
In the satirical British television programme, Yes Minister, Jim Hacker MP is told an old joke by his Private Secretary, Bernard Woolley, about what the different post-nominals mean.

Ian Fleming's spy, James Bond, was appointed to the CMG, in 1953 (mentioned in the novel From Russia, with Love). He was offered the KCMG in The Man with the Golden Gun, but he would not take it, as he did not wish to become a public figure.

Current Knights and Dames Grand Cross 

 Sovereign: Her Majesty The Queen
 Grand Master: His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, KG, GCMG, GCVO (1967)

Knights and Dames Grand Cross 

 Sir Ellis Clarke, TC, GCMG (1972)
 Sir Edward Peck, GCMG (1974) 
 The Rt. Hon. Sir Zelman Cowen, AK, GCMG, GCVO, QC (1977)
 Sir Tore Lokoloko, GCL, GCMG, GCVO, OBE (1977)
 Sir Michael Palliser, GCMG (1977)
 Sir Donald Maitland, GCMG (1977)
 The Rt. Hon. The Viscount Soulbury, GCMG GCVO, DL (1978)
 Sir Paul Scoon, GCMG, GCVO, OBE (1979)
 Sir David Scott, GCMG (1979) 
 Sir Baddeley Devesi, GCMG, GCVO (1980)
 Sir Donald Tebbit, GCMG (1980)
 Sir Clive Rose, GCMG (1981)
 Sir Oliver Wright, GCMG, GCVO, DSC (1981)
 The Rt. Hon. Sir Ninian Stephen, KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, QC (1982)
 Sir Percy Cradock, GCMG (1983)
 Sir Clement Arrindell, GCMG, GCVO, QC (1984)
 Sir Hugh Cortazzi, GCMG (1984)
 Sir James Craig, GCMG (1984) 
 Sir Michael Butler, GCMG (1984) 
 The Rt. Rev. The Hon. Sir Paul Reeves, ONZ, GCMG, GCVO, CF, QSO (1985)
 Sir John Thomson, GCMG (1985) 
 Abdelaziz bin Khalifa Al Thani, GCMG (1985)
 Sir Antony Acland, KG, GCMG, GCVO (1986) 
 Sir John Fretwell, GCMG (1987)
 Sir George Lepping, GCMG, MBE (1988)
 The Rt. Hon. The Lord Carrington, KG, GCMG, CH, MC, PC, DL (1988)
 Sir Crispin Tickell, GCMG, KCVO (1989)
 The Rt. Hon. The Lord Wright of Richmond, GCMG (1989)
 Sir Toaripi Lauti, GCMG (1990)
 Sir Shridath Ramphal, OE, OM, GCMG, ONZ, AC, QC (1990)
 The Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF (1990)
 The Hon. Dame Catherine Tizard, ONZ, GCMG, GCVO, DBE, QSO (1990)
 Sir Howard Cooke, ON, GCMG, GCVO, CD (1991)
 Sir David Goodall, GCMG (1991)
 The Rt. Hon. The Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, KT, GCMG (1991)
 Sir Stanislaus James, GCMG (1992)
 Sir Reginald Palmer, GCMG (1992)
 Sir John Whitehead, GCMG, CVO (1992) 
 Sir James Carlisle, GCMG (1993)
 Sir Ewen Fergusson, GCMG, GCVO (1993) 
 Sir Rodric Braithwaite, GCMG (1994)
 Sir Julius Chan, GCL, GCMG, KBE (1994)
 His Excellency Sir Colville Young, GCMG, MBE (1994)
 Sir Nicholas Fenn, GCMG (1995)
 The Rt. Hon. The Lord Hannay of Chiswick, GCMG, CH (1995)
 Sir Moses Pitakaka, GCMG (1995)
 Sir Orville Turnquest, GCMG, QC (1995)
 The Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Hardie Boys, GNZM, GCMG, QSO (1996)
 His Excellency Sir Clifford Husbands, GCMG, KA, CHB, QC (1996)
 Sir Christopher Mallaby, GCMG, GCVO (1996)
 Sir Tulaga Manuella, GCMG (1996)
 His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, GCMG, OBE (1996)
 Sir Daniel Williams, GCMG (1996)
 Sir John Coles, GCMG (1997)
 Sir George Mallet, GCMG, CBE (1997)
 The Rt. Hon. The Lord Williamson of Horton, GCMG, CB, PC (1998)
 Sir John Lapli, GCMG (1999)
 Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy, GCMG (1999)
 Sir Andrew Wood, GCMG (2001)
 Sir Tomu Sione, GCMG (2001)
 Sir John Goulden, GCMG (2001)
 The Rt. Hon. The Lord Kerr of Kinlochard, GCMG (2001)
 Sir David Wright, GCMG, LVO (2002) 
 Sir Jeremy Greenstock, GCMG (2003)
 Sir John Young, GCMG (2003) 
 The Rt. Hon. The Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, KT, GCMG, PC (2004)
 Sir John Wall, GCMG, LVO (2004) 
 His Excellency Sir Nathaniel Waena, GCMG, CSI (2005)
 The Rt. Hon. The Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, GCMG, KBE, PC (2006)
 The Rt. Hon. The Lord Jay of Ewelme, GCMG (2006)
 The Rev. Sir Filoimea Telito, GCMG, MBE (2007)
 Sir Emyr Jones Parry, GCMG (2007)
 Sir Kenneth Hall, ON, GCMG, OJ (2007)
 Sir David Manning, GCMG, CVO (2008)
 Sir Carlyle Glean, GCMG (2008)
 Sir Patrick Allen, ON, GCMG, CD (2009)
 Sir Frank Kabui, GCMG, CSI, OBE (2009)

Officers 
 Prelate: Rt. Revd. David Urquhart (Bishop of Birmingham)
 Chancellor: Sir Christopher Mallaby
 Secretary:
 Registrar: Lord Wilson of Tillyorn
 King of Arms: Sir Ewen Fergusson (King of Arms of the Order of St Michael and St George)
 Usher: Sir Anthony Figgis KCVO, CMG (Gentleman Usher of the Blue Rod)

Honorary Appointments 
 Lee Kwan Yew, Hon. GCMG, CH, 1972
 Chandrika Prasad Srivastava, Hon. KCMG, 1990
 Fidel V. Ramos, Hon. GCMG (1995)
 Ong Teng Cheong, Hon. GCMG, 1998
 Anson Chan, GBM, Hon. GCMG, CBE, JP, 2002
 Hamid Karzai, Hon. GCMG, 2003
 Ryszard Kaczorowski, Hon. GCMG, 2004
 Kofi Annan, Hon. GCMG, 2007
 Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, Hon. GCMG, 2008
 Shimon Peres, Hon. GCMG, 2008
 Sadako Ogata, Hon. Dame Commander (DCMG), 2011

Select former recipients 

 Sir Adams George Archibald, CMG (1814-1892); first Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba (1870-1872)
Sir Philip Oakley Fysh, KCMG (1835-1919); Australian politician, Premier of Tasmania and a member of the first federal ministry. Fysh joined Barton, Deakin and Kingston in securing British approval for the 'Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Bill'.
 Sir John Young, GCB, GCMG, PC (1807–1876); second Governor General of Canada (1869-1872)
 Sir John Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC (1815–1891); first Prime Minister of Canada (1867–1873)(1878–1891)
 Sir Charles Monck, 4th Viscount Monck, GCMG, PC (1819–1894); first Governor General of Canada (1867-1869)
 Sir Donald Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, GCMG, GCVO, PC, DL (1820–1914)
 Sir Charles Tupper, 1st Baronet, GCMG, CB, PC (1821–1915); Premier of Nova Scotia (1864-1867), sixth Prime Minister of Canada (1896)
 Sir John Caldwell Abbott, KCMG, PC, QC (1821–1893); third Prime Minister of Canada (1891-1892)
 Sir Richard Burton, KCMG (1821-1890)
 Sir Wilfred Grenfell, KCMG (February 28, 1865-October 9, 1940); medical missionary to Newfoundland and Labrador.
 Sir Mackenzie Bowell, KCMG, PC (1823–1917); fifth Prime Minister of Canada (1894-1896)
 Sir Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, KP, GCB, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC (1826–1902); third Governor General of Canada (1872-1878)
 Matsukata Masayoshi, GCMG (1835–1924)
 Sir Henry Binns KCMG (1837-1899); Prime Minister of the Colony of Natal (1897-1899)
 Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC (1841–1919); seventh Prime Minister of Canada (1896-1911)
 Sir Ernest Satow, GCMG PC(1843–1929)
 Menelik II of Ethiopia, GCMG (1844–1913)
 Sir John Thompson, KCMG, PC, QC (1845–1894); Premier of Nova Scotia (1882); fourth Prime Minister of Canada (1892-1894)
 Sir John Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll, KG, KT, GCMG, GCVO, PC (1845–1914); fourth Governor General of Canada (1878-1883)
 Sir Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne, KG, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC (1845–1927); fifth Governor General of Canada (1883-1888)
 Sir George Fiddes, GCMG, CB (1858-1936), Permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
 Sir Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, KG, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC (1845–1914); eighth Governor General of Canada (1898-1904)
 Admiral Sir James Bruce (1846-1921) Invested KCMG in 1900.
 Sir John Campbell Hamilton-Gordon, KT, GCMG, GCVO, PC (1847–1934); seventh Governor General of Canada (1893 to 1898)
 Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (Arthur William Patrick Albert), KG, KT, KP, PC, GCMG, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GCB, VD, AdC(P) (1850–1942); tenth Governor General of Canada (1911-1916)
 Sir Frank Swettenham GCMG CH (1850–1946)
 Sir Albert Grey, GCMG, GCVO, PC (1851–1917); ninth Governor General of Canada (1904-1911)
 Sir John Birchenough, GCMG (1853–1937)
 Sir Robert Borden, GCMG, PC, KC (1854–1937); eighth Prime Minister of Canada (1911-1920)
 Sir Robert Baden-Powell, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB (1857–1941); founder of the Scout Movement
 Katō Takaaki, (1860–1926)
 Field Marshal Sir Julian Byng, GCB, GCMG, MVO, DCO, LLD(hc) Alb (1862–1935); twelfth Governor General of Canada (1921-1926)
 Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranike, KCMG, Maha Mudaliyar and JP of Ceylon (1862-1946)
 The Hon Lionel Cripps (1863–1950)
 Major Sir Freeman Freeman-Thomas, PC, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, GBE, (1866–1941); thirteenth Governor General of Canada (1926-1931)
 Major-General Sir Pomeroy Holland-Pryor, KCB, CMG, DSO, MVO (1866-1955)
 Sir Victor Cavendish, KG, PC, GCMG, GCVO, JP (1868–1938); eleventh Governor General of Canada (1916-1921)
 Major-General Sir Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone, KG, PC, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, DSO, ADC(P,) FRS (1874–1957); sixteenth Governor General of Canada (1940-1946)
 Sir John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, PC, CH, GCMG, GCVO, (1875–1940); fifteenth Governor General of Canada (1935-1940)
 Captain Sir Vere Brabazon Ponsonby,PC, GCMG (1880–1956); fourteenth Governor General of Canada (1931-1935)
 Lieutenant General Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart VC, KBE, CB, CMG, DSO (1880–1963)
 Sir George Sansom, KCMG (1883–1965)
 Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander, KG, PC, PC, GCB, OM, GCMG, CSI, DSO, MC, CD, (1891–1969); seventeenth Governor General of Canada (1946-1952)
 Sir Edward Gent KCMG, DSO, OBE, MC (1895–1948)
 Sir Henry Gurney KCMG KStJ (1898–1951)
 Sir Gerald Templer KG, GCB, GCMG, KBE (1898–1979)
 Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, GCMG (1912-1988); Ninth Sultan of Sultanate of Yogyakarta
 President Ibrahim Nasir, KCMG (1926-2008)
 General Sir Hudson Lowe, GCMG (1769-1844)
 Field Marshal Živojin Mišić, GCMG (1855-1921); Serbian field marshal

References

Other websites 

 Royal.gov.uk article on the order
 "Knighthood and Chivalry." (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th ed. London: Cambridge University Press.
 Orans, L. P. "The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George." 
 Velde, F. R. (2003). "Order of Precedence in England and Wales.
 State Library of New South Wales: Nelson Meers Foundation  — gallery to full set of insignia, including images of both sides of the badge and a close-up of the star.