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Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)

A senior rank within the Order of the British Empire conferring the title Sir.

KBE
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) ribbon
Insignia of the Order of the British Empire
Insignia · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Awarded over time

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) appointments by year, split by honours list.

Honoriahonoria.co.uk

Honours rounds

The rounds behind the chart - open one to see the recipients.

  1. 2026New Year (1) · Birthday (3)
  2. 2025Birthday (3)
  3. 2024Birthday (1)
  4. 2023New Year (1)
  5. 2022New Year (3)
  6. 2021New Year (2) · Birthday (1)
  7. 2020New Year (1)
  8. 2019New Year (1) · Birthday (1)
  9. 2018Birthday (2)
  10. 2017New Year (3) · Birthday (1)
  11. 2016New Year (1) · Birthday (2)
  12. 2015New Year (2)
  13. 2014New Year (1) · Birthday (1)
  14. 2013New Year (2) · Birthday (3)
  15. 2012New Year (2) · Birthday (4)
  16. 2011New Year (1) · Birthday (2)
  17. 2010Birthday (2)
  18. 2009New Year (1)
  19. 2008New Year (2) · Birthday (1)
  20. 2007New Year (2)
  21. 2006New Year (1)
  22. 2005Birthday (4)
  23. 2004New Year (2) · Birthday (3)
  24. 2003New Year (2) · Birthday (2)
  25. 2002New Year (3) · Birthday (2)
  26. 2001New Year (1) · Birthday (5)
  27. 2000Birthday (3)

Topics

All topics

The topics most recognised among Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) recipients, sized by number of people. Click a tile to explore.

Public Service2Public Service — 2Charitable Service2Charitable Service — 2Olympics2Olympics — 2Education2Education — 2Industry1Industry — 1Medical Research1Medical Research — 1Financial Services1Financial Services — 1Arts1Arts — 1International Trade1International Trade — 1Broadcasting1Broadcasting — 1Chemistry1Chemistry — 1Physics1Physics — 1International Develo…1International Development — 1Business1Business — 1Sport1Sport — 1Exports1Exports — 1Design1Design — 1Enterprise1Enterprise — 1Art1Art — 1Aviation Industry1Aviation Industry — 1Humanitarian Affairs1Humanitarian Affairs — 1Bereavement Support1Bereavement Support — 1Justice1Justice — 1National S…1National Security — 1Civil Libe…1Civil Liberties — 1Healthcare1Healthcare — 1Cycling1Cycling — 1Charity Wo…1Charity Work — 1

Topics by number of recipients

A ranked list of every topic recognised among Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) recipients is available below - show it to browse and filter the full set.

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two of which make the recipient either a knight if male or a dame if female. There is also the related British Empire Medal, whose recipients are affiliated with the order, but are not members of it.

Background from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

About this honour

The Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) recognises major national achievement or service. It was established in 1917 by King George V, and is conferred by the British Crown.

It is awarded to individuals with significant national impact, recognising impact at national level, in areas such as leadership, public service and major achievement.

Candidates are put forward through public nominations, assessed by the honours committee and approved by the Sovereign. Appointments are announced in the New Year Honours and the King's Birthday Honours. Recipients are invested at a royal ceremony.

Recipients take the formal title “Sir”. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters KBE. Recipients wear the badge, star, sash. In the order of precedence it sits above commander (CBE) and below knight Grand Cross (GBE).

It signifies major national achievement, representing excellence, leadership and service.

Recipients

81 people in the record. Filter by name, citation, year, region or theme.

81 people

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Linked data

The second grade of the Order of the British Empire for men, conferring a knighthood; recipients are styled Sir and use the post-nominal KBE. Women receive the equivalent grade of Dame Commander (DBE).

Canonical URI
honoria.co.uk/id/honours/knight-commander-order-of-the-british-empire
Post-nominal
KBE
Part of
The Order of the British Empire
Wikidata
Q12201445
The Gazette ontology
gaz:KnightCommanderOrderOfTheBritishEmpire

From the Honoria honours vocabulary (SKOS). exactMatch = Wikidata; closeMatch = The Gazette honours ontology (official but a 2008–2015 beta).

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