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Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

An entry-level rank within the Order of the British Empire recognising community or regional service.

MBE
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) ribbon
Insignia of the Order of the British Empire
Insignia · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Awarded over time

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) appointments by year.

Honoriahonoria.co.uk

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

Community4,205Community — 4,205Education2,251Education — 2,251Volunteering1,942Volunteering — 1,942Charity1,390Charity — 1,390Children1,052Children — 1,052Young People877Young People — 877Healthcare815Healthcare — 815Health752Health — 752Industry689Industry — 689NHS627NHS — 627Care574Care — 574Business570Business — 570Voluntary…564Voluntary Service — 564Families510Families — 510Covid-19509Covid-19 — 509Music468Music — 468Disability455Disability — 455Government443Government — 443Sport438Sport — 438International …412International Relations — 412Police400Police — 400Defence397Defence — 397Development379Development — 379Arts373Arts — 373Pandemic Respo…367Pandemic Response — 367Employment364Employment — 364Heritage343Heritage — 343Public Service335Public Service — 335Local …Local Government — 329Disabilities — 316Welfar…Welfare Support — 316Policy — 312Women — 311Medicine — 295Safety286Safety — 286Care Services286Care Services — 286Research281Research — 281Foster Care278Foster Care — 278Charitable S…277Charitable Services — 277Science and …268Science and Technology — 268PensionsPensions — 262PolicingPolicing — 247NursingNursing — 245Primar…Primary Education — 241Higher Education — 221Diversity — 217Football — 213Learning — 204Security — 203Customs199Customs — 199Further …198Further Education — 198Special …197Special Needs — 197Environment196Environment — 196Mental Hea…196Mental Health — 196Politics191Politics — 191Cancer190Cancer — 190Operations — 188Rescue — 188Conservati…187Conservation — 187Youth183Youth — 183

Topics by number of recipients

Every topic recognised among Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) recipients, by number of people. Scroll for the full list.

Honours rounds

Rounds that included this award - open one to see the recipients.

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).

At a glance

Established
1917 by King George V
Awarding body
The British Crown
Rank
Member (MBE)
Formal title
None

Overview

Recognises community or regional service

Eligibility

UK citizens and Commonwealth nationals

  • Community service
  • Charitable work
  • Local leadership

Local to national (exceptional cases)

Rank & Precedence

Member (MBE) - Entry rank

  1. Above: British Empire Medal (BEM)
  2. Below: Officer (OBE)

Entitlements

Post-nominal letters
MBE
Formal title
None
Insignia
Badge of the Order

Award Process

  • Public nominations
  • Honours committee
  • Approved by the Sovereign

Announced: New Year Honours and King's Birthday Honours

Royal ceremony

Significance

Valued community service

  • Commitment
  • Contribution
  • Community

Sources & further reading

Honoria is an independent reference. Awards are described from public sources; it is not an official or royal body.

Linked data

The fifth grade of the Order of the British Empire, conferred for outstanding achievement or service to the community; post-nominal MBE.

Post-nominal
MBE
Wikidata
Q12201526

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

Related honours

See all orders of chivalry

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