King Charles's Birthday Honours: What's the difference between OBE, MBE and CBE? (2024)

Ex-footballer and Match of the Day host Ian Wright has received an OBE, and Masked Singer judge Davina McCall has been made an MBE in the King's first Birthday Honours list.

Special honours such as OBE, MBE and CBE are given to recognise people's amazing achievements and service to the country.

The awards are handed out twice a year in the UK - once at New Year, and then again on the monarch's official birthday.

But what are the different awards, and who gets them? Here's everything you need to know...

The decision about who gets an honour - and the type of honour they get - is made by a special committee. The committee's decisions go to the prime minister and then, finally, to the King to check it.

Not everyone wants an honour and people are allowed to turn down the award, which occasionally happens (for example, Roald Dahl turned down his award). People can also have their honour taken away from them if they are disgraced or behave in a bad way.

The honours list consists of knights and dames, appointments to the Order of the British Empire and gallantry and bravery awards.

Different people win different awards depending what they have done. The main awards include:

There are others, though, including the Royal Red Cross for those in the nursing services, and the Queen's Police Medal and Fire Service Medal for those working in these areas.

Read on to find out more about the different awards on the list.

This honour is given to people who have made a significant contribution to the arts, science, medicine or the government over a long period of time.

The award, which was founded by George V in 1917, is limited to just 65 people each year. Those who receive it wear the initials CH after their name.

The honour of knighthood comes from medieval times, as does the way used to award the knighthood - the touch of a sword by the King or Queen.

Men who receive this honour are given the title Sir, while women receiving the honour are called Dame.

The award is given for an exceptional achievement in any activity.

This stands for Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

King George V created the Orders of the British Empire awards during World War I to reward services to the war effort by people helping back in the UK (i.e. not on the front line).

As well as a CBE, people can also be awarded an Officer (OBE) or Member (MBE).

CBE is the highest ranking Order of the British Empire award, followed by OBE and then MBE.

They are given to people to recognise a positive impact they have made in their work.

Like a CBE, an OBE is an order of the British Empire award. It is the second highest ranking Order of the British Empire award, behind CBE but ahead of MBE.

It stands for Officer of the Order of the British Empire (as opposed to Commander for a CBE and Member for an MBE).

It is awarded to someone for making a great impact in their line of work.

Like a CBE or an OBE, an MBE is an order of the British Empire award. It is the third highest ranking Order of the British Empire award, behind CBE which is first and then OBE.

It stands for Member of the Order of the British Empire (as opposed to Commander or Officer).

It is also awarded to someone for making a positive impact in their line of work.

This stands for a British Empire Medal.

The medal was founded in 1917 and was awarded for "meritorious" actions by civilians or military personnel.

It was scrapped in 1993, but nearly 20 years later, Prime Minister David Cameron brought the medal back, with around 300 awarded every year to community volunteers.