Order of St Michael and St George facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
Collar and badge of the Grand Cross
Awarded by The monarch of the United Kingdom
Type	Order of chivalry
Established	28 April 1818
Motto	Auspicium Melioris Ævi (Latin for 'Token of a Better Age')
Eligibility	Typically British or Commonwealth realm citizens
Awarded for	At the monarch's pleasure, though typically awarded for extraordinary non-military service in a foreign country or for services to foreign and Commonwealth affairs
Status	Currently constituted
Founder	Prince George, Prince Regent
Sovereign	Charles III
Grand Master	Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
Grades	Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCMG) Knight/Dame Commander (KCMG/DCMG) Companion (CMG)
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of the Star of India
Next (lower)	Order of the Indian Empire
Ribbon bar of the Order

Knight Commander, KCMG insignia

The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a special award given in the United Kingdom. It's a type of chivalry order, which means it's a group of people honored for their important service. This Order was started on April 28, 1818, by Prince George, who later became King George IV. At the time, he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III. The Order is named after two important military saints, Saint Michael and Saint George.

This award was first given to people who held important jobs in the Mediterranean areas that Britain gained during the Napoleonic Wars. Later, it was also given to people in other parts of the British Empire. Today, it honors men and women who do amazing non-military work for the United Kingdom in other countries. It can also be given for important service related to foreign countries and the Commonwealth.

What is the Order of St Michael and St George?
History of the Order
Who Leads the Order?
- Officers of the Order
What Members Wear: Robes and Badges
The Order's Chapel
Special Titles and Privileges
Some Current and Past Members
Images for kids
See also

What is the Order of St Michael and St George?

The Order has three main levels, from the highest to the lowest:

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

People are "appointed" to the Order, meaning they are chosen to become members, rather than just "awarded" a medal. For example, British Ambassadors (top diplomats) in other countries often become KCMGs, DCMGs, or CMGs. Sir David Manning, a former British Ambassador to the United States, was first a CMG and then became a KCMG. This award is often given to people working in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), which handles foreign affairs.

The Order's motto is Auspicium melioris ævi. This is Latin for "Token of a better age." Its patron saints are St. Michael the Archangel and St. George, who is the patron saint of England and soldiers. One of the main symbols of the Order shows Saint Michael defeating Satan.

This Order is the sixth highest in the British honours system. It comes after the Order of the Garter, the Order of the Thistle, the Order of St Patrick, the Order of the Bath, and the Order of the Star of India. Some of these older Orders, like the one for Ireland (St Patrick) and India (Star of India), are no longer used for new appointments.

History of the Order

The Order's insignia often depict St Michael defeating Satan

The Order was created by the Prince Regent to celebrate Britain's special protection over the Ionian Islands. These islands came under British control in 1814 and got their own constitution in 1817. The award was meant for people from the Ionian Islands, Malta, and other British subjects who held important jobs in the Mediterranean.

However, in 1864, the Ionian Islands joined Greece. So, in 1868, the rules for the Order changed. It began to be given to people who held important jobs in Britain's colonial possessions and for services to the Empire's foreign affairs. Today, many Governors-General and Governors (who represent the monarch in other countries) receive awards in this Order, usually as Knights or Dames Grand Cross.

In 1965, women were allowed to join the Order. Evelyn Bark was the first woman to become a CMG in 1967.

Who Leads the Order?

The British Sovereign (currently King Charles III) is the head of the Order. The Sovereign chooses all other members, usually based on advice from the Government. The next most important person is the Grand Master. This role was once held by the person in charge of the Ionian Islands. Now, the Sovereign chooses the Grand Master.

Some past Grand Masters include:

1818–1825: Sir Thomas Maitland
1825–1850: Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge
1905–1910: George, Prince of Wales
1967–present: Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

The Order started with a small number of members: 15 Knights Grand Cross, 20 Knights Commanders, and 25 Companions. Now, it has grown much larger. The current limits are 125 Knights Grand Cross, 375 Knights Commanders, and 1,750 Companions. Members of the Royal Family and foreign "honorary members" do not count towards these limits.

Officers of the Order

The Order has six special officers who help run it. For example, the Usher of the Order is called the Gentleman or Lady Usher of the Blue Rod.

Prelate: The Rt Rev David Urquhart
Chancellor: The Baroness Ashton of Upholland
Secretary: Sir Philip Barton
Registrar: Sir David Manning
King of Arms: Sir Mark Lyall Grant
Lady Usher of the Blue Rod: Dame DeAnne Julius

What Members Wear: Robes and Badges

Mantle of the Order

Representation of the star of a Knight or Dame Grand Cross

Star and badge of a Knight or Dame Commander

Collar worn by a Knight or Dame Grand Cross

Members of the Order wear special clothes and badges for important events like coronations. What they wear depends on their rank:

The mantle is a long robe worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross. It is made of blue satin with crimson silk lining. It has a special star design on the left side.
The collar is a gold chain, also worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross. It has designs of crowned English lions, Maltese Crosses, and the letters "SM" (for Saint Michael) and "SG" (for Saint George). In the middle, there are two winged lions holding a bible and seven arrows, which represent the seven Ionian Islands.

For less formal occasions, members wear simpler badges:

The star is worn by Knights and Dames Grand Cross and Knights and Dames Commanders. It is pinned to the left side of their chest. The Grand Cross star is silver with seven points and gold rays. The Commander's star is a bit smaller and silver with eight points. Both stars have a red cross of St George in the center. They also have a dark blue ring with the Order's motto and a picture of Saint Michael defeating Satan.
The badge is worn by all members of the Order. It hangs from a blue, crimson, and blue ribbon. Knights and Dames Grand Cross wear it on a wide sash across their body. Knights Commanders and male Companions wear it on a ribbon around their neck. Dames Commanders and female Companions wear it on a bow pinned to their left shoulder. The badge itself has seven points. One side shows Saint Michael defeating Satan, and the other side shows Saint George on horseback killing a dragon. Both images are inside a dark blue ring with the Order's motto.

Before 2011, the image on the badge showed the devil with black skin and Saint Michael as white. This was changed so both figures have the same skin color. Some people have called for the badge to be completely redesigned because of its past imagery.

On certain special "collar days," members can wear the Order's collar over their uniform or formal clothes. If a collar was given after 1948, it must be returned when the member dies. Other badges can be kept.

The Order's Chapel

The chapel of the Order of St Michael and St George in St Paul's Cathedral, London.

The Order's first home was a palace in Corfu, one of the Ionian Islands. Since 1906, the Order has had its own chapel inside St Paul's Cathedral in London. This cathedral also has chapels for other British Orders. Big religious services for the Order are held every four years. New Knights and Dames Grand Cross are formally welcomed into the Order at these services.

The Sovereign and the Knights and Dames Grand Cross have special seats in the chapel. Above each seat, their personal symbols are displayed. For knights, this includes their helmet and crest. For dames, it might be a special crown. A banner with their coat of arms hangs above. Small brass plates are also attached to the back of each seat, showing the member's name, arms, and when they joined. These plates stay there forever, creating a colorful history of the Order's members since 1906.

Special Titles and Privileges

Members of the Order of St Michael are given a special place in the order of precedence in England and Wales, which is like a formal ranking system. Wives of male members also get a special place, as do their children and daughters-in-law. However, husbands or relatives of female members do not get special precedence.

Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commanders can use "Sir" before their first name. Dames Grand Cross and Dames Commanders can use "Dame" before their first name. For example, Sir David Attenborough. Wives of Knights can use "Lady" before their husband's last name. However, husbands of Dames do not get a title from their wives. Foreign members and religious leaders do not use "Sir" or "Dame."

Members also use special letters after their names:

Knights and Dames Grand Cross use GCMG.
Knights Commanders use KCMG.
Dames Commanders use DCMG.
Companions use CMG.

Knights and Dames Grand Cross can also add special designs to their coat of arms, like a circle with the Order's motto and the collar. Other members can show the circle but not the collar.

Some Current and Past Members

Sovereign: King Charles III
Grand Master: The Duke of Kent (since 1967)

Here are a few examples of people who have been honored with the highest rank (Knight or Dame Grand Cross):

Sir Shridath Ramphal (from Guyana), a former Commonwealth Secretary-General.
The Lord Wilson of Tillyorn (from the UK), a former Governor of Hong Kong.
Dame Pearlette Louisy (from Saint Lucia), a former Governor-General.
Sir David Attenborough (from the UK), a famous television broadcaster and conservationist.
Dame Sandra Mason (from Barbados), a former Governor-General and now President of Barbados.

Images for kids

St George and the Dragon by Mattia Preti (1678)
Coat of arms of the British monarch as sovereign of the Order of St Michael and St George
Companion class of the order with the wearers instruction guide.
CMG class in a case.
Reverse of a CMG badge showing Saint George.
Riband, badge and star of a GCMG worn by Lord Tweedsmuir
Obverse of the CMG badge showing Saint Michael.
CMG class of the Order of St. Michael & St. George by Spink & Son.
CMG in a case by Spink.
Companion of the Order of St. Michael & St. George.
CMG in a case by Spink
Riband (worn incorrectly), star and collar of GCMG worn by Lord Grenfell
A Seychellois stamp depicting the Queen in robes of the order, 1986
Star and collar of GCMG worn by Serbian Field Marshal Živojin Mišić
CMG set.
Set of the Companion class.
GCMG breast star.
Companion class on a neck ribband.
KCMG breast star.
CMG class of the order.
The Duke of Kent, Grand Master of the Order, and the Duchess of Kent
The GCMG set of former Dutch Prime Minister Willem Drees.
Miniature of the order.