Order of St Michael and St George facts for kids

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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 British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince of Wales (the future King George IV), while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III. It is named in honour of two military saints, Michael and George.

The Order of St Michael and St George was originally awarded to those holding commands or high position in the Mediterranean territories acquired in the Napoleonic Wars, and it was subsequently extended to holders of similar office or position in other territories of the British Empire. It is at present awarded to men and women who hold high office or who render extraordinary or important non-military service to the United Kingdom in a foreign country, and it can also be conferred for important or loyal service in relation to foreign and Commonwealth affairs.

Description
History
Composition
- Officers
Habit and insignia
Chapel
Precedence and privileges
Current and past Knights and Dames Grand Cross
- Knights and Dames Grand Cross
- Honorary
Gallery
See also

Description

The three classes of appointment to the Order are, from highest grade to lowest grade:

Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)
Knight Commander or Dame Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG or DCMG)
Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

Classes of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George
Grade	Knight Grand Cross	Dame Grand Cross	Knight Commander	Dame Commander	Companion
Prefix	Sir	Dame	Sir	Dame	—
Post-nominals	GCMG		KCMG	DCMG	CMG
Insignia

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

It is used to honour individuals who have rendered important services in relation to Commonwealth or foreign nations. People are appointed to the Order rather than awarded it. British Ambassadors to foreign nations are regularly appointed as KCMGs, DCMGs, or CMGs. For example, the former British Ambassador to the United States, Sir David Manning, was appointed a CMG when he worked for the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and then after his appointment as British Ambassador to the US, he was promoted to a Knight Commander (KCMG). It is the traditional award for members of the FCO.

The Order's motto is Auspicium melioris ævi (Latin for "Token of a better age"). Its patron saints, as the name suggests, are St. Michael the Archangel, and St. George, patron saint of England and of soldiers. One of its primary symbols is that of St Michael trampling over and subduing Satan in battle.

The Order is the sixth-most senior in the British honours system, after The Most Noble Order of the Garter, 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 third of the aforementioned Orders—which relates to Ireland, no longer fully a part of the United Kingdom—still exists but is in disuse; no appointments have been made to it since 1936. The last of the Orders on the list, related to India, has also been in disuse since that country's independence in 1947.

History

The Order's insignia often depict St Michael subduing Satan

The Prince Regent founded the Order to commemorate the British amical protectorate over the Ionian Islands, which had come under British control in 1814 and had been granted their own constitution as the United States of the Ionian Islands in 1817. It was intended to reward "natives of the Ionian Islands and of the island of Malta and its dependencies, and for such other subjects of His Majesty as may hold high and confidential situations in the Mediterranean".

In 1864, however, the protectorate ended and the Ionian Islands became part of Greece. A revision of the basis of the Order in 1868, saw membership granted to those who "hold high and confidential offices within Her Majesty's colonial possessions, and in reward for services rendered to the Crown in relation to the foreign affairs of the Empire". Accordingly, nowadays, almost all Governors-General and Governors feature as recipients of awards in the order, typically as Knights or Dames Grand Cross.

In 1965 the order was opened to women, with Evelyn Bark becoming the first female CMG in 1967.

Composition

The British Sovereign is the Sovereign of the Order and appoints all other members of the Order (by convention, on the advice of the Government). The next-most senior member is the Grand Master. The office was formerly filled by the Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands; now, however, Grand Masters 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
1905–1910: George, Prince of Wales
1910–1917: None
1917–1936: Edward, Prince of Wales
1936–1957: Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone
1957–1959: Edward Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
1959–1967: Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis
1967–present: Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

The Order originally included 15 Knights Grand Cross, 20 Knights Commanders, and 25 Companions but has since been expanded and the current limits on membership are 125, 375, and 1,750 respectively. Members of the Royal Family who are appointed to the Order do not count towards the limit, nor do foreign members appointed as "honorary members".

Officers

The Order has six officers. The Order's King of Arms is not a member of the College of Arms, like many other heraldic officers. The Usher of the Order is known as the Gentleman or Lady Usher of the Blue Rod. Blue Rod does not, unlike the usher of the Order of the Garter, perform any duties related to the House of Lords.

Prelate: The Rt Rev David Urquhart KCMG (former Bishop of Birmingham)
Chancellor: The Baroness Ashton of Upholland LG GCMG PC
Secretary: Sir Philip Barton KCMG OBE
Registrar: Sir David Manning GCMG KCVO
King of Arms: Sir Mark Lyall Grant GCMG
Lady Usher of the Blue Rod: Dame DeAnne Julius DCMG CBE

Habit and insignia

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 elaborate regalia on important occasions (such as coronations), which vary by rank:

The mantle, worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross, is made of Saxon blue satin lined with crimson silk. On the left side is a representation of the star (see below). The mantle is bound with two large tassels.
The collar, worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross, is made of gold. It consists of depictions of crowned English lions, Maltese Crosses, and the cyphers "SM" and "SG", all alternately. In the centre are two winged lions of St. Mark, each holding a bible and seven arrows—the emblem of the seven united Ionian Islands.

At less important occasions, simpler insignia are used:

The star is an insignia used only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross and Knights and Dames Commanders. It is worn pinned to the left breast. The Knight and Dame Grand Cross' star includes seven-armed, silver-rayed 'Maltese Asterisk' (for want of a better description—see image of badge), with a gold ray in between each pair of arms. The Knight and Dame Commander's star is a slightly smaller eight-pointed silver figure formed by two Maltese Crosses; it does not include any gold rays. In each case, the star bears a red cross of St George. In the centre of the star is a dark blue ring bearing the motto of the Order. Within the ring is a representation of St Michael trampling on Satan.
The badge is the only insignia used by all members of the Order; it is suspended on a blue-crimson-blue ribbon. Knights and Dames Grand Cross wear it on a riband or sash, passing from the right shoulder to the left hip. Knights Commanders and male Companions wear the badge from a ribbon around the neck; Dames Commanders and female Companions wear it from a bow on the left shoulder. The badge is a seven-armed, white-enamelled 'Maltese Asterisk' (see Maltese Cross); the obverse shows St Michael trampling on Satan, while the reverse shows St George on horseback killing a dragon, both within a dark blue ring bearing the motto of the Order.

Prior to 2011, the devil was portrayed with black skin while St Michael was shown as being white; this was changed that year to show both with same skin colour, although St Michael's wings were changed from being multi-colour to being pure white. The alleged racism of this imagery has resulted in the government of Jamaica suspending the use of the badge entirely. In June 2020, calls were made for a complete redesign of the insignia, including from Sir Michael Palin of Monty Python fame, a Knight Commander of the Order In July, the Cabinet Office announced that officers of the Order who were unhappy with their insignia could exchange them for one of the newer models.

On certain "collar days" designated by the Sovereign, members attending formal events may wear the Order's collar over their military uniform or morning wear. When collars are worn (either on collar days or on formal occasions such as coronations), the badge is suspended 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 insignia may be retained.

Chapel

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

The original home of the Order was the Palace of St. Michael and St. George in Corfu, the residence of the Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands and the seat of the Ionian Senate. 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 quadrennially; new Knights and Dames Grand Cross are installed at these services.

The Sovereign and the Knights and Dames Grand Cross are allotted stalls in the choir of the chapel, above which their heraldic devices are displayed. Perched on the pinnacle of a knight's stall is his helm, decorated with a mantling and topped by his crest. Under English heraldic law, women other than monarchs do not bear helms or crests; instead, the coronet appropriate to the dame's rank, if there is one, is used. Above the crest or coronet, the stall's occupant's heraldic banner is hung, emblazoned with his or her coat of arms. At a considerably smaller scale, to the back of the stall is affixed 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, however, are not removed; rather, they remain permanently affixed somewhere about the stall, so that the stalls of the chapel are festooned with a colourful record of the Order's Knights and Dames Grand Cross since 1906.

The reredos within the chapel was commissioned from Henry Poole in 1927.

Precedence and privileges

Members of the Order of St Michael are assigned positions in the order of precedence in England and Wales. Wives of male members also feature on the order of precedence, as do sons, daughters and daughters-in-law of Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commanders; relatives of female members, however, are not assigned any special precedence. (Individuals can derive precedence from their fathers or husbands, but not from their mothers or wives. This follows the general rule of honours, that a husband never derives any style or title from his wife.)

Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commanders prefix "Sir", and Dames Grand Cross and Dames Commanders prefix "Dame", to their forenames. Wives of Knights may prefix "Lady" to their surnames, but husbands of Dames derive no title from their wives. Such forms are not used by peers and princes, except when the names of the former are written out in their fullest forms. Furthermore, honorary (foreign) members and clergymen do not receive the accolade and thus are not entitled to use the prefix "Sir" or "Dame". Knights and Dames Grand Cross use the post-nominal "GCMG"; Knights Commanders and Dames Commanders use "KCMG" and "DCMG" respectively; Companions use "CMG".

Knights and Dames Grand Cross are also entitled to receive heraldic supporters. They may, furthermore, encircle their arms with a depiction of the circlet (a circle bearing the motto) and the collar; the former is shown either outside or on top of the latter. Knights and Dames Commanders and Companions may display the circlet, but not the collar, surrounding their arms. The badge is depicted suspended from the collar or circlet.

Current and past Knights and Dames Grand Cross

Sovereign: King Charles III
Grand Master: The Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO CD ADC (1967)

Knights and Dames Grand Cross

Number	Name	Post-nominals	Known for	Year appointed
1	Sayyid Sir Jamshid bin Abdullah of Zanzibar	GCMG	Sultan of Zanzibar	1963
2	The Duke of Kent	KG GCMG GCVO	Royal family	1967
3	Sir Shridath Ramphal	GCMG AC ONZ OE OM OCC KC	Commonwealth Secretary-General	1990
4	The Lord Wilson of Tillyorn	KT GCMG	Governor of Hong Kong	1991
5	Sir Wiwa Korowi	GCMG	Governor-General of Papua New Guinea	1992
6	Sir James Carlisle	GCMG	Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda	1993
7	Sir Rodric Braithwaite	GCMG	British diplomat	1994
8	Sir Julius Chan	GCL GCMG KBE	Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea	1994
9	Sir Colville Young	GCMG MBE	Governor-General of Belize	1994
10	The Lord Hannay of Chiswick	GCMG CH	British diplomat	1995
11	Sir Orville Turnquest	GCMG KC	Governor-General of The Bahamas	1995
12	Sir Tulaga Manuella	GCMG	Governor-General of Tuvalu	1996
13	Sir Daniel Williams	GCMG	Governor-General of Grenada	1996
14	Sir John Coles	GCMG	British diplomat	1997
15	Sir John Lapli	GCMG	Governor-General of the Solomon Islands	1999
16	Dame Pearlette Louisy	GCMG	Governor-General of Saint Lucia	1999
17	Sir Andrew Wood	GCMG	British diplomat	2001
18	Sir John Goulden	GCMG	British diplomat	2001
19	The Lord Kerr of Kinlochard	GCMG	British diplomat	2001
20	Sir Tomasi Puapua	GCMG KBE PC	Governor-General of Tuvalu	2002
21	Sir David Wright	GCMG LVO	British diplomat	2002
22	Sir Jeremy Greenstock	GCMG	British diplomat	2003
23	Sir Rob Young	GCMG	British diplomat	2003
24	The Lord Robertson of Port Ellen	KT GCMG PC	Secretary General of NATO	2004
25	Sir Stephen Wall	GCMG LVO	British diplomat	2004
26	Sir Nathaniel Waena	GCMG CSI KStJ	Governor-General of Solomon Islands	2005
27	The Lord Jay of Ewelme	GCMG	British diplomat	2006
28	Sir Emyr Jones Parry	GCMG	British diplomat	2007
29	Sir Kenneth O. Hall	GCMG OJ	Governor-General of Jamaica	2007
30	Dame Louise Lake-Tack	GCMG DGN DNH GCH OM DStJ	Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda	2007
31	Sir David Manning	GCMG KCVO	British diplomat	2008
32	Sir Patrick Allen	ON GCMG CD	Governor-General of Jamaica	2009
33	Sir Frank Kabui	GCMG OBE CSI	Governor-General of Solomon Islands	2009
34	Sir Arthur Foulkes	GCMG	Governor-General of The Bahamas	2010
35	Sir Iakoba Italeli	GCMG	Governor-General of Tuvalu	2010
36	The Lord Ricketts	GCMG GCVO	British diplomat and National Security Adviser	2011
37	Sir Nigel Sheinwald	GCMG	British diplomat	2011
38	Sir Elliott Belgrave	GCMG KC	Governor-General of Barbados	2012
39	Dame Cécile La Grenade	GCMG OBE	Governor-General of Grenada	2013
40	Sir Edmund Lawrence	GCMG OBE	Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis	2013
41	Dame Marguerite Pindling	GCMG	Governor-General of The Bahamas	2014
42	Sir Rodney Williams	GCMG KGN KNH GCH GCM KStJ	Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda	2014
43	The Baroness Ashton of Upholland	LG GCMG PC	British diplomat	2015
44	Sir John Sawers	GCMG	British diplomat	2015
45	Sir Simon Fraser	GCMG	British diplomat	2016
46	Sir Peter Westmacott	GCMG LVO	British diplomat	2016
47	Sir Robert Dadae	GCMG	Governor-General of Papua New Guinea	2017
48	Dame Sandra Mason	GCMG DA KC	Governor-General of Barbados and President of Barbados	2017
49	Sir Mark Lyall Grant	GCMG	British diplomat and National Security Adviser	2018
50	Sir Neville Cenac	GCMG	Governor-General of Saint Lucia	2018
51	Sir Cornelius A. Smith	GCMG	Governor-General of The Bahamas	2019
52	Sir David Vunagi	GCMG	Governor-General of Solomon Islands	2019
53	Dame Susan Dougan	GCMG OBE	Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	2020
54	Sir David Attenborough	OM GCMG CH CVO CBE	Television broadcaster and conservationist	2020
55	Sir Tim Barrow	GCMG LVO MBE	British diplomat	2020
56	Sir Julian King	GCMG KCVO	British diplomat	2020
57	The Lord McDonald of Salford	GCMG KCVO	British diplomat	2021
58	Dame Froyla Tzalam	GCMG	Governor-General of Belize	2022
59	Sir Iain Macleod	GCMG	British diplomat	2022
60	Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani	GCMG MBE	Governor-General of Tuvalu	2022
61	The Lord Sedwill	GCMG	British diplomat	2023
62	Dame Marcella Liburd	GCMG JP	Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis	2023
63	Sir Simon Gass	GCMG CVO	British diplomat and civil servant	2023
64	Dame Cynthia A. Pratt	GCMG	Governor-General of The Bahamas	2023
65	Sir Stephen Lovegrove	GCMG KCB	British civil servant and National Security Adviser	2024