is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III.

It is named in honour of two military saints, St. Michael and St. George.

Description

The Order includes three classes, in descending order of seniority:

• Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GCMG)

• Knight Commander (KCMG) or Dame Commander (DCMG)

• Companion (CMG)

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 or CMGs. For example, the 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 United States, he was promoted to a Knight Commander (KCMG). Often, when the Queen visits a nation, the British ambassador to that nation automatically becomes a Knight Commander of the Order, and thereafter may use the prefix "Sir". It is the traditional award for members of the FCO. Ian Fleming's spy, James Bond, was fictionally decorated with the CMG in 1953 (mentioned in the novel From Russia, with Love). He was later offered the KCMG in The Man with the Golden Gun.

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. One of its primary symbols is that of St Michael trampling over Satan.

The Order is the sixth-most senior in the British honours system, after The Most Noble Order of the Garter, which is the pinnacle of the British honours system, 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 a part of the United Kingdom—still exists but is in disuse; no appointments have been made to it since 1934. The last of the Orders on the list, related to India, has also been in disuse since that country's independence in 1947.

History

On the Order's insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan

The Order was founded to commemorate the British amical protectorate over the Ionian Islands, which had come under British control in 1814 and had been granted its 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 a part of Greece. The Order's basis was revised in 1868; membership was 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, numerous Governors-General and Governors feature as recipients of awards in the order.

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: HRH The Duke of Cambridge

• 1850–1904: HRH The Duke of Cambridge

• 1904–1910: HRH The Prince of Wales

• 1910–1917: None

• 1917–1936: HRH The Prince of Wales

• 1936–1957: The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Athlone

• 1957–1959: The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Halifax

• 1959–1967: The Rt. Hon. The Earl Alexander of Tunis

• 1967–present: HRH The Duke of Kent

The Order originally included 15 Knights Grand Cross, 20 Knights Commanders and 25 Companions. Several expansions have been made; now, the limits are 125, 375 and 1750, respectively. Members of the Royal Family who are appointed to the Order do not count towards the limit; neither do foreigners appointed as "honorary members".

The Order has six officers: the Prelate (as of 2006 the Rt Revd David Urquhart), the Chancellor, the Secretary, the Registrar, the King of Arms and the Usher. 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 Usher of the Blue Rod; he does not, unlike his Order of the Garter equivalent (the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod), perform any duties related to the House of Lords.

Vestments and accoutrements

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 costumes 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 lions, Maltese Crosses, and the cyphers "SM" and "SG", all alternately. In the centre are two winged lions, each holding a book and seven arrows.

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.

On certain "collar days" designated by the Sovereign, members attending formal events may wear the Order's collar over their military uniform or evening 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 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 (see coronet). 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 were commissioned from Henry Poole in 1927.

Precedence and privileges

Members of the Order of St Michael are assigned positions in the order of precedence. 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. (As a general rule, individuals can derive precedence from their fathers or husbands, but not from their mothers or wives.) (See order of precedence in England and Wales for the exact positions.)

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 no equivalent privilege exists for husbands of Dames. 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 members and clergymen do not receive the accolade or adopt the title.

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.

Popular references

In the satirical British television programme Yes Minister, Jim Hacker MP is told an old joke by his Private Secretary Bernard Woolley about what the various post-nominals stand for.

In the James Bond book The Man with the Golden Gun, James Bond is offered KCMG but refuses it as he does not wish to become a public figure.

Current Knights and Dames Grand Cross

The Lord Tweedsmuir, a former Knight Grand Cross wearing the riband, badge and star of the order

• Sovereign: Her Majesty The Queen

• Grand Master''': His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, KG, GCMG, GCVO (1967)

Knights and Dames Grand Cross

• The Rt.Hon. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam GCMG (1965)

• Sir Ellis Clarke, TC, GCMG (1972)

• The Rt. Hon. Sir Zelman Cowen, AK, GCMG, GCVO, QC (1977)

• Sir Tore Lokoloko, GCL, GCMG, GCVO, OBE (1977)

• Sir Michael Palliser, GCMG (1977)

• Sir Donald Maitland, GCMG (1977)

• Sir Paul Scoon, GCMG, GCVO, OBE (1979)

• Sir David Scott, GCMG (1979)

• Sir Baddeley Devesi, GCMG, GCVO (1980)

• Sir Donald Tebbit, GCMG (1980)

• Sir Clive Rose, GCMG (1981)

• The Rt. Hon. Sir Ninian Stephen, KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, QC (1982)

• Sir Clement Arrindell, GCMG, GCVO, QC (1984)

• Sir Hugh Cortazzi, GCMG (1984)

• HM Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, (GCMG), (GCB) (1984)

• Sir James Craig, GCMG (1984)

• Sir Michael Butler, GCMG (1984)

• The Rt. Rev. The Hon. Sir Paul Reeves, ONZ, GCMG, GCVO, CF, QSO (1985)

• Sir John Thomson, GCMG (1985)

• Abdelaziz bin Khalifa Al Thani, GCMG (1985)

• Sir Antony Acland, KG, GCMG, GCVO (1986)

• Sir John Fretwell, GCMG (1987)

• Sir George Lepping, GCMG, MBE (1988)

• The Rt. Hon. The Lord Carrington, KG, GCMG, CH, MC, PC, DL (1988)

• Sir Crispin Tickell, GCMG, KCVO (1989)

• The Rt. Hon. The Lord Wright of Richmond, GCMG (1989)

• Sir Toaripi Lauti, GCMG (1990)

• Sir Shridath Ramphal, OE, OM, GCMG, ONZ, AC, QC (1990)

• The Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF (1990)

• The Hon. Dame Catherine Tizard, ONZ, GCMG, GCVO, DBE, QSO (1990)

• Sir Howard Cooke, ON, GCMG, GCVO, CD (1991)

• Sir David Goodall, GCMG (1991)

• The Rt. Hon. The Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, KT, GCMG (1991)

• Sir Stanislaus James, GCMG (1992)

• Sir Reginald Palmer, GCMG (1992)

• Sir John Whitehead, GCMG, CVO (1992)

• Sir James Carlisle, GCMG (1993)

• Sir Ewen Alastair John Fergusson, GCMG, GCVO (1993)

• Sir Rodric Braithwaite, GCMG (1994)

• Sir Julius Chan, GCL, GCMG, KBE (1994)

• His Excellency Sir Colville Young, GCMG, MBE (1994)

• Sir Nicholas Fenn, GCMG (1995)

• The Rt. Hon. The Lord Hannay of Chiswick, GCMG, CH (1995)

• Sir Moses Pitakaka, GCMG (1995)

• Sir Orville Turnquest, GCMG, QC (1995)

• The Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Hardie Boys, GNZM, GCMG, QSO (1996)

• His Excellency Sir Clifford Husbands, GCMG, KA, CHB, QC (1996)

• Sir Christopher Mallaby, GCMG, GCVO (1996)

• Sir Tulaga Manuella, GCMG (1996)

• His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, GCMG, OBE (1996)

• Sir Daniel Williams, GCMG (1996)

• Sir John Coles, GCMG (1997)

• Sir George Mallet, GCMG, CBE (1997)

• The Rt. Hon. The Lord Williamson of Horton, GCMG, CB, PC (1998)

• Sir John Lapli, GCMG (1999)

• Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy, GCMG (1999)

• Sir Andrew Wood, GCMG (2001)

• Sir Tomu Sione, GCMG (2001)

• Sir John Goulden, GCMG (2001)

• The Rt. Hon. The Lord Kerr of Kinlochard, GCMG (2001)

• Sir David Wright, GCMG, LVO (2002)

• Sir Jeremy Greenstock, GCMG (2003)

• Sir John Young, GCMG (2003)

• The Rt. Hon. The Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, KT, GCMG, PC (2004)

• Sir John Wall, GCMG, LVO (2004)

• His Excellency Sir Nathaniel Waena, GCMG, CSI (2005)

• The Rt. Hon. The Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, GCMG, KBE, PC (2006)

• The Rt. Hon. The Lord Jay of Ewelme, GCMG (2006)

• The Rev. Sir Filoimea Telito, GCMG, MBE (2007)

• Sir Emyr Jones Parry, GCMG (2007)

• Sir Kenneth Hall, ON, GCMG, OJ (2007)

• Sir David Manning, GCMG, CVO (2008)

• Sir Carlyle Glean, GCMG (2008)

• Sir Patrick Allen, ON, GCMG, CD (2009)

• Sir Frank Kabui, GCMG, CSI, OBE (2009)

Officers

• Prelate: Rt Revd David Urquhart (Bishop of Birmingham)

• Chancellor: Sir Christopher Mallaby

• Secretary:

• Registrar: The Lord Wilson of Tillyorn

• King of Arms: Sir Ewen Fergusson (King of Arms of the Order of St Michael and St George)

• Usher: Sir Anthony Figgis KCVO, CMG (Gentleman Usher of the Blue Rod)

Honorary Appointments

• Lee Kuan Yew, Honorary GCMG, CH (1972)

• Chandrika Prasad Srivastava, Honorary KCMG (1990)

• Fidel V. Ramos, Honorary GCMG (1995)

• Ong Teng Cheong, Honorary GCMG (1998)

• Anson Chan, GBM, Honorary GCMG, CBE, JP (2002)

• Hamid Karzai, Honorary GCMG (2003)

• Ryszard Kaczorowski, Honorary GCMG (2004)

• Kofi Annan, Honorary GCMG (2007)

• Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, Honorary GCMG (2008)

• Shimon Peres, Honorary GCMG (2008)

• Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Honorary KCMG (2010)

Select former recipients

• Sir John Young, GCB, GCMG, PC (1807–1876); second Governor General of Canada (1869–1872)

• Sir John Charles Molteno, KCMG (1814-1886); first Prime Minister of the Cape (1872-1878)

• Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC (1815–1891); first Prime Minister of Canada (1867–1873)(1878–1891)

• Sir Charles Stanley Monck, 4th Viscount Monck, GCMG, PC (1819–1894); first Governor General of Canada (1867–1869)

• Sir Donald Alexander Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, GCMG, GCVO, PC, DL (1820–1914)

• Sir Charles Tupper, 1st Baronet, GCMG, CB, PC (1821–1915); Premier of Nova Scotia (1864–1867), sixth Prime Minister of Canada (1896)

• Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott, KCMG, PC, QC (1821–1893); third Prime Minister of Canada (1891–1892)

• Sir Richard Francis Burton, KCMG (1821–1890)

• Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell, KCMG (February 28, 1865 – October 9, 1940); medical missionary to Newfoundland and Labrador.

• Sir Mackenzie Bowell, KCMG, PC (1823–1917); fifth Prime Minister of Canada (1894–1896)

• Sir Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, KP, GCB, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC (1826–1902); third Governor General of Canada (1872–1878)

• Matsukata Masayoshi, GCMG (1835–1924)

• Sir Henry Binns KCMG (1837–1899); Prime Minister of the Colony of Natal (1897–1899)

• Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC (1841–1919); seventh Prime Minister of Canada (1896–1911)

• Sir Ernest Mason Satow, GCMG (1843–1929)

• Menelik II of Ethiopia, GCMG (1844–1913)

• Sir John Sparrow David Thompson, KCMG, PC, QC (1845–1894); Premier of Nova Scotia (1882); fourth Prime Minister of Canada (1892–1894)

• Sir John George Edward Henry Douglas Sutherland Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll , KG, KT, GCMG, GCVO, PC (1845–1914); fourth Governor General of Canada (1878–1883)

• Sir Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne, KG, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC (1845–1927); fifth Governor General of Canada (1883–1888)

• Sir George Vandeleur Fiddes, GCMG, CB (1858–1936), Permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies

• Sir Gilbert John Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, KG, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC (1845–1914); eighth Governor General of Canada (1898–1904)

• Admiral Sir James Andrew Thomas Bruce (1846–1921) Invested KCMG in 1900.

• Sir John Campbell Hamilton-Gordon, KT, GCMG, GCVO, PC (1847–1934); seventh Governor General of Canada (1893 to 1898)

• Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (Arthur William Patrick Albert), KG, KT, KP, PC, GCMG, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GCB, VD, AdC(P) (1850–1942); tenth Governor General of Canada (1911–1916)

• Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham GCMG CH (1850–1946)

• Sir Isaac Isaacs, GCB, GCMG, QC (1855-1948), Chief Justice of Australia (1930-31), first Australian born Governor-General of Australia (1931-36)

• Sir Albert Henry George Grey, GCMG, GCVO, PC (1851–1917); ninth Governor General of Canada (1904–1911)

• Sir John Henry Birchenough, GCMG (1853–1937)

• Sir Robert Laird Borden, GCMG, PC, KC (1854–1937); eighth Prime Minister of Canada (1911–1920)

• Sir Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB (1857–1941); founder of the Scout Movement

• Katō Takaaki, (1860–1926)

• Field Marshal Sir Julian Hedworth George Byng, GCB, GCMG, MVO, DCO, LLD(hc) Alb (1862–1935); twelfth Governor General of Canada (1921–1926)

• Sir Solomon Dias Abeywickrema Jayatilleke Senewiratna Rajakumaruna Kadukeralu Bandaranaike, KCMG, Maha Mudaliyar and JP of Ceylon (1862–1946)

• The Hon Lionel Cripps (1863–1950)

• Major Sir Freeman Freeman-Thomas, PC, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, GBE, (1866–1941); thirteenth Governor General of Canada (1926–1931)

• Major-General Sir Pomeroy Holland-Pryor, KCB, CMG, DSO, MVO (1866–1955)

• Sir Victor Christian William Cavendish, KG, PC, GCMG, GCVO, JP (1868–1938); eleventh Governor General of Canada (1916–1921)

• The Earl of Athlone, Major-General Sir Alexander Augustus Frederick William Alfred George Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone, KG, PC, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, DSO, ADC(P,) FRS (1874–1957); sixteenth Governor General of Canada (1940–1946)

• Sir John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, PC, CH, GCMG, GCVO, (1875–1940); fifteenth Governor General of Canada (1935–1940)

• Captain Sir Vere Brabazon Ponsonby,PC, GCMG (1880–1956); fourteenth Governor General of Canada (1931–1935)

• Lieutenant General Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart VC, KBE, CB, CMG, DSO (1880–1963)

• Sir George Bailey Sansom, KCMG (1883–1965)

• Field Marshal Sir Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, KG, PC, PC, GCB, OM, GCMG, CSI, DSO, MC, CD, (1891–1969); seventeenth Governor General of Canada (1946–1952)

• Sir Gerard Edward James Gent KCMG, DSO, OBE, MC (1895–1948)

• Sir Henry Lovell Goldsworthy Gurney KCMG KStJ (1898–1951)

• Sir Gerald Walter Robert Templer KG, GCB, GCMG, KBE (1898–1979)

• Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, GCMG (1912–1988); Ninth Sultan of Sultanate of Yogyakarta

• President Ibrahim Nasir, KCMG (1926–2008)

• General Sir Hudson Lowe, GCMG (1769–1844)

• Field Marshal Živojin Mišić, GCMG (1855–1921); Serbian field marshal

• HM Abdul Rahman Ibni Muhammad, GCMG (1895–1960), First Supreme Ruler of Malaysia & Ruler of Negeri Sembilan

• HRH Hisamuddin of Selangor, KCMG (1898–1960), Sultan of Selangor

• HRH Putra of Perlis, KCMG (1920–2000); Ruler of Perlis

• HRH Ismail Nasirudin of Terengganu, KCMG (1906–1979); Ruler of Terengganu

• HRH Yahya Petra of Kelantan, GCMG (1917–1979); Ruler of Kelantan

• Lt. Colonel Edward Cuthbert de Renzy-Martin,CMG,DSO,MC (1883-1974)

See also

• List of people who have declined a British honour

• Order of the Bath

• Order of the British Empire

• Order of the Garter

• Order of the Thistle

• Royal Victorian Order

• Russian Order of St George