Order of the British Empire

==Precedence and privileges==
{{see also|Order of precedence in England and Wales}}
[[File:Order of the British Empire - Non Arms.svg|thumb|Knights, Dames and Commanders of the [[OBE|Order]] may display its [[circlet]] around (and suspend its [[Heraldic badge|Badge]] below) their [[coat of arms]].]]
Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commander prefix ''Sir'', and Dames Grand Cross and Dames Commander prefix ''Dame'', to their forenames.{{efn|Never surnames – thus Sir [[Antony Sher]] may be shortened to Sir Antony, but not to Sir Sher.}} Wives of Knights may prefix ''Lady'' to their surnames, but no equivalent privilege exists for husbands of Knights or spouses 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. Male clergy of the [[Church of England]] or the [[Church of Scotland]] do not use the title ''Sir'' as they do not receive the [[accolade]] (they are not dubbed "knight" with a sword), although they do append the [[post-nominal letters]]: dames do not receive the accolade, and therefore female clergy are free to use the title ''Dame''.

Knights and Dames Grand Cross use the post-nominal GBE; Knights Commander, KBE; Dames Commander, DBE; Commanders, CBE; Officers, OBE; and Members, MBE. The post-nominal for the British Empire Medal is BEM.

Members of all classes of the order are assigned positions in the [[Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom|order of precedence]]. Wives of male members of all classes also feature on the order of precedence, as do sons, daughters and daughters-in-law of Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commander; relatives of Ladies of the Order, however, are not assigned any special precedence. As a general rule, only wives and children of male recipients are afforded privileges.

Knights and Dames Grand Cross are also entitled to be granted [[Supporters (heraldry)|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 Commander and Commanders may display the circlet, but not the collar, surrounding their arms. The badge is depicted suspended from the collar or circlet.<ref>''Statutes'' 1995, article 34.</ref>