The title of Knight Bachelor is the basic rank granted to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not inducted as a member of one of the organised

orders of chivalry An order of chivalry, order of knighthood, chivalric order, or equestrian order is a society, fellowship and college of knights, typically founded during or inspired by the original Catholic military orders of the Crusades ( 1099–1291) and p ...

; it is a part of the British honours system. Knights Bachelor are the most ancient sort of British knight (the rank existed during the 13th-century reign of King Henry III), but Knights Bachelor rank below knights of chivalric orders. A man who is knighted is formally addressed as " Sir irst Name urname or "Sir irst Name and his wife as " Lady urname. The designation "Bachelor" in this context conveys the concept of "junior in rank".

Criteria

Knighthood is usually conferred for public service; amongst its recipients are all male judges of His Majesty's High Court of Justice in England. It is possible to be a Knight Bachelor and a junior member of an order of chivalry without being a knight of that order; this situation has become rather common, especially among those recognized for achievements in entertainment. For instance, Sir Michael Caine, Sir Billy Connolly, Sir Mo Farah, Sir Michael Gambon, Sir

Barry Gibb Sir Barry Alan Crompton Gibb (born 1 September 1946) is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. Along with his younger fraternal twin brothers, Robin Gibb, Robin and Maurice Gibb, Maurice, he rose to global fame as a member ...

, Sir

Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor. Considered one of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for List of Anthony Hopkins performances, his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins ha ...

, Sir Derek Jacobi, Sir Elton John, Sir Brian May, Sir Roger Daltrey, and Sir Ian McKellen are Commanders of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE); Sir Tom Jones, Sir

Van Morrison Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison (born 31 August 1945) is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician whose recording career started in the 1960s. Morrison's albums have performed well in the UK and Ireland, with more than 40 reaching the UK ...

, Sir Cliff Richard, and Sir Patrick Stewart are Officers of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE); while Sir Nick Faldo, Sir

Lewis Hamilton Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton (born 7 January 1985) is a British racing driver who competes in Formula One for Scuderia Ferrari, Ferrari. Hamilton has won a joint-record seven Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles—tied with M ...

, Sir

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, and Sir Richard Starkey ( Ringo Starr) are Members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE). None of them would be entitled to use the honorific "Sir" by virtue of their membership of the order alone, but as they are all also Knights Bachelor, they are entitled to preface their names with that title.

Honorifics and post-nominal letters

Knights Bachelor may prefix " Sir" to their forenames, and wives of Knights may prefix "Lady" to their surnames. The award originated in the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

. There are no

post-nominal letters Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles, designatory letters, or simply post-nominals, are letters placed after a person's name to indicate that the individual holds a position, an academic degree, accreditation ...

associated with the honour nor can it be awarded to women. (They are appointed Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire instead.)

Insignia

Until 1926, Knights Bachelor had no specific insignia which they could wear, but in that year, King George V issued a warrant authorising the wearing of a breast badge on all appropriate occasions by Knights Bachelor. This badge is worn on the left side of the coat or outer garment. Measuring in length and in width, it is described in heraldic terms as follows:

Upon an oval medallion of vermilion, enclosed by a scroll a cross-hilted sword belted and sheathed, pommel upwards, between two spurs, rowels upwards, the whole set about with the sword belt, all gilt.

In 1973, Queen Elizabeth II issued a further warrant authorising the wearing on appropriate occasions of a neck badge (of smaller size) and a miniature medal. In 1988, a new certificate of authentication, a Knight Bachelor's only personal documentation, was designed by the College of Arms.

Imperial society

The Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor was founded for the maintenance and consolidation of the Dignity of Knights Bachelor in 1908, and obtained official recognition from the Sovereign in 1912. The Society keeps records of all Knights Bachelor, in their interest.

Nonequivalence

There is no female counterpart to Knight Bachelor. The lowest knightly honour that can be conferred upon a woman is Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE), which is one rank higher than Knight Bachelor (being the female equivalent of KBE or Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, which is the next male knightly rank above Knight Bachelor). Only citizens of

Commonwealth realm A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state in the Commonwealth of Nations that has the same constitutional monarch and head of state as the other realms. The current monarch is King Charles III. Except for the United Kingdom, in each of the re ...

s can be created Knights Bachelor; people of other nationalities are generally made honorary KBEs.

References

External links

Knight Bachelor
– UK Cabinet Office
Insignia of a Knight Bachelor
– Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor
The British honours system
– UK Government {{Former Australian Honours Henry III of England Orders of chivalry Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom High Court of Justice