The Order of St Michael and St George reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Order of St Michael and St George

This article is part of the series British honours system

Order of the Garter

Order of the Thistle

Order of St Patrick

Order of the Bath

Order of the Star of India

Order of St Michael and St George

Order of the Indian Empire

Royal Victorian Order

Order of the British Empire

Order of Merit

Order of the Companions of Honour

Order of the Crown of India

Knights Bachelor

The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George is an order of chivalry in the British honours system primarily awarded to British civil servants and others for service in the Diplomatic Service, or for service in the Commonwealth and in the Overseas Territories

The Order was established in 1832 to commemorate the British protectorate over the Ionian Islands. It included the Great Master (always the Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands), 15 Knights Grand Cross, 20 Knights Commanders and 25 Companions. After the repudiation of the protectorate, the Order's basis was revised so as to make its membership a reward for service in British colonies and in foreign nations.

The Order is presently divided into three grades, whose initials or post-nominals have jocular explanations:

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

The Order is limited to 125 Knights and Dames Grand Cross, 375 Knights and Dames Commanders, and 1750 Companions.

There are several elements that compose the insignia:

• The Collar is a gold chain which consists of pieces in the forms of crowned lions alternating with white Maltese Crosses and with the cyphers SM and SG, the various pieces being linked by small. At the front of the chain, and also at the back, is an Imperial Crown, under which are two gold images of winged lions. Only Knights and Dames Grand Cross are entitled to the collar, which they wear around the neck.
• The Badge is a fourteen-pointed white Cross. In the centre of one side is an image of the St Michael holding a flaming sword and standing on Satan. In the centre of the other side is an image of St George slaying a dragon. Each image is surrounded by a blue circle bearing the Motto of the Order in gold letters. Above the Badge is an Imperial Crown. It is worn by the Knights Grand Cross and Dames Grand Cross suspended from the Collar, by Knights Commander and Gentlemen Companion on a ribbon worn around the neck, by Dames Commander on a bow worn on the left shoulder, and by Ladies Companion on a bow suspended from the neck.
• The Star includes the Cross of St George, in the centre of which is an image of the St Michael holding a flaming sword and standing on Satan. The image is within a blue circle bearing the motto of the Order, Auspicium Melioris Aevi (Token of a Better Age), in gold letters. The aforementioned Cross and image are on a figure of seven silver rays, with small gold rays between each pair of silver ones, for Knights and Dames Grand Cross, and on a figure of four silver rays for Knights and Dames Commander. Only Knights and Dames Grand Cross and Knights and Dames Commander are entitled to it.
• The Mantle is a blue satin coat.

The officers are officers are the Prelate, Chancellor, Registrar, Secretary and Officer of Arms. The order has a chapel in St Paul's Cathedral.

See also:

• British honours system
• British and Commonwealth orders and decorations

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