The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George

• Instituted: 1818
• Ranks: Three
  • Knight (or Dame) Grand Cross of St Michael and St George – G.C.M.G.
  • Knight (or Dame) Commander of St Michael and St George – K.C.M.G. (or D.C.M.G.)
  • Companion of St Michael and St George – C.M.G.
• Motto: Auspicium melioris aevi;
• Insignia:
  • Badge: (G.C.M.G.) A gold cross of fourteen points, enamelled white, edged with gold and surmounted by a crown. At the centre of the obverse is a representation of St Michael trampling upon Satan, surrounded by the motto of the Order in blue on a gold ackground, and on the reverse, a representation of St George “encountering” the dragon; (K.C.M.G.) As above but smaller; (C.M.G.) Exactly as the K.C.M.G. badge.
  • Riband: ;
  • Star: Seven rays of silver, between each of which issues a small ray of gold, over all the Cross of St George, gules and in the centre of the said star, within a circle azure, whereon is inscribed in letters of gold the motto, a representation of the Archangel Saint Michael holding in his dexter hand a flaming sword and encountering Satan;
  • Collar:
  • Mantle: Saxon blue satin lined with scarlet silk; cordon of blue and scarlet silk and gold and tassels of the same colours attached thereto; on the left side, below a gold lace, is an embroidered representation of the star;
  • Hood: (None)
  • Hat: A “round chapeau” of blue satin lined with scarlet, turned up in front, embroidered with a representation of the star and surmounted by three white ostrich feathers and in the centre one large black feather. (All mention of the chapeau has been omitted from the Statutes since 1911.)
• Size of Order: Maximum of 125 Knights and Dames Grand Cross, 375 Knights and Dames Commander and 1,750 Companions.
• Chapel: In St Paul’s Cathedral
• Officers:
  • Grand Master;
  • First or Principal Knight Grand Cross (annexed to the Office of Grand Master in 1832);
  • Prelate;
  • Chancellor (created 1832; vacant 1848-1851, abolished 1851, re-establised 1877);
  • Secretary;
  • King of Arms;
  • Registrar;
  • Gentleman Usher of the Blue Rod (two Officers of Arms created 1851, one in Malta (abolished 1870) and the other in Corfu, 1852 (abolished 1869); Officer of Arms created 1877, vacant until 1882; renamed Gentleman Usher of the Blue Rod, 1911);
  • Dean (Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral ex officio);
  • Deputy Secretary (since 1967; Secretary of the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood ex officio).

• Comments: Appointments to this order are typically from the diplomatic and consular services, and similar.

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  References
  • Link to the Royal Family’s web site
  • Galloway (2000)