The Order of St Michael and St George

• Time Period: Pre-WW1
• Year of Institution: 1818
• Country: Great Britain

The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 in honor of two military saints, St. Michael the Archangel, and St. George, patron saint of England. The Order was established by George, Prince Regent (later King George IV) as acting as regent for his father, King George III.

The Order was originally awarded to those holding commands or high position in the Mediterranean territories acquired in the Napoleonic Wars. It was later extended to holders of similar office or position in other territories of the British Empire. Today, it’s awarded (or rather, people are appointed to it) to men and women who hold high office or who render extraordinary or important non-military service in a foreign country and can also be conferred for important or loyal service in relation to foreign and Commonwealth affairs.

The Order includes three classes:

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

The Order of St Michael and St George Design

The mantle is made of Saxon blue satin lined with crimson silk and bound with two large tassels. It’s worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross. The collar is made of gold, with alternating crowned lions, Maltese Crosses, and the ciphers “SM” and “SG”. In the center are two winged lions, each holding a book and seven arrows. The collar is worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross.

The star is worn pinned to the left breast only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross and Knights and Dames Commanders. The Knight and Dame Grand Cross’ star includes seven-armed, silver-rayed ‘Maltese Asterisk’, 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 and no gold rays. In all cases, the star bears a red cross of St George with a dark blue ring bearing the motto of the Order and a representation of St Michael trampling on Satan.

The badge is used by all members of the Order and is suspended on a blue-crimson-blue ribbon. It’s a seven-armed, white-enameled ‘Maltese Asterisk’. Its obverse shows St Michael trampling on Satan, while its reverse shows St George on horseback killing a dragon, both within a dark blue ring bearing the motto of the Order.