List of dames grand cross of the Order of the British Empire

Below is a list of dames grand cross of the Order of the British Empire from the Order's creation in 1917 until the present day:

Pre-1930 DateNameBornDiedNotesRefQueen Mary Annie Allen, Lady Lawley(Baroness Wenlock from 1931)1863Honorary Secretary, Queen Mary's Needlework Guild Correcting Serbian Relief Fund Commandant-in-Chief, Women's Voluntary Aid Detachment(Viscountess Chelmsford from 1921)For services in connection with the WarQueen Alexandra President, Bedfordshire Branch and Member of Council, British Red Cross Society; Head of the Voluntary Aid Detachment Department, Devonshire HousePresident, Berkshire Branch, British Red Cross Society; Commandant, Englefield House Hospital1864Joint Honorary Secretary, Queen Mary's Needlework GuildPresident, Scottish Branch, British Red Cross Society(Lady Hudson from 1923)Member, Joint Committee of British Red Cross Society and Order of St John of Jerusalem; Donor and Administrator, Lady Northcliffe's Hospital for OfficersFor services rendered by the Native States of India during the WarFor services in or for the Oversea Dominions, Colonies and Protectorates, in connection with the WarPrincess ChristianMember of Council, British Red Cross Society; Member, Joint War Committee of British Red Cross Society and Order of St John of JerusalemPrincess Louise, Duchess of ArgyllPresident, Kensington Branch and Member of Council, British Red Cross SocietyPrincess Helena VictoriaLady President, Young Men's Christian Association; President, Women's Auxiliary of the Young Men's Christian Association for France1867Matron-in-Chief, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing ServiceHonorary Secretary, American Women's War Relief FundFounder, Royal Sailors' Rests President, Hampshire Branch, British Red Cross Society; Member, VAD Advisory Committee and VAD Selection BoardEmma Maud McCarthyMatron-in-Chief, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Cancelling Lady Helen Munro Ferguson(Viscountess Novar from 1920)1863For services in or for the Oversea Dominions, Colonies and Protectorates, in connection with the WarMatron-in-Chief, Territorial Nursing ServicePrincess BeatricePresident, Isle of Wight Branch, British Red Cross SocietyPrincess Marie LouiseHead of Bermondsey Voluntary HospitalMember, Joint War Committee of British Red Cross Society and Order of St John of Jerusalem; President, Ladies' Committee of Order of St John(Countess Buxton from 1920)Matron-in-Chief, British Red Cross Society and Order of St John of Jerusalem(Duchess of St Albans from 1934)Head of Irish War Hospitals Supply Depots; Member, Joint War Committee for Leinster, Munster and Connaught, British Red Cross Society and Order of St John of JerusalemPresident, Queen Alexandra's Army Nursing BoardFor service in connection with the War(Marchioness of Reading from 1926) 1856President, British Women's Work Association in China For services rendered during the War to the British Red Cross Society, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association, the Belgian Soldiers' Club, and Queen Alexandra's Nursing AssociationFor services rendered in Australia during the War(Marchioness of Willingdon from 1936) Ellen Alice Carew (Ellen Terry) 1868For services in Australia during the period of her husband's Governor GeneralshipFor services to the Dominion of New ZealandPrincess Victoria Alexandra Alice Mary, Viscountess Lascelles(Princess Royal from 1932) Dame Nellie MelbaIn recognition of services to the Commonwealth of AustraliaElizabeth Angela Marguerite, Duchess of York(Queen Elizabeth from 1936, Queen Mother from 1952)On the occasion of the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York to New Zealand and Australia to inaugurate the new capital of the Commonwealth of Australia at CanberraFor public servicesDame Helen Charlotte Isabella Gwynne-VaughanFor public and scientific services

1930s 1931: The Marchioness of Aberdeen and Temair 1932: The Baroness Baden-Powell; The Viscountess Cowdray 1937: Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone; The Countess Baldwin of Bewdley; The Duchess of Gloucester; The Duchess of Kent; Enid Lyons 1938: The Marchioness of Carisbrooke

1940s 1944: The Dowager Marchioness of Reading 1946: The Baroness Spencer-Churchill; The Lady Cripps 1948: The Countess Mountbatten of Burma; The Lady Oliver

1950s 1951: The Baroness Denman 1953: The Baroness Freyberg 1954: The Countess Alexander of Tunis; Pattie Menzies; The Countess of Limerick; The Baroness Horsbrugh 1957: Dame Dehra Parker

1960s 1961: The Baroness Sharp 1964: Lady Dorothy Macmillan

1980s 1983: The Baroness Donaldson of LymingtonObituary, telegraph.co.uk; accessed 10 May 2016.

2000s 2005: The Baroness Butler-Sloss

2010s 2012: The Baroness Hayman 2019: The Lady Higgins

2020s 2022: Dame Sue Ion 2023: Dame Hermione Lee 2024: The Baroness Beckett; Dame Carol Black; Queen Camilla (Grand Master); Dame Jenny Abramsky 2025: Dame Jacqueline Wilson 2026: Dame Parveen Kumar

See also List of dames commander of the Order of the British Empire List of knights grand cross of the Order of the British Empire

References