J.K. Rowling was appointed a Companion of Honour in 2017.
The appointment recognized her contributions to literature and philanthropy. The Order of the Companions of Honour is a British and Commonwealth honour founded in 1917 for people who have made a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine, or government over a long period.
Rowling had previously received an OBE in 2001 for services to children’s literature. That earlier honour is often confused with the Companion of Honour appointment, but they are separate awards and were made sixteen years apart.
The 2017 appointment followed decades of literary success and charitable work. By then, Rowling had written the seven Harry Potter novels, adult fiction, screenplays, and the Cormoran Strike novels under the name Robert Galbraith. The honour was announced in the 2017 Birthday Honours.