What honor was J.K. Rowling awarded in the United Kingdom in 2001?

J.K. Rowling was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2001. The honor is commonly abbreviated OBE and was awarded for her services to children’s literature.

The Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established by King George V in 1917. Its ranks include Member, Officer, Commander, and higher grades. An OBE is above an MBE and below a CBE, so the exact rank matters when identifying Rowling’s honor.

Rowling received the appointment after the early international success of the Harry Potter books. Her later honors include the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award in 2010 and appointment as a Companion of Honour in 2017. Receiving an OBE did not make her “Dame” or give her a knighthood; those are different honors and titles.