Which award did J.K. Rowling receive in 2017 for her services to literature and philanthropy?

J.K. Rowling received the Companion of Honour in 2017 for her services to literature and philanthropy.

The United Kingdom announced Rowling’s appointment to the Order of the Companions of Honour in the 2017 New Year Honours. The honour recognized her contributions to literature and her charitable work. Members of the order may use the post-nominal letters CH, and membership is limited to a small number of people at one time.

The Companion of Honour is different from a damehood. Rowling was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2001, but the 2017 honour was a separate appointment. Her philanthropic work has included support for multiple sclerosis research, child welfare, and projects intended to reduce the institutionalization of children.

The recognition therefore covered both sides of her public career: the international impact of her writing and her sustained charitable activity.