J.K. Rowling was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, or OBE, in 2001.
The honour recognized her services to children’s literature. Rowling received the OBE during the 2001 Birthday Honours, after the first Harry Potter books had become major international successes. An OBE is a British order of chivalry honouring contributions to public life, the arts, science, business, or other fields.
The honour is sometimes confused with a CBE or a damehood. OBE stands for Officer of the Order of the British Empire, while CBE means Commander of the same order. A damehood is a different form of British honour and was not the honour Rowling received in 2001.
Rowling later received other awards and distinctions, including the Companion of Honour in 2017. The OBE remains one of the earliest major public recognitions connected to her literary career.