Which British honour was awarded to J.K. Rowling in 2001?

J.K. Rowling was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2001.

The honour is commonly abbreviated OBE. Rowling received it in the 2001 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to children’s literature. At that point, the first four Harry Potter novels had been published in the United Kingdom, and the books had already become a major international success.

An OBE is one grade within the British honours system. It ranks above MBE and below CBE, while a knighthood or damehood is a different and higher distinction. Rowling is therefore not accurately described as a dame because of this award. Her other recognitions include honorary degrees and literary prizes, but those should not be confused with her 2001 appointment to the Order of the British Empire.