Which British royal honour did J.K. Rowling receive in 2017?

J.K. Rowling received the British honour of Companion of Honour in 2017.

The appointment was announced in the 2017 Birthday Honours. The Order of the Companions of Honour recognizes major contributions to the arts, science, medicine, or government, and membership is limited to a small number of people at one time.

Rowling had already received other honours, which can make the titles easy to mix up. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2001 for services to children’s literature, and she was later appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour in 2017.

Companion of Honour is not the same as a damehood or a knighthood. Its post-nominal letters are CH, and the award acknowledges distinguished achievement rather than conferring a hereditary title.