J.K. Rowling was appointed an OBE in 2001.
The honor was awarded for her services to children’s literature. OBE stands for Officer of the Order of the British Empire, one of the grades in the United Kingdom’s honors system. Rowling had achieved international recognition by this point through the success of the Harry Potter books.
An OBE is different from an MBE and a CBE, which are other grades in the same order. It also does not make the recipient a dame or knight. Rowling later received other public honors and awards, but the 2001 appointment is the specific British honor associated with this date.