Which order did J.K. Rowling receive in the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours?

J.K. Rowling received the rank of Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours.

The honour recognized Rowling's contribution to children's literature. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, commonly abbreviated OBE, after the extraordinary international success of the Harry Potter books. The announcement formed part of the Queen's Birthday Honours list published in 2001.

The order has several ranks, which explains a common mix-up in quiz answers. MBE means Member of the Order of the British Empire, while OBE means Officer. Higher levels include CBE, DBE, and GBE. Rowling's 2001 honour was specifically an OBE, not an MBE or a damehood.

She later received other major honors, including the Companion of Honour in 2017. That is a separate distinction recognizing outstanding achievement over a sustained period. The OBE therefore refers to a particular appointment in 2001, rather than to every honor Rowling has received.