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{{Short description|British order of chivalry established in 1725}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox order
|name = Most Honourable Order of the Bath
|image = Order of bath star.jpg
|image_size = 259px
|alt = Civil Knight Grand Cross Star of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath: 'Rays of silver issuing from a centre and charged with three Imperial Crowns, one and two, within a circle gules whereon inscribed the motto of the Order in gold'<ref>{{Cite book|editor-last=Montague-Smith|editor-first=P.W.|date=1968|title=Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Companionage|publisher=[[Kelly's Directories Ltd.]]|___location=[[Kingston-upon-Thames]]|page=896}}</ref>
|caption = Breast star of a Knight/Dame Grand Cross (Civil Division)
|awarded_by = <br />[[File:Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (2022).svg|35px]]<br />the [[monarch of the United Kingdom]]
|type = [[Order of chivalry]]
|established = {{Start date and age|1725|05|18|df=y}}
|country = [[United Kingdom]]
|motto = {{lang|la|Tria juncta in uno}} ('Three joined in one') (Civil Division)<br />{{lang|de|[[Ich dien]]}} ('I serve') (Military Division)
|for = Service to the Crown
|status = Currently constituted
|founder = [[George I of Great Britain|George I]]
|head_title = Sovereign
|head = [[Charles III]]
|head2_title = Great Master
|head2 = [[William, Prince of Wales]]
|grades = Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCB)<br />Knight/Dame Commander (KCB/DCB)<br />Companion (CB)
|former_grades = Knight Companion (KB)
|higher = [[Order of St Patrick]]
|lower = [[Order of the Star of India]]
|image2 = Order of the Bath (ribbon).svg
|image_size2 = 90px
|caption2 = Order of the Bath ribbon bar
}}
[[File:Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (Order of the Bath).svg|thumb|270px|Coat of arms of the British monarch as sovereign of the Order of the Bath.|alt=]]
The '''Most Honourable Order of the Bath'''<ref>The word 'Military' was removed from the name by [[Queen Victoria]] in 1847. Letters Patent dated 14 April 1847, quoted in ''Statutes'' 1847.</ref> is a British [[order of chivalry]] founded by King [[George I of Great Britain|George I]] on 18 May 1725.<ref>''Statutes'' 1725, although Risk says 11 May</ref> Recipients of the Order are usually senior [[British Armed Forces|military]] officers or senior [[Civil Service (United Kingdom)|civil servants]], and the monarch awards it on the advice of His Majesty's Government.<ref name=Royal-Honours>{{Cite web|title=Order of the Bath|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Honours/OrderoftheBath.aspx|website=Royal.gov.uk|publisher=Official website of the British monarchy|access-date=9 December 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102185330/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Honours/OrderoftheBath.aspx|archive-date=2 January 2012}}</ref><ref>''Statutes'' 1925, articles 8–12.</ref> The name derives from an elaborate [[medieval]] [[ceremony]] for preparing a candidate to receive his [[knight]]hood, of which ritual [[bathing]] (as a symbol of [[Ritual purification|purification]]) was an element. While not all knights went through such an elaborate ceremony, knights so created were known as "knights of the Bath".<ref>Anstis, ''Observations'', p. 4.</ref>
George I constituted the Knights of the Bath as a regular [[Order (honour)|military order]].<ref>Letters patent dated 18 May 1725, quoted in ''Statutes'' 1725.</ref> He did not revive the order,<ref>The purely legendary pre-history was associated with [[Henry IV of England|Henry IV]].<!--Huizinga 1924:74: a more specific ref. could be found--></ref> which did not previously exist, in the sense of a body of knights governed by a set of statutes and whose numbers were replenished when vacancies occurred.<ref>Wagner, ''Heralds of England'', p 357, referring to John Anstis, who proposed the Order, says: "He had the happy inspiration of reviving this ancient name and chivalric associations, but attaching it, as it never had been before, to an Order or company of knights."</ref><ref>Perkins, ''The Most Honourable Order of the Bath'', p. 1: "It can scarcely be claimed that a properly constituted Order existed at any time during the preceding centuries [prior to the reign of Charles II]".</ref>
The Order consists of the [[Sovereign of the United Kingdom]] (currently King [[Charles III]]), the [[:Category:Great Masters of the Order of the Bath|Great Master]] (currently [[William, Prince of Wales]]), and three Classes of members:<ref>''Statutes'' 1925, article 2.</ref>
* Knight Grand Cross ([[:Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath|GCB]]) ''or'' Dame Grand Cross ([[:Category:Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath|GCB]]);
* Knight Commander ([[:Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath|KCB]]) ''or'' Dame Commander ([[:Category:Dames Commander of the Order of the Bath|DCB]]); and
* Companion ([[:Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath|CB]]).
Members belong to either the Civil Division or the Military Division.<ref name=Statutes-1925-article5>''Statutes'' 1925, article 5.</ref> Knight Companion (KB), the order's only class prior to 1815, is no longer an option.<ref name=Statutes-1815>{{London Gazette|issue=16972|pages=17–20|date=4 January 1815}}</ref> [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] citizens who are not subjects of the British monarch and foreign nationals may be made honorary members.<ref name=Honorary/>
The Order of the Bath is the fourth most senior of the [[British honours system#Current orders of chivalry|British orders of chivalry]], after the [[Order of the Garter]], the [[Order of the Thistle]], and the (dormant) [[Order of St Patrick]].<ref>See, for example, [http://www.honours.gov.uk/honours/wear.aspx the order of wear for orders and decorations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128200052/http://www.honours.gov.uk/honours/wear.aspx |date=28 January 2007}}, the Royal Warrant defining precedence in Scotland ({{London Gazette|issue=27774|pages=2012–2014|date=14 March 1905}}), or the discussion of precedence at [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/order_precedence.htm http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/order_precedence.htm]</ref>
==History==
===Knights of the Bath===
[[File:Mildmay Fane in oils.jpg|thumb|[[Mildmay Fane, 2nd Earl of Westmorland]], KB, with sash, {{Circa|1630}}]]
In the [[Middle Ages]], a [[knighthood]] was often conferred with elaborate ceremonies. These usually involved the knight-to-be taking a bath (possibly symbolic of spiritual [[Ritual purification|purification]]),<ref name=Risk-p6>Risk, ''History of the Order of the Bath'', p. 6.</ref> during which he was instructed in the duties of knighthood by more senior knights. He was then put to bed to dry. Clothed in a special robe, he was led with music to the chapel where he spent the night in a [[vigil]]. At dawn, he made [[Confession (religion)|confession]] and attended [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]], then retired to his bed to sleep until it was fully daylight. He was then brought before the King, who after instructing two senior knights to buckle the [[spur]]s to the knight-elect's heels, fastened a belt around his waist, then struck him on the neck (with either a hand or a [[sword]]), thus making him a knight.<ref>''The Manner of making Knights after the custom of England in time of peace and at the Coronation, that is Knights of the Bath'', quoted in Perkins, pp. 5–14.</ref> It was this [[accolade]] which was the essential act in creating a knight, and a simpler ceremony developed, conferring knighthood merely by striking or touching the knight-to-be on the shoulder with a sword,<ref>According to Anstis (''Observations'', p. 73) such knights were sometimes known as ''Knights of the Sword'' or ''Knights of the Carpet''</ref> or 'dubbing' him, as is still done today. In the early [[medieval]] period, the difference seems to have been that the full ceremonies were used for men from more prominent families.<ref name=Risk-p6/>
From the [[Coronation of the British monarch|coronation]] of [[Henry IV of England|Henry IV]] in 1399, the full ceremonies were restricted to major royal occasions, such as coronations, investitures of the [[Prince of Wales]] or [[royal duke]]s, and royal weddings,<ref>Anstis, p. 66.</ref> and the knights so created became known as ''Knights of the Bath''.<ref name=Risk-p6/> [[Knight Bachelor|Knights Bachelor]] continued to be created with the simpler form of ceremony. The last occasion on which Knights of the Bath were created was the coronation of [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] in 1661.<ref name=Royal-focus>{{Cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page5296.asp|title=Order of the Bath feature article|website=Royal.gov.uk|access-date=9 September 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929220811/http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page5296.asp|archive-date=29 September 2006}}</ref>
From at least 1625,<ref>Risk, p. 114.</ref> and possibly from the reign of [[James VI and I|James I]], Knights of the Bath were using the [[motto]] ''Tria juncta in uno'' ([[Latin]] for 'Three joined in one'), and wearing as a badge three crowns within a plain gold oval.<ref>Nicolas, ''History of the orders of knighthood of the British empire'', p. 38–39.</ref> These were both subsequently adopted by the Order of the Bath; a similar design of badge is still worn by members of the Civil Division. Their symbolism however is not entirely clear. The 'three joined in one' may be a reference to the kingdoms of [[Kingdom of England|England]], [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scotland]], and either [[Kingdom of France|France]] or [[Kingdom of Ireland|Ireland]], which were held (or [[English claims to the French throne|claimed in the case of France]]) by English and, later, British monarchs. This would correspond to the three crowns in the badge.<ref>The later usage by the Order of the Bath does not make things any clearer. The presence of the [[rose]], [[thistle]], and [[shamrock]] (symbols of England, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively) in the Collar supports the above claim. The shamrocks however were not added until the 19th century, probably as a result of a suggestion of Sir [[Joseph Banks]], who in his proposal observed that the presence of the shamrock would "greatly augment the meaning of the motto" (Risk, p 115). A further explanation for the crowns is provided in the 1725 statutes of the Order. The [[coat of arms]] which was to appear on the Order's seal (''Azure three imperial crowns Or'', that is, three gold imperial crowns on a blue background) was described as being anciently attributed to [[King Arthur]].</ref> Another explanation of the motto is that it refers to the [[Holy Trinity]].<ref name=Royal-Honours/> Nicolas quotes a source (although he is sceptical of it) who claims that prior to James I the motto was ''Tria numina juncta in uno'' (three powers/gods joined in one), but from the reign of James I, the word ''numina'' was dropped, and the motto understood to mean ''Tria [regna] juncta in uno'' (three kingdoms joined in one).<ref>Nicolas, p 38, quoting Bishop Kennet ''Register and Chronicle Ecclesiastical and Civil from the Restoration of King Charles II faithfully taken from the manuscripts of the Lord Bishop of Peterborough'', (1728) p. 410.</ref>
===Foundation of the order===
The prime mover in the establishment of the Order of the Bath was [[John Anstis]], [[Garter Principal King of Arms|Garter King of Arms]], England's highest [[heraldry|heraldic]] officer. Sir [[Anthony Wagner]], a more recent holder of the office of Garter King of Arms (1961–1978),<ref>{{cite web| last= Thomas Jr| first= Robert McG|title= Obituaries: Sir Anthony Wagner, 86, Dies; Medievalist and Senior Herald |url= http://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/20/obituaries/sir-anthony-wagner-86-dies-medievalist-and-senior-herald.html| archive-url= https://archive.today/20130630021844/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/20/obituaries/sir-anthony-wagner-86-dies-medievalist-and-senior-herald.html | date= 20 May 1995| archive-date= 30 June 2013| access-date= 17 March 2025| work= [[The New York Times]] }}</ref> wrote of Anstis's motivations:
<blockquote>
It was Martin Leake's<ref>Garter King of Arms from 1754 to 1773, and an [[officer of arms]] for some 25 years before that</ref> opinion that the trouble and opposition Anstis met with in establishing himself as Garter so embittered him against the [[herald]]s that when at last in 1718 he succeeded, he made it his prime object to aggrandise himself and his office at their expense. It is clear at least that he set out to make himself indispensable to the [[Earl Marshal]], which was not hard, their political principles being congruous and their friendship already established, but also to Sir [[Robert Walpole]] and the [[British Whig Party|Whig]] ministry, which can by no means have been easy, considering his known attachment to the [[James Francis Edward Stuart|Pretender]] and the circumstances under which he came into office. ... The main object of Anstis's next move, the revival or institution of the Order of the Bath was probably that which it in fact secured, of ingratiating him with the all-powerful [[Prime Minister of Great Britain|Prime Minister]] Sir Robert Walpole.<ref>Wagner, pp. 348, 357.</ref></blockquote>
[[File:Robertwalpole.jpg|thumb|Sir [[Robert Walpole]], who as [[Prime Minister of Great Britain|Prime Minister]] used the Order for political patronage|alt=]]
The use of honours in the early eighteenth century differed considerably from the modern [[British honours system|honours system]], in which hundreds, if not thousands, of people each year receive honours on the basis of deserving accomplishments. The only honours available at that time were hereditary (not life) [[peerage]]s and [[baronet]]cies, [[knighthoods]], and the Order of the Garter (or the [[Order of the Thistle]] for Scots), none of which were awarded in large numbers (the Garter and the Thistle are limited to twenty-four and sixteen living members respectively). The political environment was also significantly different from today:
<blockquote>
The Sovereign still exercised a power to be reckoned with in the eighteenth century. The Court remained the centre of the political world. The King was limited in that he had to choose Ministers who could command a majority in [[Parliament of Great Britain|Parliament]], but the choice remained his. The leader of an administration still had to command the King's personal confidence and approval. A strong following in Parliament depended on being able to supply places, pensions, and other marks of Royal favour to the government's supporters.<ref>Risk, p. 2.</ref></blockquote>
[[File:Mosnier, George Rodney.jpg|thumb|[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] [[George Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney|Lord Rodney]] (appointed a Knight Companion in 1780) wearing the riband and star of the Order.|alt=]]
The attraction of the new Order for Walpole was that it would provide a source of such favours to strengthen his political position. He made sure that most of the 36 new honorees were [[Peerages in the United Kingdom|peers]] and MPs who would provide him with useful connections.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hanham|first=Andrew|date=2016|title=The Politics of Chivalry: Sir Robert Walpole, the Duke of Montagu and the Order of the Bath|publisher=Parliamentary History|volume=35|issue=3 |pages=262–297}}</ref><ref>In the words of his son, [[Horace Walpole]], "The Revival of the Order of the Bath was a measure of Sir Robert Walpole, and was an artful bank of favours in lieu of places. He meant to stave off the demand for Garters, and intended that the Red [i.e. the Order of the Bath] should be a step to the Blue [the [[Order of the Garter]]]; and accordingly took one of the former for himself." Horace Walpole, ''Reminiscences'' (1788)</ref> George I having agreed to Walpole's proposal, Anstis was commissioned to draft statutes for the Order of the Bath. As noted above, he adopted the motto and badge used by the Knights of the Bath, as well as the colour of the [[riband]] and [[Mantle (clothing)|mantle]], and the ceremony for creating a knight. The rest of the statutes were mostly based on those of the Order of the Garter, of which he was an officer (as Garter King of Arms).<ref>Nicolas, p. 237–238, footnote.</ref> The Order was founded by [[letters patent]] under the [[Great Seal of the Realm|Great Seal]] dated {{Start date and age|1725|05|18|df=y}}, and the statutes issued the following week.<ref>Risk, p. 4.</ref><ref>''Statutes'' 1725.</ref>
The Order initially consisted of the Sovereign, a Prince of the blood Royal as Principal Knight, a Great Master, and thirty-five Knights Companion.<ref>''Statutes'' 1725, article 2.</ref> Seven officers (see below) were attached to the Order. These provided yet another opportunity for political patronage, as they were to be [[sinecure]]s at the disposal of the Great Master, supported by fees from the knights. Despite the fact that the Bath was represented as a military Order, only a few military officers were among the initial appointments (see [[List of knights companion of the Order of the Bath]]). They may be broken down into categories as follows (some are classified in more than one category):<ref>Risk, p. 15, 16.</ref>
* Members of the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]]: 14
* The [[Royal Household]] or sinecures: 11
* Diplomats: 4
* The Walpole family, including the Prime Minister: 3
* Naval and Army officers: 3
* Irish peers: 2
* Country gentlemen with Court appointments: 2
[[File:George Callaghan - Project Gutenberg eText 18334.jpg|thumb|[[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]] Sir [[George Callaghan]] wearing the insignia of a military Companion of the Order.|alt=]]
The majority of the new Knights Companions were knighted by the King, and invested with their ribands and badges on 27 May 1725.<ref name=Risk-p16>Risk, p. 16.</ref> Although the statutes set out the full medieval ceremony which was to be used for creating knights, this was not performed, and indeed, was possibly never intended to be, as the original statutes contained a provision<ref>''Statutes'' 1725, article 6, the same article which state "[the Great Master shall] take especial care that ... the antient Rituals belonging to this Knighthood be observed with the greatest Exactness"</ref> allowing the Great Master to dispense Knights Companion from these requirements. The original knights were dispensed from all the medieval ceremonies with the exception of the Installation, which was performed in the Order's Chapel, the [[Henry VII Lady Chapel|Henry VII Chapel]] in [[Westminster Abbey]], on 17 June. This precedent was followed until 1812, after which the Installation was also dispensed with, until its revival in the twentieth century.<ref>No Installation had been held between 1812 and the [[coronation of George IV]] in 1821, by which time the number of knights exceeded the number of stalls in the chapel. To allow the knights to wear their collars at the coronation (which they could not do until installed), they were dispensed from the Installation, and this precedent was subsequently followed. (Risk, p. 43).</ref> The ceremonies however remained part of the Statutes until 1847.<ref>Risk, p. 10.</ref>
Although the initial appointments to the Order were largely political, from the 1770s, appointments to the Order were increasingly made for [[Royal Navy|naval]], [[British Army|military]], or [[His Majesty's Diplomatic Service|diplomatic]] achievements. This is partly due to the conflicts Britain was engaged in over this period.<ref name=Royal-focus/><ref>Risk, p. 20.</ref> The [[Peninsular War]] resulted in so many deserving candidates for the Bath, that a statute was issued allowing the appointment of ''Extra Knights'' in time of war, who were to be additional to the numerical limits imposed by the statutes, and whose number was not subject to any restrictions.<ref>Statute dated 8 May 1812, quoted in ''Statutes'' 1847.</ref> Another statute, this one issued some 80 years earlier, had also added a military note to the Order. Each knight was required, under certain circumstances, to supply and support four [[men-at-arms]] for a period not exceeding 42 days in any year, to serve in any part of Great Britain.<ref>Statute dated 20 April 1727, quoted in ''Statutes'' 1847.</ref> This company was to be captained by the Great Master, who had to supply four [[trumpeter]]s, and was also to appoint eight officers for this body. However, the statute was never invoked.<ref name=Risk-p16/>
===Restructuring in 1815===
In January 1815, after the end of the [[Peninsular War]], the Prince Regent (later [[George IV]]) expanded the Order of the Bath<blockquote>to the end that those Officers who have had the opportunities of signalising themselves by eminent services during the late war may share in the honours of the said Order, and that their names may be delivered down to remote posterity, accompanied by the marks of distinction which they have so nobly earned.<ref name=Statutes-1815/></blockquote>
The Order was now to consist of three classes: Knights Grand Cross, Knights Commander, and Companions. At the same time, the large and small [[Naval Gold Medal]]s were suspended, while the bearers became Knights Commander and Companions, respectively. The existing Knights Companion (of which there were 60)<ref>''The Times'', 10 January 1815, p. 3.</ref> became Knight Grand Cross; this class was limited to 72 members, of which twelve could be appointed for civil or diplomatic services. The military members had to be of the rank of at least [[major-general]] or [[rear admiral]]. The Knights Commander were limited to 180, exclusive of foreign nationals holding British commissions, up to ten of whom could be appointed as honorary Knights Commander. They had to be of the rank of [[Lieutenant colonel|lieutenant-colonel]] or [[post-captain]]. The number of Companions was not specified, but they had to have received a [[medal]] or been [[mentioned in despatches]] since the start of the war in 1803. A list of about 500 names was subsequently published.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=17061|pages=1877–1882|date=16 September 1815}}</ref> Two further officers were appointed, an 'Officer of arms attendant on the Knights Commanders and Companions', and a 'Secretary appertaining to the Knights Commanders and Companions'.<ref name=Statutes-1815/> The large increase in numbers caused some complaints that such an expansion would reduce the prestige of the Order.<ref name=Royal-Honours/>
===Victorian era===
[[File:Admiral Alexander Milne (1808-1896), by Walter William Ouless.jpg|thumb|Sir [[Sir Alexander Milne, 1st Baronet|Alexander Milne]] (1808–1896) was concurrently KCB (civil division) and GCB (military division); he is pictured wearing both sets of insignia.|alt=]]
In 1847, [[Queen Victoria]] issued new statutes eliminating all references to an exclusively military Order. As well as removing the word 'Military' from the full name of the Order, this opened up the grades of Knight Commander and Companion to civil appointments, and the Military and Civil Divisions of the Order were established. New numerical limits were imposed, and the opportunity also taken to regularise the 1815 expansion of the Order.<ref>Letters Patent dated 14 April 1847.</ref><ref>The document by which the Prince Regent modified the structure of the Order in 1815 was a Warrant under the [[Royal sign-manual]]. This is of lesser authority than [[Letters Patent]] under the Great Seal, by which the Order and its Statutes were originally established. It had been questioned on a number of occasions whether the Statutes of the Order could be modified by anything less than such Letters Patent. The 1847 Letters Patent retroactively confirmed the validity of the 1815 document and the subsequent appointments to the Order</ref> The 1847 statutes also abolished all the medieval ritual, but they did introduce a formal [[Investiture]] ceremony, conducted by the Sovereign wearing the Mantle and insignia of the Order, attended by the Officers and as many GCBs as possible, in their Mantles.<ref>Risk, p. 61.</ref>
In 1850, a special statute authorised appointments of Knight Commander and Companion, in the Military Division, to [[Commissariat#British Army|Commissariat]] and [[Military medicine|Medical officers]] serving with the [[Royal Army Medical Corps|Army]] and [[Royal Navy Medical Service|Navy]], including those serving with the [[Indian Medical Service|East India Company]].<ref>''Special statute 1850''. {{London Gazette|issue=21127|page=2242|date=16 August 1850}}</ref>
In 1859, a further edition of the Statutes was issued; the changes related mainly to the costs{{Explain|reason=costs by the State or by the receivings?|date=September 2022}} associated with the Order. Prior to this date, it had been the policy that the insignia (which were provided by the Crown) were to be returned on the death of the holder; the exception had been foreigners who had been awarded honorary membership. In addition, foreigners had usually been provided with stars made of silver and diamonds, whereas ordinary members had only [[Embroidery|embroidered]] stars. The decision was made to award silver stars to all members, and only require the return of the [[Collar (order)|Collar]]. The Crown had also been paying the fees due to the officers of the Order for members who had been appointed for the services in the recent war. The fees were abolished, and replaced with a salary of approximately the same average value. The offices of Genealogist and Messenger were abolished, and those of Registrar and Secretary combined.<ref name=Risk-p70>Risk, p. 70.</ref>
===Contemporary era===
[[File:Sir Richard Johns.jpg|upright|thumb|[[Air chief marshal|Air Chief Marshal]] Sir [[Richard Johns]] in his service dress uniform, wearing the star, riband, and badge of a military Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.|alt=]]
In 1910, after his accession to the throne, [[George V]] ordered the revival of the Installation ceremony,<ref name=Royal-focus/> perhaps prompted by the first Installation ceremony of the more junior [[Order of St Michael and St George]], held a few years earlier,<ref>Risk, p. 89.</ref> and the building of a new chapel for the Order of the Thistle in 1911.<ref>Perkins, p. 122.</ref> The Installation ceremony took place on 22 July 1913 in the [[Henry VII Chapel]],<ref>Risk, p. 92.</ref><ref>Perkins, pp. 124–131.</ref> and Installations have been held at regular intervals since.
Prior to the 1913 Installation, it was necessary to adapt the chapel to accommodate the larger number of members. An appeal was made to the members of the Order, and following the Installation a surplus remained. A Committee was formed from the Officers to administer the 'Bath Chapel Fund', and over time this committee has come to consider other matters than purely financial ones.<ref>Risk, pp. 95–96.</ref>
Another revision of the statutes of the Order was undertaken in 1925, to consolidate the 41 additional statutes which had been issued since the 1859 revision.<ref>16 in Queen Victoria's reign, 6 in [[Edward VII]]'s and 19 in George V's. (Risk, p. 97)</ref>
Women were admitted to the Order in 1971.<ref name=Royal-focus/> In the 1971 [[New Year Honours]], [[Jean Nunn]] became the first woman admitted to the order.<ref>{{Cite ODNB|last=Allen|first=Philip|author-link=Philip Allen, Baron Allen of Abbeydale|date=2004|title=Nunn, Jean Josephine (1916–1982)|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/66883|access-date=16 May 2014|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/66883}}</ref> In 1975, [[Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester]], an aunt of [[Elizabeth II]], became the first<!--see category--> woman to reach the highest rank, Dame Grand Cross.<ref name=Royal-focus/> Princess Alice (née Douglas-Montagu-Scott) was a direct descendant of the Order's first Great Master,<ref>Risk, p. 102.</ref> and her husband, who had died the previous year, had also held that office. The second Dame Grand Cross, [[Sally Davies (doctor)|Sally Davies]], was appointed in the [[2020 New Year Honours]].<ref name=LondonGazette-62866>{{London Gazette|issue=62866|supp=y|page=N3|date=28 December 2019}}</ref><ref name=NYHL2020>{{Cite web|title=New Year Honours list 2020 – Awards for NY2020|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/856352/New_Year_Honours_List_2020.pdf|website=GOV.UK|publisher=[[HM Government]]|access-date=30 August 2023}}</ref>
==Composition==
===Sovereign===
The [[British monarchy|British Sovereign]] is the Sovereign of the Order of the Bath. As with all honours, except those in the Sovereign's personal gift,{{efn|name="PersonalGift"|The [[Order of the Garter]], the [[Order of the Thistle]], the [[Order of Merit]] and the [[Royal Victorian Order]] are all awarded at the Sovereign's discretion and ministerial advice is not required.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Honours System of the United Kingdom; Orders, Decorations and Medals|publisher=[[Ceremonial Honours and Appointments Secretariat]] of the [[Cabinet Office]] of the [[Government of the United Kingdom]]|url=https://honours.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/about/orders-and-medals/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616195235/https://honours.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/about/orders-and-medals/|archive-date=16 June 2025|access-date=29 July 2025|quote=Appointments... are the Sovereign’s personal gift and ministerial advice is not required.}}</ref>
}} the Sovereign makes all appointments to the Order on the advice of the [[Government of the United Kingdom|Government]].
===Great Master===
[[File:Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.jpg|thumb|[[Albert, Prince Consort|Prince Albert]], the Prince Consort, Great Master 1843–1861. During the 19th century, Knights Grand Cross wore their [[Robe|mantles]] over imitations of 17th-century dress. They now wear them over contemporary attire.|alt=]]
The next-most senior member of the Order is the Great Master, of which there have been ten:
* 1725–1749 – [[John Montagu, 2nd Duke of Montagu]]<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=6376|page=1|date=25 May 1725}}</ref><ref>Nicolas, Appendix p. lxx gives the first four Great Masters, although he considers the latter three to have only been acting Great Masters</ref>
* 1749–1767 – ''vacant''
* 1767–1827 – [[Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany]]
* 1827–1830 – [[William IV|Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St Andrews]] (later King William IV)
* 1830–1837 – ''vacant''
* 1837–1843 – [[Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex]]<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=19570|page=3309|date=19 December 1837}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=19592|page=407|date=23 February 1838}}</ref>
* 1843–1861 – [[Albert, Prince Consort]]<ref>Prince Albert was appointed acting Great Master sometime in 1843, and the appointment was made substantive by the 1847 Statutes, article 4. Risk says that he was appointed acting Great Master on 31 March 1843, however ''[[The Times]]'', reporting the death of the Duke of Sussex (22 April 1843, pp. 4–5) says that the office of acting Great Master became vacant on his death. At any rate, when the executors of the Duke of Sussex delivered his insignia together with the seal and statutes to the Queen on 20 June (''The Times'', 21 June 1843, p. 6) Prince Albert was then acting Great Master.</ref><ref name="Statutes 1847">{{London Gazette|issue=20737|pages=1947–1957|date=25 May 1847}}</ref>
* 1861–1897 – ''vacant''
* 1897–1901 – [[Edward VII|Albert Edward, Prince of Wales]] (later King Edward VII)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26867|page=3567|date=25 June 1897}}</ref><ref>''The Times'', 22 June 1897, p. 10.</ref>
* 1901–1942 – [[Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn]]<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27289|page=1414|date=26 February 1901}}</ref>
* 1942–1974 – [[Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester]]<ref>''The Times'', 25 February 1942, p. 7.</ref>
* 1974–2022 – [[Charles III|Charles, Prince of Wales]] (later King Charles III)<ref name=PoW>{{London Gazette|issue=46428|date=10 December 1974|page=12559}}</ref>
* 2022–2024 – ''vacant''
* 2024–present – [[William, Prince of Wales]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Milss |first1=Rhiannon |title=King recognises Queen and Prince William in honours list and creates new role for Kate, Princess of Wales |url=https://news.sky.com/story/king-recognises-queen-and-prince-william-in-honours-list-and-creates-new-role-for-kate-princess-of-wales-13121607 |access-date=23 April 2024 |work=Sky News |date=23 April 2024}}</ref>
Originally a Prince of the Blood Royal, as the Principal Knight Companion, ranked next after the sovereign.<ref>''Statutes'' 1725, article 4.</ref> This position was joined to that of the Great Master in the statutes of 1847.<ref>Letters Patent dated 14 April 1847, quoted in ''Statutes'' 1847.</ref> The Great Master and Principal Knight is now either a descendant of George I or 'some other exalted personage'; the holder of the office has custody of the [[Seal (emblem)|seal]] of the order and is responsible for enforcing the statutes.<ref name=Statutes-1925-article5/>
===Members===
<!--This section is linked from [[Michael Scholar]]-->
[[File:Order of the Bath.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|Sash and star of Grand Cross, civil division.|alt=]]
The statutes also provide for the following:<ref name=Royal-focus/>
* 120 Knights or Dames Grand Cross (GCB) (of whom the Great Master is the First and Principal);
* 355 Knights Commander (KCB) or Dames Commander (DCB); and
* 1,925 Companions (CB).
Regular membership is limited to citizens of the United Kingdom and of other Commonwealth countries of which the British monarch is Sovereign. Appointees are usually officers of the armed forces or senior civil servants, such as [[Permanent secretary#United Kingdom|permanent secretaries]].<ref name=Royal-Honours/>
{{Multiple image|align=right
|image1=Bathorderburzagli1.jpg|width1=175|alt1= |caption1=
|image2=Bathorderburzagli2.jpg|width2=175|alt2= |caption2=
|footer=Warrant appointing Italian captain (later admiral) [[Ernesto Burzagli]] as an honorary Companion of the Order}}
Members appointed to the Civil Division must "by their personal services to [the] crown or by the performance of public duties have merited ... royal favour."<ref>''Statutes'' 1925, article 9.</ref> Appointments to the Military Division are restricted by the minimum [[:Category:Military ranks of the United Kingdom|rank]] of the individual. GCBs hold the rank of [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|admiral]] in the Royal Navy, [[General (United Kingdom)|general]] in the [[British Army]] or [[Royal Marines]], or [[air chief marshal]] in the [[Royal Air Force]].<ref name=Honorary>''Statutes'' 1925, article 8.</ref> KCBs must at least hold the rank of [[Vice admiral (Royal Navy)|vice admiral]], [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|lieutenant general]] in the Army or Marines, or [[air marshal]].<ref>''Statutes'' 1925, article 10.</ref> CBs tend be of the rank of [[Rear admiral (Royal Navy)|rear admiral]], [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|major general]] in the Army, Royal Navy or Royal Marines, or [[air vice marshal]] in the Royal Air Force, and in addition must have been [[Mentioned in Despatches]] for distinction in a command position in a combat situation, although the latter is no longer a requirement. Non-line officers (e.g. [[Engineer officer|engineers]], medics) may be appointed only for meritorious service in wartime.<ref>''Statutes'' 1925, article 12.</ref>
[[File:First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas KCB DSC ADC MOD 45155508.jpg|thumb|150px|Admiral [[George Zambellas|Sir George Zambellas]] KCB (military division).|alt=]]
Commonwealth citizens not subjects of the British monarch and foreigners may be made honorary members.<ref>''Statutes'' 1925, article 15.</ref> Queen Elizabeth II established the custom of appointing visiting (republican) heads of state honorary GCBs, for example [[Gustav Heinemann]] and [[Josip Broz Tito]] (in 1972),<ref>''The Times'', 25 October 1972, p. 21.</ref> [[Ronald Reagan]] (in 1989), [[Lech Wałęsa]] (in 1991),<ref name=Royal-focus/> [[Censu Tabone]] (in 1992), [[Fernando Henrique Cardoso]], [[George H. W. Bush]] (in 1993),<ref>''The Times'', 1 December 1993, p. 24.</ref> [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] (in 2008),<ref>{{Cite news|last=Samuel|first=Henry|date=27 March 2008|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/27/nsarkozy327.xml|title=Nicolas Sarkozy awarded honorary title|website=Telegraph.co.uk|___location=[[London]], England|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=24 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401234620/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2008%2F03%2F27%2Fnsarkozy327.xml|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 April 2008}}</ref> and [[Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono]] (in 2012), as well as Turkish President [[Abdullah Gül]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tccb.gov.tr/pages/president/biography/|title=Abdullah Gül|website=tccb.gov.tr|publisher=Presidency of the Republic of Turkey|access-date=4 April 2012}}</ref> Slovenian President [[Danilo Türk]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7681244.stm|title=Queen begins state visit to Slovenia |publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=21 October 2008|access-date=22 October 2008}}</ref> Mexican President [[Felipe Calderón]], and South African President [[Jacob Zuma]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Monare|first=Moshoeshoe|date=6 March 2010|url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/zuma-s-taste-of-british-protocol-1.475414|title=Zuma's taste of British protocol|website=Iol.co.za|publisher=Independent Online|access-date=9 December 2011}}</ref> (royal heads of state are instead usually made [[Order of the Garter#Supernumerary members|Stranger Knights and Ladies Companion]] of the [[Order of the Garter]]). Foreign generals are also often given honorary appointments to the Order, for example: Marshal [[Ferdinand Foch]] and Marshal [[Joseph Joffre]] during the [[First World War]]; Marshal [[Georgy Zhukov]],<ref>''The Times'', Issue 50193; 13 July 1945; p. 4; col A.</ref> [[King Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia]], General [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], General [[George C. Marshall]], General [[Douglas MacArthur]], General [[George S. Patton Jr.]] during the [[Second World War]];<ref>''The Times'', 27 May 1943, p. 4.</ref> and General [[Norman Schwarzkopf]] and General [[Colin Powell]] after the [[Gulf War]].<ref>''The Times'', 21 May 1991.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Branigan|first=Tania|date=12 May 2004|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/may/12/usa.world|title=Colin Powell claims Scottish coat of arms|website=[[The Guardian]]|___location=[[London]], England|access-date=24 December 2008}}</ref> A more controversial member of the Order was [[Robert Mugabe]], whose honour was stripped by the Queen, on the advice of the [[Foreign Secretary (United Kingdom)|Foreign Secretary]], [[David Miliband]], on 25 June 2008 "as a mark of revulsion at the abuse of human rights and abject disregard for the democratic process in [[Zimbabwe]] over which President Mugabe has presided."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Smyth|first=Chris|date=25 June 2008|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4213800.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014003939/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4213800.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 October 2008|title=Queen strips Robert Mugabe of knighthood in 'revulsion' at violence|website=TimesOnline.co.uk|___location=[[London]], England|publisher=[[The Times]]|access-date=24 December 2008}}</ref>
Honorary members do not count towards the numerical limits in each class.<ref>''Statutes'' 1925, article 18.</ref> In addition, the statutes allow the Sovereign to exceed the limits in time of war or other exceptional circumstances.<ref>"In the event of any future wars or of any action or services civil or military meriting peculiar honour and reward ... to increase the numbers in any of the said classes and in any of the said divisions". ''Statutes'' 1925, article 17.</ref>
=== Officers ===
The office of Dean is held by the [[Dean of Westminster]]. The King of Arms, responsible for [[heraldry]], is known as Bath King of Arms; he is not, however, a member of the [[College of Arms]], like many heralds. The Order's Usher is known as the [[Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod]]; he does not, unlike his Order of the Garter equivalent (the Gentleman Usher of the [[Black Rod]]) perform any duties in the [[House of Lords]].<ref>Marks & Payne 1978, p. 123</ref>
There were originally seven officers, each of whom was to receive fees from the Knights Companion both on appointment, and annually thereafter. The office of Messenger was abolished in 1859.<ref name=Risk-p70/> The office of Genealogist was abolished at the same time, but revived in 1913.<ref>Risk, p. 93.</ref> The offices of Registrar and Secretary were formally merged in 1859, although the two positions had been held concurrently for the previous century.<ref>Risk, pp. 13, 70.</ref> An Officer of Arms and a Secretary for the Knights Commander and Companions were established in 1815,<ref name=Statutes-1815/> but abolished in 1847.<ref>''Statutes'' 1847, article 15.</ref> The office of Deputy Secretary was created in 1925.<ref>Risk, 1972, p. 95</ref>
Under the Hanoverian kings, certain of the officers also held heraldic office. The office of [[Blanc Coursier Herald]] of Arms was attached to that of the Genealogist, [[Brunswick Herald of Arms]] to the Gentleman Usher, and Bath King of Arms was also made [[Gloucester King of Arms]] with heraldic jurisdiction over Wales.<ref>Statute dated 17 January 1726 (according to Risk, p. 14). Both the 1812 and 1847 editions of the Statutes give the date as 17 January 1725, but this is most probably a misprint since the Order was not founded until May 1725, and the additional statute also specified the office holders by name.</ref> This was the result of a move by Anstis to give the holders of these sinecures greater security; the offices of the Order of the Bath were held at the pleasure of the Great Master, while appointments to the heraldic offices were made by the King under the Great Seal and were for life.<ref>Risk, p. 14.</ref>
==Habit and insignia==
[[File:GCB (civil) badge.jpg|thumb|An embroidered representation, or 'chaton', of the star of the civil division of the Order.|alt=]]
[[File:Insignia of Civil GCB.jpg|thumb|The insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the civil division of the order.|alt=]]
[[File:GCB mantle.jpg|thumb|upright=0.5|Mantle of the Order.|alt=]]
[[File:Insignia of Military GCB.jpg|thumb|upright=0.5|The insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the military division of the order.|alt=]]
[[File:KCB civil star and badge.jpg|thumb|upright=0.5|Star and neck badge of a Knight Commander of the civil division of the order.|alt=]]
Members of the Order wear elaborate uniforms on important occasions (such as its quadrennial installation ceremonies and [[coronation of the British monarch|coronations]]), which vary by rank:
The ''mantle'', worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross, is made of [[crimson]] [[satin]] lined with white [[taffeta]]. On the left side is a representation of the star (see below). The mantle is bound with two large tassels.<ref name="Statutes 1925 art 23">''Statutes'' 1925, article 23.</ref>
The ''hat'', worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross and Knights and Dames Commander, is made of black [[velvet]]; it includes an upright plume of [[feather]]s.<ref>The hat was made of white satin (''Statutes'' 1725, article 8), but was changed to black velvet at the command of George IV for his coronation (Nicolas, p. 198). The hat is not explicitly specified in the 1847 or 1925 statutes</ref>
The ''collar'', worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross, is made of gold and weighs {{Nowrap|30 [[troy ounce]]s (933 g)}}. It consists of depictions of nine imperial crowns and eight sets of flowers ([[rose]]s for England, [[thistle]]s for Scotland, and [[shamrock]]s for Ireland), connected by seventeen silver knots.<ref name="Statutes 1925 art 23"/>
On lesser occasions, simpler insignia are used: The ''star'' is used only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross and Knights and Dames Commander. Its style varies by rank and division; it is worn pinned to the left breast:
The star for ''military Knights and Dames Grand Cross'' consists of a [[Maltese Cross (symbol)|Maltese Cross]] on top of an eight-pointed silver star; the star for ''military Knights and Dames Commander'' is an eight-pointed silver cross pattée. Each bears in the centre three crowns surrounded by a red ring bearing the motto of the Order in gold letters. The circle is flanked by two [[Laurus nobilis|laurel]] [[Laurel wreath|branches]], and is above a scroll bearing the words ''Ich dien'' (older German for 'I serve') in gold letters.<ref name="Statutes 1925 art 23"/> Stylised versions of this are known as ''Bath stars'', and are used as [[epaulette]] pips to indicate [[British Army officer rank insignia|British Army officer ranks]] and for [[Police ranks of the United Kingdom|police ranks]].
The star for ''civil Knights and Dames Grand Cross'' consists of an eight-pointed silver star, ''without'' the Maltese cross; the star for ''civil Knights and Dames Commander'' is an eight-pointed silver cross pattée. The design of each is the same as the design of the military stars, except that the laurel branches and the words ''Ich dien'' are excluded.<ref name="Statutes 1925 art 23"/>
The ''badge'' varies in design, size, and manner of wearing by rank and division. The Knight and Dame Grand Cross' badge is larger than the Knight and Dame Commander's badge, which is in turn larger than the Companion's badge;<ref>''Statutes'' 1925, articles 23, 24, 25.</ref> however, these are all suspended on a crimson ribbon. Knights and Dames Grand Cross wear the badge on a riband or sash, passing from the right shoulder to the left hip.<ref name="Statutes 1925 art 23"/> Knights Commander and male Companions wear the badge from a ribbon worn around the neck. Dames Commander and female Companions wear the badge from a bow on the left side:
The ''military badge'' is a gold [[Maltese Cross]] of eight points, enamelled in white. Each point of the cross is decorated by a small gold ball; each angle has a small figure of a lion. The centre of the cross bears three crowns on the obverse side, and a rose, a [[thistle]] and a [[shamrock]], emanating from a [[sceptre]] on the reverse side. Both emblems are surrounded by a red circular ring bearing the motto of the Order, which are in turn flanked by two laurel branches, above a scroll bearing the words ''Ich dien'' in gold letters.<ref name="Statutes 1925 art 23"/>
The ''civil badge'' is a plain gold oval, bearing three crowns on the obverse side, and a rose, a [[thistle]] and a [[shamrock]], emanating from a [[sceptre]] on the reverse side; both emblems are surrounded by a ring bearing the motto of the Order.<ref name="Statutes 1925 art 23"/>
On certain '[[collar day]]s' designated by the Sovereign, members attending formal events may wear the Order's collar over their military uniform or evening wear. When collars are worn (either on collar days or on formal occasions such as coronations), the badge is suspended from the collar.<ref name="Statutes 1925 art 23"/>
The collars and badges of Knights and Dames Grand Cross are returned to the [[Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood]] upon the decease of their owners. All other insignia may be retained by their owners.<ref name="Statutes 1925 art 23"/>
{{Gallery|state= |File:GCB-Military-Star.svg|Star, Knight Grand Cross Military Division|File:Knight Commander of the Bath neck badge, awarded to Cecil Fane de Salis (1859-1948) in 1935.jpg|Neck badge, awarded to Cecil Fane de Salis (1859–1948) in 1935|File:Knight Commander of the Bath star, awarded to Cecil Fane de Salis (1859-1948) in 1935.jpg|Star, awarded to Cecil Fane de Salis|File:Order of the Bath, Breast Star and Badge, Knight Commander, Saxe-Ernestine House Order, awarded to Major-General Sir Charles Taylor du Plat, British Army - Glenbow Museum - DSC00629.JPG|Star and neck Badge awarded to Sir Charles Taylor du Plat|File:Order of the Bath UK ribbon.svg|Medal Ribbon of the Order of the Bath}}
==Chapel==
[[File:Westminster Abbey by Canaletto, 1749.jpg|thumb|[[Westminster Abbey]] with a procession of Knights of the Bath, by [[Canaletto]], 1749.|alt=]]
[[File:Henry7Chapel 01.jpg|thumb|Banners of the senior Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the [[Henry VII Lady Chapel]] in Westminster Abbey.|alt=]]
The Chapel of the Order is the [[Henry VII Lady Chapel]] in [[Westminster Abbey]].<ref name="Statutes 1925 art 21">''Statutes'' 1925, article 21.</ref> The Sovereign, Great Master, and the Knights and Dames Grand Cross are allotted [[Choir stall|stalls]] in the [[choir]] of the chapel, above which their [[heraldic device]]s are displayed.
Every four years, an installation ceremony, presided over by the Great Master, and a religious service are held in the chapel. The last such service was on Friday 16 May 2025, and was presided over by the King and the Prince of Wales.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2025-05-16/the-king-and-the-prince-of-wales-mark-300-years-of-the-order-of-the |title=Royal.uk: The King and The Prince of Wales mark 300 years of the Order of the Bath |website=royal.uk}}</ref> The Sovereign and each knight who has been installed is allotted a stall in the [[Cathedral diagram|choir]] of the chapel.<ref name="Statutes 1812 art 8">''Statutes'' 1812, article 8</ref>
As there are a limited number of stalls in the chapel, only the most senior Knights and Dames Grand Cross are installed. A stall made vacant by the death of a military Knight Grand Cross is offered to the next most senior uninstalled military GCB, and similarly for vacancies among civil GCBs.<ref name="Statutes 1925 art 21"/> Waits between admission to the Order and installation may be very long; for instance, Marshal of the Air Force [[David Craig, Baron Craig of Radley]] was created a Knight Grand Cross in 1984, but was not installed until 2006.<ref name=Royal-focus/>
Above each stall, the occupant's heraldic devices are displayed. Perched on the pinnacle of a knight's stall is his [[Helmet (heraldry)|helm]], decorated with a [[mantling]] and topped by his [[Crest (heraldry)|crest]]. Under [[Law of heraldic arms#England and Wales|English heraldic law]], women other than monarchs do not bear helms or crests; instead, the [[coronet]] appropriate to the dame's rank (if she is a [[Peerage of the United Kingdom|peer]] or member of [[British royal family|the Royal family]]) is used.<ref name="Statutes 1925 art 21"/>
Above the crest or coronet, the knight's or dame's heraldic [[banner]] is hung, emblazoned with his or her [[coat of arms]]. At a considerably smaller scale, to the back of the stall is affixed a piece of [[brass]] (a 'stall plate') displaying its occupant's name, arms, and date of admission into the Order.
Upon the death of a Knight, the banner, helm, mantling, and crest (or coronet or crown) are taken down. The stall plates, however, are not removed; rather, they remain permanently affixed somewhere about the stall, so that the stalls of the chapel are festooned with a colourful record of the Order's Knights (and now Dames) throughout history.<ref>Perkins 1920, p. 107</ref>
When the grade of Knight Commander was established in 1815, the regulations specified that they too should have a banner and stall plate affixed in the chapel.<ref name=Statutes-1815/> This was never implemented (despite some of the KCBs paying the appropriate fees) primarily due to lack of space,<ref>Risk, p. 40.</ref> although the 1847 statutes allow all three classes to request the erection of a plate in the chapel bearing the member's name, date of nomination, and (for the two higher classes) optionally the coat of arms.<ref>''Statutes'' 1847, article 18.</ref>
==Privileges==
=== Precedence ===
[[File:Coat of Arms of Alexander Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Carisbrooke.svg|thumb|280px|Coat of arms of the [[Alexander Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Carisbrooke|Marquess of Carisbrooke]] (1886–1960) with the circlet and collar as Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.|alt=]]
Members of the Order of the Bath are assigned positions in the [[order of precedence]].<ref>''Statutes'' 1925, article 22.</ref> Wives of male members also feature on the order of precedence, as do sons, daughters, and daughters-in-law of Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commander; relatives of female members, however, are not assigned any special precedence. Generally, individuals can derive precedence from their fathers or husbands, but not from their mothers or wives. (See [[order of precedence in England and Wales]] for the exact positions.)
Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commander prefix '[[Sir]]', and Dames Grand Cross and Dames Commander prefix '[[Dame]]', to their forenames.<ref>''Statutes'' 1925, article 20.</ref> Wives of Knights may prefix '[[Lady]]' to their surnames, but no equivalent privilege exists for husbands of Dames. Such forms are not used by [[Peerage of the United Kingdom|peers]] and [[prince]]s, except when the names of the former are written out in their fullest forms. Furthermore, honorary foreign members and [[Clergyman|clergymen]] do not receive the accolade of knighthood, and so are not entitled to the prefix 'Sir', unless the former subsequently become Commonwealth citizens.
Knights and Dames Grand Cross use the [[List of post-nominal letters|post-nominal]] GCB; Knights Commander use KCB; Dames Commander use DCB; Companions use CB.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.debretts.com/people/honours/orders-chivalry/order-bath|title=Order of the Bath|website=debretts.com|publisher= |date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328013426/http://www.debretts.com/people/honours/orders-chivalry/order-bath|archive-date=28 March 2016}} The post-nominal letters are not mentioned in the Statutes of the Order.</ref>
=== Heraldry ===
Knights and Dames Grand Cross are also entitled to receive [[Supporter|heraldic supporters]].<ref>''Statutes'' 1925, article 28.</ref> Furthermore, they may encircle their arms with a depiction of the [[Circlet (heraldry)|circlet]] (a red circle bearing the motto) with the badge pendant thereto and the collar; the former is shown either outside or on top of the latter.
Knights and Dames Commander and Companions may display the circlet, but not the collar, around their arms. The badge is depicted suspended from the collar or circlet. Members of the Military division may encompass the circlet with 'two laurel branches issuant from an [[escrol]] [[Azure (heraldry)|azure]] inscribed ''Ich dien''', as appears on the badge.
Members of the Order of the Bath and their children are able to be married in Westminster Abbey in London.<ref>
{{Cite web|url=http://www.westminster-abbey.org/faq|title=FAQ: Westminster Abbey|website=Westminster-Abbey.org|access-date=9 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228191619/http://www.Westminster-Abbey.org/faq|archive-date=28 February 2011}}</ref>
==Revocation==
It is possible for membership in the Order to be [[Revocation|revoked]]. Under the 1725 statutes, the grounds for this were [[heresy]], [[high treason]], or [[Desertion|fleeing from battle]] out of [[cowardice]]. Knights Companion could in such cases be degraded at the next Chapter meeting. It was then the duty of the Gentleman Usher to 'pluck down the escocheon [i.e. stallplate] of such knight and spurn it out of the chapel' with 'all the usual marks of infamy'.<ref>''Statutes'' 1725, article 3.</ref>
Only two people were ever degraded: [[Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald|Lord Cochrane]] in 1813, and [[Eyre Coote (British Army officer, born 1762)|Eyre Coote]] in 1816, both for political reasons, rather than any of the grounds given in the statute. Lord Cochrane was subsequently reinstated, but Coote died a few years after his degradation.<ref>Risk, p. 30.</ref>
Under Queen Victoria's 1847 statutes, a member 'convicted of treason, cowardice, [[felony]], or any infamous crime derogatory to his honour as a knight or gentleman, or accused and does not submit to trial in a reasonable time, shall be degraded from the Order by a special ordinance signed by the sovereign.' The Sovereign was to be the sole judge, and also had the power to restore such members.<ref>''Statutes'' 1847, article 26.</ref>
The situation today is that membership may be cancelled or annulled, and the entry in the register erased, by an ordinance signed by the Sovereign and sealed with the seal of the Order, on the recommendation of the appropriate minister. Such cancellations may be subsequently reversed.<ref>''Statutes'' 1925, article 30.</ref>
In 1923, the Italian dictator [[Benito Mussolini]] was made an honorary Knight Grand Cross, by King George V. Mussolini was stripped of his GCB in 1940, after he had declared war on the UK.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tharoor|first=Ishaan|date=1 February 2012|url=https://world.time.com/2012/02/01/disgraced-british-knights-a-not-so-chivalrous-history/slide/benito-mussolini/|title=Disgraced British Knights: A Not-So-Chivalrous History|website=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|publisher=Time|access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref>
[[George Pottinger]], a senior civil servant, lost both his status of CB and Commander of the [[Royal Victorian Order]] (CVO) in 1975 when he was jailed for corruptly receiving gifts from the architect [[John Poulson]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=46561|page=5731|date=2 May 1975}}</ref>
Romanian president [[Nicolae Ceauşescu]] was stripped of his honorary GCB status by Queen Elizabeth II on 24 December 1989, the day before his execution. [[Robert Mugabe]], the [[President of Zimbabwe]], was stripped of his honorary GCB status by the Queen, on the advice of the [[Foreign Secretary (United Kingdom)|Foreign Secretary]], [[David Miliband]], on 25 June 2008, 'as a mark of revulsion at the abuse of human rights and abject disregard for the democratic process in [[Zimbabwe]] over which President Mugabe has presided.'<ref>{{Cite news|last=Smyth|first=Chris|date=25 June 2008|title=Queen strips Robert Mugabe of knighthood in 'revulsion' at violence|url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/advice/queen-strips-robert-mugabe-of-knighthood-in-revulsion-at-violence-c3w9sr626h0|website=[[The Times]]|access-date=8 May 2021}}</ref>
[[Vicky Pryce]], former wife of [[Chris Huhne]], was stripped of her CB by Queen Elizabeth II on 30 July 2013, following her conviction for [[perverting the course of justice]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=60583|page=14994|date=30 July 2013}}</ref>
==Current Knights and Dames Grand Cross==
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2024}}
=== Sovereign and Great Master ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Name
!Year of appointment
!Present age
|-
|[[Charles III]] (''ex officio'')
|1974 as Great Master as The Prince of Wales; Sovereign since 2022
|{{age|1948|11|14}}
|-
|[[William, Prince of Wales]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KG|KT|GCB|PC|ADC(P)|sep=,}}
|2024
|{{age|1982|06|21}}
|}
=== Knights and Dames Grand Cross ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Rank (if any)
!Name
!Known for
!Year of appointment
!Present age
|-
|[[Marshal of the Royal Air Force]]
|[[David Craig, Baron Craig of Radley]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|OBE|sep=,}}
|[[RAF Strike Command#Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief|Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, RAF Strike Command]]
|1984
|{{age|1929|9|17}}
|-
! rowspan="2" |
|Sir [[Clive Whitmore]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|CVO|sep=,}}
|[[Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Defence]] and [[Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister]]
|1988
|{{age|1935|1|18}}
|-
|Sir [[Peter Middleton (banker)|Peter Middleton]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|sep=,}}
|[[Permanent Secretary to the Treasury]]
| rowspan="2" |1989
|{{age|1934|4|24}}
|-
|[[Air chief marshal|Air Chief Marshal]]
|Sir [[Patrick Hine]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|GBE|sep=,}}
|Joint Commander British Forces Gulf War
|{{age|1932|7|14}}
|-
!
|Sir [[William Heseltine]] {{Post-nominals|country=AUS|sep=,|GCB|GCVO|AC|QSO|PC}}
|[[Private Secretary to the Sovereign]]
|1990
|{{age|1936|5|27}}
|-
|[[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]]
|Sir [[Benjamin Bathurst (Royal Navy officer)|Benjamin Bathurst]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|DL}}
|[[Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff]] and [[Commander-in-Chief Fleet]]
|1991
|{{age|1936|5|27}}
|-
!
|Sir [[Terence Heiser]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|sep=,}}
|Permanent Secretary at the [[Department of the Environment (United Kingdom)|Department of the Environment]]
| rowspan="3" |1992
|{{age|1932|5|24}}
|-
|[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]]
|Sir [[Jock Slater]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|LVO|DL|sep=,}}
|[[Commander-in-Chief Fleet]]
|{{age|1938|3|27}}
|-
!
|[[Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KG|GCB|CVO|PC}}
|[[Cabinet Secretary (United Kingdom)|Cabinet Secretary]] and Head of the Home Civil Service
|{{age|1938|1|3}}
|-
|[[Air chief marshal|Air Chief Marshal]]
|Sir [[Michael Graydon]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|CBE|sep=,}}
|[[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]]
|1993
|{{age|1938|10|24}}
|-
|[[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]]
|[[Charles Guthrie, Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|GCVO|OBE|DL}}
|[[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the General Staff]]
| |1994
|{{age|1938|11|17}}
|-
|[[Air chief marshal|Air Chief Marshal]]
|Sir [[Michael Alcock]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|KBE|FREng|FIMechE|FRAeS}}
|Air Officer Commander-in-Chief, [[RAF Logistics Command]]
| rowspan="2" |1995
|{{age|1936|7|11}}
|-
!
|[[Terence Burns, Baron Burns]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|sep=,}}
|[[Permanent Secretary to the Treasury]]
|{{age|1944|3|18}}
|-
|[[Air chief marshal|Air Chief Marshal]]
|Sir [[Richard Johns]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|KCVO|CBE|sep=,}}
|[[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]]
| rowspan="2" |1997
|{{age|1939|7|28}}
|-
|[[General (United Kingdom)|General]]
|Sir [[Roger Wheeler (British Army officer)|Roger Wheeler]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|CBE}}
| rowspan="2" |[[Land Command#Commander-in-Chief, Land Command|Commander-in-Chief, Land Command]]
|{{age|1941|12|16}}
|-
|[[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]]
|[[Michael Walker, Baron Walker of Aldringham]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|CMG|CBE|DL}}
| rowspan="3" |1999
|{{age|1944|7|7}}
|-
|[[General (United Kingdom)|General]]
|Sir [[Jeremy Mackenzie]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|OBE|DL}}
|[[Supreme Allied Commander Europe#Deputy|Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe]]
|{{age|1941|2|11}}
|-
! rowspan="2" |
|Sir [[Nigel Wicks]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|CVO|CBE}}
|Second [[Permanent Secretary to the Treasury]] and [[Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister]]
|{{age|1940|6|16}}
|-
|[[Richard Wilson, Baron Wilson of Dinton]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|sep=,}}
|[[Cabinet Secretary (United Kingdom)|Cabinet Secretary]] and Head of the Home Civil Service
|2001
|{{age|1942|10|11}}
|-
|[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]]
|Sir [[Nigel Essenhigh]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|DL|sep=,}}
|[[First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff]] and [[Commander-in-Chief Fleet]]
| rowspan="2" |2002
|{{age|1944|11|8}}
|-
! rowspan="2" |
|Sir [[Hayden Phillips]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|DL}}
|[[Clerk of the Crown in Chancery]]
|{{age|1943|2|9}}
|-
|Sir [[David Omand]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|sep=,}}
|[[Director of GCHQ|Director of the Government Communications Headquarters]]
| rowspan="2" |2004
|{{age|1947|4|15}}
|-
|[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]]
|[[Alan West, Baron West of Spithead]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|DSC|PC}}
|[[First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff]]
|{{age|1948|4|21}}
|-
|[[Marshal of the Royal Air Force]]
|[[Jock Stirrup|Graham Eric Stirrup, Baron Stirrup]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KG|GCB|AFC|FRAeS|FCMI}}
|[[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]]
|2005
|{{age|1949|12|4}}
|-
! rowspan="2" |
|Sir [[Richard Mottram]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|sep=,}}
|Permanent Secretary for Intelligence, Security and Resilience
|2006
|{{age|1946|4|23}}
|-
|[[Robin Janvrin, Baron Janvrin]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|GCVO|QSO|PC}}
|[[Private Secretary to the Sovereign]]
|2007
|{{age|1946|9|20}}
|-
|[[General (United Kingdom)|General]]
|[[Richard Dannatt, Baron Dannatt]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|CBE|MC|DL}}
|[[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the General Staff]]
| rowspan="3" |2008
|{{age|1950|12|23}}
|-
|[[Air chief marshal|Air Chief Marshal]]
|Sir [[Glenn Torpy]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|CBE|DSO}}
|[[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]]
|{{age|1953|7|27}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]]
|Sir [[Jonathon Band]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|DL}}
|[[First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff]] and [[Commander-in-Chief Fleet]]
|{{age|1950|2|2}}
|-
|Sir [[Mark Stanhope]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|OBE|DL}}
|[[First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff]], [[Commander-in-Chief Fleet]] and [[Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom]]
|2010
|{{age|1952|3|26}}
|-
|[[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]]
|[[Nick Houghton]], Baron Houghton of Richmond {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|CBE|DL}}
|[[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] and [[Permanent Joint Headquarters|Chief of Joint Operations]]
| rowspan="4" |2011
|{{age|1954|10|18}}
|-
!
|Sir [[David Normington]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|sep=,}}
|[[Permanent Under-Secretary of State of the Home Office]] and Permanent Secretary at the [[Department for Education and Employment|Department for Education and Skills]]
|{{age|1951|10|18}}
|-
|[[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]]
|[[David Richards (British Army officer)|David Richards, Baron Richards of Herstmonceux]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|CBE|DSO|DL}}
|[[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] and [[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the General Staff]]
|{{age|1952|3|4}}
|-
!
|[[Gus O'Donnell, Baron O'Donnell]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|FBA|FAcSS}}
|[[Cabinet Secretary (United Kingdom)|Cabinet Secretary]] and Head of the Home Civil Service
|{{age|1952|10|1}}
|-
|[[Air chief marshal|Air Chief Marshal]]
|Sir [[Stephen Dalton]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|3=FRAeS}}
|[[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]]
|2012
|{{age|1954|4|23}}
|-
|[[General (United Kingdom)|General]]
|Sir [[Peter Wall (British Army officer)|Peter Wall]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|CBE|DL}}
|[[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the General Staff]] and [[Commander-in-Chief, Land Forces]]
|2013
|{{age|1955|7|10}}
|-
!
|[[Nicholas Macpherson]], Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|sep=,}}
|[[Permanent Secretary to the Treasury]]
|2015
|{{age|1959|7|14}}
|-
|[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]]
|Sir [[George Zambellas]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|DSC|ADC|DL|FRAeS|sep=,}}
|[[First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff]] and [[Fleet Commander]]
| rowspan="2" |2016
|{{age|1958|4|4}}
|-
|[[Air chief marshal|Air Chief Marshal]]
|Sir [[Andrew Pulford]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|CBE}}
|[[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]]
|{{age|1958|3|22}}
|-
!
|[[Christopher Geidt, Baron Geidt]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|GCVO|OBE|QSO|PC|FKC}}
|[[Private Secretary to the Sovereign]]
|2018
|{{age|1961|8|17}}
|-
|[[General (United Kingdom)|General]]
|Sir [[Nick Carter (British Army officer)|Nicholas Carter]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|CBE|DSO}}
|[[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] and [[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the General Staff]]
| rowspan="2" |2019
|{{age|1959|2|11}}
|-
!
|Dame [[Sally Davies (doctor)|Sally Davies]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|DBE|FRS|FMedSci}}
|[[List of masters of Trinity College, Cambridge|Master of Trinity College, Cambridge]] and [[Chief Medical Officers (United Kingdom)|Chief Medical Officer for England]]
|{{age|1949|11|24}}
|-
|[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]]
|Sir [[Philip Jones (Royal Navy officer)|Philip Jones]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|3=DL}}
|[[First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff]]
| rowspan="2" |2020
|{{age|1960|2|14}}
|-
|[[Air chief marshal|Air Chief Marshal]]
|Sir [[Stephen Hillier]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|CBE|DFC}}
|[[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]]
|{{age|1962||}}
|-
! rowspan="2" |
|Sir [[Tom Scholar]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB}}
|[[Permanent Secretary to the Treasury]]
| rowspan="3" |2023
|{{age|1968|12|17}}
|-
|[[Edward Young, Baron Young of Old Windsor]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|GCVO|PC}}
|[[Private Secretary to the Sovereign]]
|{{age|1966|10|24}}
|-
|[[General (United Kingdom)|General]]
|Sir [[Mark Carleton-Smith]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|CBE|DL}}
|[[Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the General Staff]] and [[Director Special Forces]]
|{{age|1964|2|9}}
|}
=== Honorary Knights and Dames Grand Cross ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Country
!Name
!Office when appointed
!Year of appointment
!Present age
!Notes
|-
|[[Portugal]]
|[[António Ramalho Eanes]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Portugal]]
|1978
|{{age|1935|1|25}}
|Recipient of the [[Royal Victorian Chain]]
|-
|[[Nigeria]]
|[[Ibrahim Babangida]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Nigeria]]
|1989
|{{age|1941|8|17}}
|
|-
|[[Iceland]]
|[[Vigdís Finnbogadóttir]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBfh|GCMGfh}}
|[[President of Iceland]]
|1990
|{{age|1930|4|15}}
|
|-
|[[Poland]]
|[[Lech Wałęsa]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Poland]]
|1991
|{{age|1943|9|29}}
|
|-
|[[Brunei]]
|[[Hassanal Bolkiah]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBfh|GCMGfh}}
|[[Sultan of Brunei]]
|1992
|{{age|1946|7|15}}
|In both the Military and Civil Divisions; also [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Honorary Admiral]] in the [[Royal Navy]], [[General (United Kingdom)|Honorary General]] in the [[British Army]] and [[Air chief marshal|Honorary Air Chief Marshal]] in the [[Royal Air Force]]
|-
|Poland
|[[Aleksander Kwaśniewski]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBfh|GCMGfh}}
|[[President of Poland]]
|1996
|{{age|1954|11|15}}
|
|-
|[[Brazil]]
|[[Fernando Henrique Cardoso]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Brazil]]
|1997
|{{age|1931|6|18}}
|
|-
|[[Jordan]]
|[[Abdullah II of Jordan]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh|GCMGh|GCVOh}}
|[[List of kings of Jordan|King of Jordan]]
| rowspan="2" |2001
|{{age|1962|1|30}}
|Colonel-in-Chief of the [[Light Dragoons]]
|-
|[[South Africa]]
|[[Thabo Mbeki]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBfh|GCMGfh|KStJ}}
|[[President of South Africa]]
|{{age|1942|6|18}}
|
|-
|Nigeria
|[[Olusegun Obasanjo]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Nigeria]]
|2003
|{{age|1937|3|5}}
|
|-
|[[Malta]]
|[[Eddie Fenech Adami]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Malta]]
|2005
|{{age|1934|2|7}}
|
|-
|Brazil
|[[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Brazil]]
| rowspan="4" |2006
|{{age|1945|10|27}}
|
|-
|[[Lithuania]]
|[[Valdas Adamkus]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Lithuania]]
|{{age|1926|11|3}}
|
|-
|[[Latvia]]
|[[Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBfh|OC|OQ}}{{Post-nominals|country=CAN|sep=,|OQ}}
|[[President of Latvia]]
|{{age|1937|12|1}}
|
|-
|[[Estonia]]
|[[Toomas Hendrik Ilves]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Estonia]]
|{{age|1953|12|26}}
|
|-
|[[Ghana]]
|[[John Kufuor]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Ghana]]
|2007
|{{age|1938|12|8}}
|
|-
|[[Turkey]]
|[[Abdullah Gül]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Turkey]]
| rowspan="3" |2008
|{{age|1949|10|29}}
|
|-
|[[France]]
|[[Nicolas Sarkozy]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of France]]
|{{age|1955|1|18}}
|
|-
|[[Slovenia]]
|[[Danilo Türk]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Slovenia]]
|{{age|1952|2|19}}
|
|-
|[[Mexico]]
|[[Felipe Calderón]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Mexico]]
|2009
|{{age|1962|9|18}}
|
|-
|South Africa
|[[Jacob Zuma]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of South Africa]]
| rowspan="2" |2010
|{{age|1942|4|12}}
|
|-
|[[Qatar]]
|[[Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh|GCMGh}}
|[[Emir of Qatar]]
|{{age|1952|1|1}}
|
|-
|[[Indonesia]]
|[[Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh|GCL|AC}}
|[[President of Indonesia]]
|2012
|{{age|1949|9|9}}
|
|-
|[[South Korea]]
|[[Park Geun-hye]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBfh}}
|[[President of South Korea]]
|2013
|{{age|1952|2|2}}
|
|-
|France
|[[François Hollande]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBfh}}, {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|sep=,|OQ}}
|[[President of France]]
| rowspan="2" |2014
|{{age|1954|8|12}}
|
|-
|[[Singapore]]
|[[Tony Tan]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Singapore]]
|{{age|1940|2|7}}
|
|-
|Mexico
|[[Enrique Peña Nieto]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Mexico]]
| rowspan="2" |2015
|{{age|1966|7|2}}
|
|-
|Germany
|[[Joachim Gauck]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Germany]]
|{{age|1940|1|24}}
|
|-
|[[Colombia]]
|[[Juan Manuel Santos]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Colombia]]
|2016
|{{age|1951|8|10}}
|
|-
|South Africa
|[[Cyril Ramaphosa]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of South Africa]]
|2022
|{{age|1952|11|17}}
|
|-
|Germany
|[[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh}}
|[[President of Germany]]
| rowspan="3" |2023
|{{age|1956|1|5}}
|
|-
|France
|[[Emmanuel Macron]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBh|CBEh}}
|[[President of France]]
|{{age|1977|12|21}}
|
|-
|South Korea
|[[Yoon Suk Yeol]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBfh}}
|[[President of South Korea]]
|{{age|1960|12|19}}
|
|-
|Qatar
|[[Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBfh}}
|[[Emir of Qatar]]
|2024
|{{age|1980|6|3}}
|
|-
|[[Italy]]
|[[Sergio Mattarella]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCBfh|KBEh}}
|[[President of Italy]]
|2025
|{{age|1941|7|23}}
|
|}
=== Officers ===
[[File:Coat of Arms of Peter Squire.svg|thumb|280px|Coat of arms of the Air Chief Marshal Sir [[Peter Squire]], Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath|alt=]]
The Order of the Bath now{{When|date=June 2022}} has six officers:<ref>''Court Circular'', 17 May 2006.</ref>
* '''Dean''': [[Dean of Westminster]] ''(ex officio)'', the Very Rev. [[David Hoyle (priest)|David Hoyle]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KCVO|MBE}}
* '''[[Bath King of Arms|King of Arms]]''': Air Chief Marshal Sir [[Stephen Dalton]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|GCB|3=FRAeS}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 December 2018 |title=Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3162919 |access-date=22 December 2018 |website=TheGazette.co.uk |publisher=The London Gazette, HM Government}}</ref>
* '''Registrar and Secretary''': Major General [[James Gordon (British Army officer, born 1957)|James Gordon]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|CB|CBE}}<ref name="The London Gazette, HM Government">{{Cite web |date=5 July 2024 |title=Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4652085 |access-date=6 July 2024 |website=TheGazette.co.uk |publisher=The London Gazette, HM Government}}</ref>
* '''Deputy Secretary''': Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave
* '''Genealogist''': [[David White (officer of arms)|David White]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|OStJ}}, [[Garter Principal King of Arms]]
* [[Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod|'''Lady Usher of the Scarlet Rod''']]: Major General [[Susan Ridge]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|CB}}<ref name="The London Gazette, HM Government"/>
== See also ==
{{Portal|United Kingdom|Monarchy|Heraldry|History}}
For people who have been appointed to the Order of the Bath, see the following categories:
* [[:Category: Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]
* [[:Category: Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]
* [[:Category: Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath]]
* [[:Category: Dames Commander of the Order of the Bath]]
* [[:Category: Knights Companion of the Order of the Bath]]
* [[List of knights and dames grand cross of the Order of the Bath]]
* [[List of knights companion of the Order of the Bath]]
* [[:Category: Knights of the Bath]]
* [[:Category: Companions of the Order of the Bath]]
* [[List of honorary British knights and dames]]
* [[List of people who have declined a British honour]]
* [[List of revocations of appointments to orders and awarded decorations and medals of the United Kingdom]]
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
===Bibliograpghy===
* {{Cite book|last=Anstis|first=John|author-link=John Anstis|date=1752|title=Observations introductory to an historical essay, upon the Knighthood of the Bath|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pQZcAAAAcAAJ|publisher=James Woodman|___location=London}}
* {{Cite book|last=Galloway|first=Peter|date=2006|title=The Order of the Bath|publisher=Phillimore|isbn=1-86077-399-0}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Hanham|first=Andrew|date=2016|title=The Politics of Chivalry: Sir Robert Walpole, the Duke of Montagu and the Order of the Bath|journal=Parliamentary History|volume=35|number=3|pages=262–297|doi=10.1111/1750-0206.12236}}
* {{cite book|last1=Marks|first1=Richard|last2=Payne|first2=Ann|title=British Heraldry from Its Origins to C. 1800|publisher=British Museum Publications Ltd|___location=London|year=1978|isbn=978-0-71410-086-9}}
* {{Cite book|last=Nicolas|first=Nicholas H.|date=1842|title=History of the orders of knighthood of the British empire, Vol iii|___location=London}}
* {{Cite book|last=Perkins|first=Jocelyn|date=1920|title=The Most Honourable Order of the Bath : a descriptive and historical account|url=https://archive.org/details/mosthonourableor00perkrich|edition=2nd|publisher=Faith Press|___location=London}}
* {{Cite book|last=Risk|first=James C.|date=1972|title=The History of the Order of the Bath and its Insignia|publisher=Spink & Son|___location=London|isbn=978-0-90069-649-7}}
* {{Cite book|title=Statutes of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath|date=1725|___location=London}}
* {{Cite book|title=Statutes of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath|date=1812|___location=London}}
* {{Cite book|title=Statutes of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath|date=1847|___location=London}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/21127/page/2242|title=Special statute of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath|website=TheGazette.co.uk|publisher=[[London Gazette]]|date=1850|access-date=16 June 2020}}
* {{Cite book|title=Statutes of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath|date=1925|___location=London}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page5296.asp|title=Royal Insight > Focus: The Order of the Bath|website=Royal.gov.uk|publisher=Official website of the British monarchy|date=May 2006|access-date=9 September 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929220811/http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page5296.asp|archive-date=29 September 2006}}
==Further reading==
* [http://www.heraldicsculptor.com/bath.html Brennan, I. G. (2004). "The Most Honourable Order of the Bath".]
* [[Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society]]. [http://cuhags.soc.srcf.net/orderofc/bath.html (2002, 2020). "The Most Honourable Order of the Bath".]
* [http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/order_precedence.htm Velde, F. R. (2003). "Order of Precedence in England and Wales".]
==External links==
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Order of the Bath.ogg|date=2005-04-11}}
{{Commons category-inline|Order of the Bath}}
* [https://www.centralchancery.org.uk/orders-of-chivalry/the-most-honourable-order-of-the-bath/ Order of the Bath] – Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood
* [https://www.royal.uk/the-order-of-the-bath The Order of the Bath] – Royal Household website
* [https://honours.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/about/orders-and-medals/#bath Order of the Bath] – UK Cabinet Office
* [https://www.gov.uk/honours/types-of-honours-and-awards The British honours system] – UK Government
{{Grand Masters of the Order of the Bath}}
{{Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom}}
{{Orders, decorations, and medals of Australia before 1992}}
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[[Category:Orders of chivalry awarded to heads of state, consorts and sovereign family members|Bath, Order of the]]
[[Category:Orders of chivalry of the United Kingdom|Bath]]
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