Knight Bachelor
The title of Knight Bachelor (Latin: Eques auratus, lit. 'gilded knight', abbreviated eq. aur.) is the basic rank granted to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not inducted as a member of one of the organised orders of chivalry; it is a part of the British honours system.[1] Knights Bachelor are the most ancient sort of British knight[2] (the rank existed during the 13th-century reign of King Henry III), but Knights Bachelor rank below knights of chivalric orders. A man who is knighted is formally addressed as "Sir [First Name] [Surname]" or "Sir [First Name]" and his wife as "Lady [Surname]".
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Knight Bachelor | |
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![]() The insignia of a knight bachelor devised in 1926 | |
Awarded by Monarch of the United Kingdom | |
Awarded for | Public service |
Status | Currently constituted |
Sovereign | Charles III |
Knight Principal | Sir Gary Hickinbottom |
![]() Ribbon bar of the Knight Bachelor Medal |