Do women get knighted in England these days?

Question

If so, when was the first woman knighted?

Answer 1

Modern knighthoods are typically awarded in recognition for services.

Women cannot get knighted, the female equivalent of Knight is a Dame (Dame of the British Empire).

The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are:

Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE)

Knight Commander (KBE) or Dame Commander (DBE)

Commander (CBE)

Officer (OBE)

Member (MBE)

If a Knight's wife is known as 'Lady', the husbands of Dames have no honorific; hence Dame X's husband remains Mr. X.

Answer 2

I think they become dames of the realm (or something like that!)  What about it, you people from England?

Answer 3

they sure do but it's not called knighted.

Answer 4

Yes, the ceremony for a woman being knighted is the same as knighting a man, however, a woman will be called the "Dame Grand Cross" rather than the "Knight Grand Cross" traditionally for men. Dame Grand Cross is the most senior grade of seven British orders of chivalry, four of which are obsolete. The rank entails admission into knighthood, allowing the recipient to use the title 'Dame' before his or her name.  

The title "Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire" was created from the Order's creation in 1917, and the first female to be knighted was Dame Katharine Furse, GBE, RRC (23 November 1875, Bristol – d. 25 November 1952, London), founder of the English Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) force, was born Katharine Symonds, daughter of the poet and critic John Addington Symonds and Janet Catherine Symonds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katharine_F...

The first female to be knighted as Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2nd highest rank) was also created from the Order's Creation in 1917. Lucy, Lady Houston, DBE (April 8, 1857 — December 29, 1936), born f***y Lucy Radmall, was an English benefactor, philanthropist, adventuress and patriot. In 1919 Lucy, then Lady Byron, was appointed Dame for her support of a home for nurses who had served in the First World War.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy,_Lady_...

Answer 5

Women cannot be knighted.They have a damehood conferred upon them for services to the country, the crown ,the Arts.etc., for example Dame Helen Mirren, Dame Judi Dench.

Margaret Thatcher, the former British Prime Minster was created Baroness Thatcher on her retirement which is roughly equivalent to being knighted.