The Order of St Michael and St George was originally awarded to those holding commands or high position in the Mediterranean territories acquired in the Napoleonic Wars, and it was subsequently extended to holders of similar office or position in other territories of the British Empire.

The third of the aforementioned Orders—which relates to Ireland, no longer fully a part of the United Kingdom—still exists but is in disuse; no appointments have been made to it since 1936.

A revision of the basis of the Order in 1868, saw membership granted to those who "hold high and confidential offices within Her Majesty's colonial possessions, and in reward for services rendered to the Crown in relation to the foreign affairs of the Empire".

Accordingly, nowadays, almost all Governors-General and Governors feature as recipients of awards in the order, typically as Knights or Dames Grand Cross.

The office was formerly filled by the Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands; now, however, Grand Masters are chosen by the Sovereign.

Blue Rod does not, unlike the usher of the Order of the Garter, perform any duties related to the House of Lords.

Members of the Order wear elaborate regalia on important occasions (such as coronations), which vary by rank: At less important occasions, simpler insignia are used: Prior to 2011, the devil was portrayed with black skin while St Michael was shown as being white; this was changed that year to show both with same skin colour, although St Michael's wings were changed from being multi-colour to being pure white.

[7][8][9] In June 2020, calls were made for a complete redesign of the insignia,[8] including from Sir Michael Palin of Monty Python fame, a Knight Commander of the Order[10] In July, the Cabinet Office announced that officers of the Order who were unhappy with their insignia could exchange them for one of the newer models.

(The cathedral also serves as home to the chapels of the Order of the British Empire and the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor.)

The Sovereign and the Knights and Dames Grand Cross are allotted stalls in the choir of the chapel, above which their heraldic devices are displayed.

Under English heraldic law, women other than monarchs do not bear helms or crests; instead, the coronet appropriate to the dame's rank, if there is one, is used.

In the satirical British television programme Yes Minister, Jim Hacker MP is told a joke[13] by his Private Secretary, Bernard Woolley, about what the various post-nominals stand for.

Ian Fleming's spy, James Bond, a commander in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR), was fictionally decorated as a CMG in 1953.

[14] The general release on 30 September 2021 of his last appearance as James Bond, in No Time to Die, had been delayed by almost two years due to a change of director and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coinciding with the film's premiere, and matching his fictional character's rank, Craig became an Honorary Commander in Britain's Royal Navy.