An MBE is a special honour in Britain. The letters stand for Member of the Order of the British Empire. The king or queen gives it to people for good work they have done for the country — teaching, charity, sport, local service, the arts, and so on. It is not a job, not a university degree, and not a prize you can simply apply for; a person is chosen and then invited to receive it, often at a palace. There are other honours in the same family that rank higher, such as OBE and CBE. Having an MBE does not make you a lord or a lady; it is a respected medal, and people may write the letters after their name.