What Is A Damehood?
A Damehood is an honorary noble title. It is the female equivalent of a Knighthood.
Modern Damehoods are granted by kings or queens, usually for outstanding service or contribution to worthwhile causes.
Damehoods are a relatively new type of noble title. They were introduced in Britain in 1917.
Although a Damehood is regarded as the female equivalent of a Knighthood, unlike many noble titles, the honor and status is not shared by marriage. For example, a woman marrying a Count would typically become a Countess by default. Yet a woman marrying a Knight would not become a Dame, instead she would be styled as a Lady.
A Damehood is not a hereditary title. Similar to modern Knighthoods, a Damehood is an honor designated to the recipient and not transferable to future generations.
Damehood Ceremony
Like Knighthoods, Damehoods are usually awarded at a special ceremony. This is called an investiture, and the awards are usually presented by a member of royalty or the head of the Order.
The popular image of this kind of award features the recipient kneeling before a king or queen, who places a sword on their shoulder, before pronouncing that they ‘Arise’, addressing them with their new salutation.
Although this is a compelling visual, in reality, the monarch does not address the recipient this way. The ceremonial appointment with the royal sword is also not a feature of every ceremony. Women receiving Damehoods, along with clergymen receiving Knighthoods, and foreign citizens, are not ‘dubbed’ with a sword. They are simply presented with their insignia, a special medal to signify their new honor and status.
Famous Damehoods
Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier, the novelist and author of the classic Gothic love story, Rebecca, was awarded a Damehood in 1969, one of an increasing number of women in the arts receiving the notable award.
Iris Murdoch
Another female writer to be honored for her contribution to literature, Iris Murdoch received her Damehood in 1987.
Barbara Cartland
Dame Barbara Cartland is perhaps one of the most well-known recipients of a Damehood. As the author of over 700 books, and beloved by millions of readers around the world, she was made a Dame in 1991. Although this royal honor was in recognition of her writing, Barbara Cartland already had connections to the British Royal Family -her daughter Raine Spencer was the step-mother of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Diana Rigg
Popular actress Diana Rigg, of the original Avengers fame, received her Damehood award in 1994, in recognition of her lifelong career in film and television.
Norma Major
As the wife of a British Prime Minister, Norma Major was no stranger to the world of good works and philanthropy. In 1999, she was awarded a Damehood as an official gesture of recognition of her contribution to society.
Julie Andrews
In 2000, the popular actress Julie Andrews was awarded a Damehood, joining the ranks of many esteemed British actresses to be singled out for the honor. Julie Andrews is perhaps best known for her role in the immensely popular film, The Sound of Music, though she has been a much-loved icon of the entertainment industry for many years.
Anya Hindmarch
The popular fashion designer Anya Hindmarch, was recognised for her work with a Damehood in 2024. Along with her services to fashion, she has also become recognised for her charity work and ambassadorship.
Tracey Emin
Controversial Brit-Pop artist, Tracey Emin was officially inducted into the British establishment with a Damehood, awarded in 2024. The honor was in recognition of her contribution to the Arts.
American Damehoods
Many people assume that modern Knighthoods and Damehoods can only be awarded to citizens who live in the country of the awarding monarch. Yet there are a number of foreign nationals who have been awarded honors by Orders beyond their home country.
Melinda Gates
In 2005 Melinda Gates attended the award ceremony for her husband Bill’s honorary Knighthood. In 2013, Melinda was back in Britain to receive her own award, a Damehood in recognition of her philanthropic work with her husband through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie may have made her name as a famous actress but has gone on to establish herself as a committed humanitarian and United Nations Ambassador. In 2014, her efforts were recognised with a historic Damehood, from an Order dating back to the Napoleonic Wars.
Fictional Damehoods
Dame Edna Everage
Purple-haired Australian comedienne, ‘Dame Edna Everage’, has become a well-known name in entertainment and popular culture. It’s probably no surprise that the drag act, created by Barry Humphries, was not a real Dame. Her fictional Damehood was part of a brand upgrade designed to establish her persona as a ‘Gigastar’.
How To Become A Dame
Although it’s commonly believed that the only way to become a legitimate Dame is to be awarded a Damehood from one of the elite royal or noble orders, there’s an alternative route to acquiring this esteemed and captivating title.
It’s possible to become a Dame by purchasing one of the rare genuine Damehoods that are available to buy. This option may not be familiar to many people, but it’s a bona fide way to acquire an elevated social rank that can bring many surprising benefits.
Although the purchasing of a noble title may seem at odds with the hereditary nature of many aristocratic ranks, it’s a practice that the nobles of the ages would be familiar with. Throughout the centuries, there have been many occasions when a noble family would, for a variety of reasons, offer their rank and titles for sale. There have even been occasions when monarchs have created aristocratic ranks, purely for the purpose of selling them to wealthy nobles and generating funds for the sovereign purse.
These days, the process of buying a Damehood is as simple as carefully selecting the right source and completing an online transaction. If you would like to shortcut your path to the noble rank of Dame, this option can be a smart way to secure a future of enhanced social standing, priority treatment, and peer respect.