One of the highest orders of the Empire of Britannia. Though lesser than the Orders of the Round Table, the Garter, Thistle, St. Patrick and the Orchid, it is the one to which almost a quarter of Britannia's new knights for merit (as opposed to members of the Knightmare Corps and Knights of Honour, who serve outside of orders to one member of the Royal & Imperial Family).
Greatly inspired by the magnificent Lord

and his Order of Merit. The unlabeled circlet is the heraldic depiction of the order.
The order (instituted 1903 a.t.b.) is awarded at the pleasure of HIM The Empress of Britannia. Government and members of the Royal & Imperial House may propose new members. Usually this is HIH The Princess Cornelia in her position as Supreme Commander of the Imperial Armed Forces. It is awarded for 'conspicious gallancy in the presence of the enemy'. The postnominals are ME, OE, CE, GCE and KE.
Code Geass is not mine.