Royal Victorian Order

"RVO" redirects here. For other uses, see RVO (disambiguation).

"LVO" redirects here. For the large countable ordinal, see Large Veblen ordinal.

British order of chivalry established in 1896

Royal Victorian Order

Breast star of Knights/Dames Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order

Awarded by Charles III
Type| Dynastic order
Established| 21 April 1896
Motto| Victoria
Awarded for| Personal service to the Sovereign
Status| Currently constituted
Founder| Victoria
Sovereign| Charles III
Grand Master| Anne, Princess Royal
Chancellor| Richard Benyon, Baron Benyon
Grades|

* Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCVO)
* Knight/Dame Commander (KCVO/DCVO)
* Commander (CVO)
* Lieutenant (LVO)
* Member (MVO)

Statistics
First induction| 1896
Precedence
Next (higher)| Dependent on state
Next (lower)| Dependent on state

Ribbon of an ordinary member of the order

Ribbon of an honorary member of the order

The Royal Victorian Order (French: Ordre royal de Victoria)[a] is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the monarch, members of the royal family, or to any viceroy or senior representative of the monarch.[1][2] The present monarch, King Charles III, is the sovereign of the order. The order's motto is Victoria. The order's official day is 20 June.[b] The order's chapel is the Savoy Chapel in London.

There is no limit on the number of individuals honoured at any grade.[3] Admission is at the sole discretion of the monarch.[3] Each of the order's five grades represent different levels of service, as does the medal, which has three levels of service. While all those honoured may use the prescribed styles of the order – the top two grades grant titles of knighthood, and all grades accord distinct post-nominal letters – the Royal Victorian Order's precedence amongst other honours differs from realm to realm and admission to some grades may be barred to citizens of those realms by government policy.

## History

[edit]

Queen Victoria in 1897, the year after she founded the Royal Victorian Order

Prior to the close of the 19th century, most general honours within the British Empire were bestowed by the sovereign on the advice of her British ministers, who sometimes forwarded advice from ministers of the Crown in the Dominions and colonies (appointments to the then most senior orders of chivalry, the Order of the Garter and the Order of the Thistle, had been made on ministerial advice since the 18th century and were not restored to the personal gift of the sovereign until 1946 and 1947, respectively[4]). Queen Victoria thus established on 21 April 1896 the Royal Victorian Order as a junior and personal order of knighthood that allowed her to bestow directly to an empire-wide community honours for personal services.[3][1][5][6] The organisation was founded a year before Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, so as to give the Queen time to complete a list of first inductees. The order's official day was made 20 June of each year, marking the anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession to the throne.[6]

In 1902, King Edward VII created the Royal Victorian Chain "as a personal decoration for royal personages and a few eminent British subjects" and it was the highest class of the Royal Victorian Order.[7] It is today distinct from the order, though it is officially issued by the chancery of the Royal Victorian Order.

The order was open to foreigners from its inception, with the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes and the Mayor of Nice being the first foreigners to receive the honour in 1896.[3]

## Composition

[edit]

The reigning monarch is at the apex of the Royal Victorian Order as its Sovereign, followed by the Grand Master; the latter position was created in 1937 and was occupied by Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) from that date until her death in 2002. Queen Elizabeth II then appointed her daughter, Anne, Princess Royal,[8] to the position in 2007. Below the Grand Master are five officials of the organisation: the Chancellor, held by the Lord Chamberlain; the Secretary, held by the Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the King; the Registrar, held by the Secretary to the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood; the Chaplain, held by the Chaplain of the King's Chapel of the Savoy; and the Genealogist.[9]

Thereafter follow those honoured with different grades of the order, divided into five levels: the highest two conferring accolades of knighthood and all having post-nominal letters and, lastly, the holders of the Royal Victorian Medal in gold, silver or bronze.[1] Foreigners may be admitted as honorary members. There are no limits to the number of any grade, and promotion is possible. The styles of knighthood are not used by princes, princesses, or peers in the uppermost ranks of the society, save for when their names are written in their fullest forms for the most official occasions. Retiring Deans of the Royal Peculiars of St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle and Westminster Abbey are customarily inducted as Knights Commander; clergymen appointed to the higher levels of the Royal Victorian Order do not use the associated styles, however, and honorary members are not permitted to hold them at all.

Prior to 1984, the grades of Lieutenant and Member were classified as Members (fourth class) and Members (fifth class), respectively, but both with the post-nominals MVO. On 31 December of that year, Queen Elizabeth II declared that those in the grade of Member (fourth class) would henceforth be Lieutenants with the post-nominals LVO.[9]

Grades of the Royal Victorian Order

Grade  | Knight Grand Cross  | Dame Grand Cross  | Knight Commander  | Dame Commander  | Commander  | Lieutenant  | Member  | Royal Victorian Medal[c]
Prefix  | Sir | Dame | Sir | Dame | —  | —  | —  | —
Post-nominals  | GCVO  | KCVO  | DCVO  | CVO  | LVO  | MVO  | RVM
Insignia  |  |  |  |  |

## Insignia and vestments

[edit]

Mantle of the order bearing the star of a Knight Grand Cross

Upon admission into the Royal Victorian Order, members are given various insignia. Common for all members is the badge, which is a Maltese cross with a central medallion depicting on a red background the Royal Cypher of Queen Victoria surrounded by a blue ring bearing the motto of the order – victoria (victory) – and surmounted by a Tudor crown.[9] However, there are variations on the badge for each grade of the order: Knights and Dames Grand Cross on certain formal occasions (see below) wear the badge suspended from the Order's collar (chain), but otherwise on a sash passing from the right shoulder to the left hip; Knight Commanders and male Commanders wear the badge on a ribbon at the neck; male Lieutenants and Members wear the badge from a ribbon on the left chest;[6] and women in all grades below Dame Grand Cross wear the badge on a bow pinned at the left shoulder. For Knights and Dames Grand Cross, Commanders, and Lieutenants, the Maltese cross is rendered in white enamel with gold edging, while that for Knights and Dames Commander (on the star) and Members (the badge itself) is in silver.[6] Further, the size of the badge varies by rank, that for the higher classes being larger, and Knights and Dames Grand Cross and Knights and Dames Commander have their crosses surrounded by a star: for the former, an eight-pointed silver star, and for the latter, an eight-pointed silver Maltese cross with silver rays between each arm.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (in 2013, as the Countess of Wessex) wearing the riband of a Dame Grand Cross of the Order

The medal bears the effigy and name of the reigning sovereign at the time of its awarding, as well as the phrase DEI • GRATIA • REX (or REGINA) • F.D. (by the grace of God, King (or Queen), Defender of the Faith), and on the reverse is the Royal Cypher upon an ornamental shield within a laurel wreath. Bars may be awarded to each class of medal for further services, and should recipients be awarded a higher level of medal or be appointed to a grade of the order itself, they may continue to wear their original medal along with the new insignia.

The order's ribbon is blue with red-white-red stripe edging, the only difference being that for foreigners appointed into the society, their ribbon bears an additional central white stripe. For Knights Grand Cross, the ribbon is 82.5 millimetres (3.25 in) wide, for Dames Grand Cross 57.1 millimetres (2.25 in), for Knights and Dames Commander 44.4 millimetres (1.75 in), and for all other members 31.7 millimetres (1.25 in).[9]

At formal events, or collar days, of which there are 34 throughout the year, such as New Year's Day and royal anniversaries,[8] Knights and Dames Grand Cross wear the Royal Victorian Order's livery collar, consisting of an alternating string of octagonal gold pieces depicting a gold rose on a blue field and gold oblong frames within which are one of four inscriptions: Victoria, Britt. Reg. (Queen of the Britons), Def. Fid. (fidei defensor, or Defender of the Faith), and Ind. Imp. (Empress of India). The chain supports a larger octagonal medallion with a blue enamel surface edged in red and charged with a saltire, over which is an effigy of Queen Victoria; members of the order suspend from this medallion their insignia as a badge apendant.[8][9] Though after the death of a Knight or Dame Grand Cross their insignia may be retained by their family, the collar must be returned. Knights and Dames Grand Cross also wear a mantle of dark blue satin edged with red satin and lined with white satin, bearing a representation of the order's star on the left side.[9]

## Chapel

[edit]

The King's Chapel of the Savoy, which acts as the chapel of the Royal Victorian Order (photographed in 2020). The banners are those of the Sovereign (right) and of the Grand Master (left) of the Order as they were then in office.

Since 1938, the chapel of the Royal Victorian Order has been the King's Chapel of the Savoy,[3] in central London, England. However, the population of the order has grown to the point that the Savoy chapel can no longer accommodate the gathering of members held every four years, and St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle is now employed for the event.[3][8]

The Sovereign and Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the order are allotted stalls in the Savoy chapel's choir, and on the back of each stall is affixed a brass plate displaying the occupant's name, coat of arms, and date of admission into the organisation. Upon the occupant's death, the plate is retained, leaving the stalls festooned with a record of the order's Knights and Dames Grand Cross since 1938. The only heraldic banners normally on display in the chapel are those of the Sovereign of the Royal Victorian Order and of the Grand Master of the Royal Victorian Order as there is insufficient space in the chapel for more knights' and dames' banners or other heraldic devices.

The Chaplain of the King's Chapel of the Savoy is ex officio the Chaplain to the Royal Victorian Order. The current incumbent is Canon Thomas Woodhouse.[10]

## Eligibility and appointment

[edit]

Coat of arms of Lord Baden-Powell, showing the circlet of the Royal Victorian Order around the escutcheon and the order's insignia suspended underneath The Royal Victorian Order's heraldic circlet, as viewed when laid out flat

Membership in the Royal Victorian Order is conferred by the monarch without ministerial advice on those who have performed personal service for the sovereign.[8]

Foreign members will generally be admitted as honorary members of the Royal Victorian Order when the sovereign is making a state visit to the individual's country or a head of state is paying a state visit to the United Kingdom.[8]

### Canadians

[edit]

As admission to the top two levels of the organisation provides for an honorary prefix, Canadians are not normally appointed to these levels as long as the monarch's Canadian ministry adheres to the Nickle Resolution of 1919.

As it was deemed by the Canadian Cabinet to be an honour within the gift of the monarch,[11] the appointment of Canadians to the order resumed in 1972 and eligibility was extended to those who render services to the monarch's representatives in the country;[1] officials within the provincial spheres being included after 1984.[12] Originally, the sovereign chose inductees personally, though the Governor General of Canada and the Canadian Secretary to the King could provide suggestions, some passed to them by the lieutenant governors. The practice of notifying the Prime Minister of Canada of nominees ended in 1982, to distance the order as far from politics as possible.[12]

It was reported in 2008 that some in the Chancellery of Honours at Rideau Hall wished to eliminate the Royal Victorian Order from the Canadian honours system and sometimes contested when a Canadian was appointed; however, no formal changes were ever planned.[1] In Canada, the order has come to be colloquially dubbed as the "Royal Visit Order", as the majority of appointments had been made by the then sovereign during her tours of the country.[1]

#### Association

[edit]

The Royal Victorian Order Association of Canada exists for all Canadians appointed to the order or who have received the Royal Victorian Medal; it is the only such organisation in the Commonwealth realms.[13] Founded by Michael Jackson,[14] the group has, since 2008, gathered biennially.[13]

## Precedence

[edit]

As the Royal Victorian Order is open to the citizens of fifteen countries, each with their own system of orders, decorations, and medals, the RVO's place of precedence varies from country to country. Some are as follows:

Country | Preceding | RVO grade | Following

|
|
|

Australia
Order of precedence[* 1] | Knight/Dame of the Order of Australia (AK/AD) | Knight/Dame Grand Cross | Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)
Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) | Knight/Dame Commander  | Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)
Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) | Commander  | Star of Gallantry (SG)
Member of the Order of Australia (AM) | Lieutenant  | Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO)
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) | Member  | Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC)
Australian Antarctic Medal (AAM) | Medal  | Commendation for Gallantry
Canada
Order of precedence[* 2] | Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (COM) | Commander  | Officer of the Order of Military Merit (OMM)
Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (OOM) | Lieutenant  | Member of the Order of Military Merit (MMM)
Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (MOM) | Member  | Venerable Order of Saint John (GC/K/D/C/O/M/SB/SSStJ)
Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) | Medal  | Sacrifice Medal
New Zealand
Order of precedence | Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) | Knight/Dame Grand Cross | Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)
Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG/DCMG) | Knight/Dame Commander | Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE/DBE)
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) | Commander | Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) | Lieutenant | Companion of the Queen's Service Order (QSO)
Companion of the Imperial Service Order (ISO) | Member  | Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM)
New Zealand Bravery Medal (NZBM) | Medal | Queen's Service Medal (QSM)
United Kingdom |  England and
Wales
Order of precedence | Knight/Dame Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) | Knight/Dame Grand Cross  | Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)
Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE/DCIE) | Knight/Dame Commander  | Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE/DBE)
Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) | Commander  | Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) | Lieutenant  | Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Eldest son of Knight Bachelor | Member  | Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Scotland
Order of precedence | Knight/Dame Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) | Knight/Dame Grand Cross  | Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)
Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE/DCIE) | Knight/Dame Commander  | Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE/DBE)
Sheriffs | Commander  | Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) | Lieutenant  | Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Eldest son of Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Member  | Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Northern Ireland
Order of precedence | Knight/Dame Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) | Knight/Dame Grand Cross  | Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)
Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE/DCIE) | Knight/Dame Commander  | Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE/DBE)
Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) | Commander  | Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) | Lieutenant  | Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Eldest son of Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Member  | Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

1. ^ The order is different for honours received prior to 6 October 1992.
2. ^ The order is different for honours received prior to 1 June 1972.

In the United Kingdom, the wives of male members of all classes also feature on the order of precedence, as do sons, daughters and daughters-in-law of Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commanders; relatives of Dames, however, are not assigned any special precedence. As a general rule, individuals can derive precedence from their fathers or husbands, but not from their mothers or wives.

## Current Knights and Dames Grand Cross

[edit]

### Sovereign and Grand Master

[edit]

Name  | Year of appointment | Present age

|
|

The King (ex officio)  | Sovereign since 2022  | 76
The Princess Royal KG, KT, GCVO, GCStJ, QSO, GCL, CMM, CD, ADC | 1974 as Dame Grand Cross; Grand Master since 2007  | 74

### Knights and Dames Grand Cross

[edit]

Name  | Known for  | Year of

appointment

| Present

age

|
|
|

The Duke of Kent KG, GCMG, GCVO, CD, ADC | Royal Family  | 1960  | 89
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy KG, GCVO, CD | 87
The Duke of Gloucester KG, GCVO, GCStJ, SSI | 1974  | 80
The Duchess of Kent GCVO | 1977  | 91
The Duchess of Gloucester LG, GCVO, DStJ, CD | 1989  | 78
Sir William Heseltine GCB, GCVO, AC, QSO, PC | Private Secretary to the Sovereign | 1990  | 94
Sir Brian Fall GCVO, KCMG | Ambassador to Russia and High Commissioner to Canada | 1994  | 86
Major General Sir Simon Cooper GCVO | Master of the Household | 2000  | 87–88
The Lord Luce KG, GCVO, PC, DL | Lord Chamberlain and Governor of Gibraltar | 88
Vice Admiral The Lord Sterling of Plaistow GCVO, CBE | Chairman of the Golden Jubilee Weekend Trust  | 2002  | 89
Prince Michael of Kent GCVO, KStJ, CD | Royal Family  | 2003  | 82
Sir John Holmes GCVO, KBE, CMG | Ambassador to France | 2004  | 73
Sir Peter Torry GCVO, KCMG | Ambassador to Germany and Ambassador to Spain | 76
The Earl Peel GCVO, PC, DL | Lord Chamberlain | 2006  | 77
The Lord Janvrin GCB, GCVO, QSO, PC | Private Secretary to the Sovereign | 2007  | 78
Sir Donald McKinnon ONZ, GCVO, PC | Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations | 2009  | 85
The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO, GCStJ, CD | Royal Family  | 2010  | 59
Sir Hugh Roberts GCVO, FSA | Surveyor of the Queen's Works of Art | 76
The Duke of York KG, GCVO, CD | Royal Family  | 2011  | 64
The Duke of Edinburgh KG, KT, GCVO, CD, , ADC | 60
Sir Michael Peat GCVO, FCA | Principal Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales  | 75
The Queen LG, LT, ONZ, GCVO, GBE, CSM, CD, PC | Royal Family  | 2012  | 77
Sir Alan Reid GCVO | Keeper of the Privy Purse | 77
The Baroness Hussey of North Bradley GCVO | Woman of the Bedchamber | 2013  | 85
Dame Mary Morrison GCVO | 85
The Lord Ricketts GCMG, GCVO | National Security Adviser and Permanent Under-Secretary of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office | 2014  | 72
The Lord Geidt GCB, GCVO, OBE, QSO, PC, FKC | Private Secretary to the Sovereign | 2017  | 63
Sir Stephen Lamport GCVO, DL | Receiver-General of Westminster Abbey | 2018  | 73
Lieutenant Colonel Sir Andrew Ford GCVO | Comptroller, Lord Chamberlain's Office | 67
The Princess of Wales GCVO, CH | Royal Family  | 2019  | 42
Field Marshal The Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank GCB, GCVO, OBE, DL | Gold Stick-in-Waiting | 86
The Lord Chartres GCVO, ChStJ, PC, FSA, FBS | Dean of the Chapel Royal | 77
The Lord Parker of Minsmere GCVO, KCB, PC | Lord Chamberlain | 2021  | 62
The Duke of Norfolk GCVO, DL | Earl Marshal | 2022  | 68
The Marquess of Cholmondeley GCVO, DL | Lord Great Chamberlain | 2023  | 64
The Earl of Dalhousie GCVO, CStJ, DL | Lord Steward | 76
The Lord Young of Old Windsor GCB, GCVO, PC | Private Secretary to the Sovereign | 58
David Conner GCVO | Dean of Windsor | 77
Justin Welby GCVO, PC | Archbishop of Canterbury | 2024  | 68
The Lord Benyon GCVO, PC | Lord Chamberlain | 2024  | 64

### Honorary Knights and Dames Grand Cross

[edit]

Country  | Name  | Known for  | Year of appointment | Present

age

| Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Japan | Emperor Akihito of Japan KG, GCVO | Emperor of Japan | 1953 as Crown Prince; Emperor from 1989; abdicated 2019  | 90  |
Norway | King Harald V of Norway KG, GCVO | King of Norway | 1955 as Prince Harald; King since 1991  | 87  | Recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain; also Honorary Colonel in the Royal Marines and Honorary General in the British Army
Netherlands | Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands LG, GCVO | Queen of the Netherlands | 1958 as Princess Beatrix; Queen from 1980; abdicated 2013  | 86  | Recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain
Ethiopian Empire | Prince Mengesha Seyoum GCVO | Prince of Ethiopia  | 1965  | 97  |
Belgium | King Albert II of Belgium GCVO | King of the Belgians | 1966 as Prince of Liège; King from 1993; abdicated 2013  | 90  |
Luxembourg | Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg GCVO | Grand Duke of Luxembourg | 1976 as Hereditary Grand Duke; Grand Duke since 2000  | 69  |
Morocco | King Mohammed VI of Morocco GCVO | King of Morocco | 1980 as Crown Prince; King since 1999  | 61  |
Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco GCVO | Princess of Morocco  | 1980  | 62  |
Malawi | Cecilia Kadzamira GCVO | Official Hostess of Malawi | 1985  | 86  |
Morocco  | Princess Lalla Asma of Morocco GCVO | Princess of Morocco  | 1987  | 59  |
Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco GCVO | Prince of Morocco  | 54  |
Spain | King Felipe VI of Spain KG, GCVO | King of Spain | 1988 as Prince of Asturias; King since 2014  | 56  |
Kuwait | Khaled Al-Duwaisan GCVO, KCMG | Kuwaiti diplomat  | 1995  | 77  |
Thailand | King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand GCVO | King of Thailand | 1996 as Crown Prince; King since 2016  | 72  |
Princess Sirindhorn, Princess Royal of Thailand GCVO | Princess Royal of Thailand  | 1996  | 69  |
Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand GCVO | Princess of Thailand  | 67  |
Brunei | Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, Crown Prince of Brunei GCVO | Crown Prince of Brunei  | 1998  | 50  |
Nigeria | Emeka Anyaoku GCVO | Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations | 2000  | 91  |
Oman | Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman GCMG, GCVO | Sultan of Oman | 2010 as Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq bin Taimur Al Said; Sultan since 2020  | 69  |
India | Kamalesh Sharma GCVO | Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations | 2016  | 83  |
Jordan | King Abdullah II of Jordan GCB, GCMG, GCVO | King of Jordan | 2024  | 62  |
Bahrain | King Hamad bin Isa of Bahrain GCVO, KCMG | King of Bahrain | 74  |

### Honorary Knights and Dames Commander

[edit]

Country  | Name  | Known for  | Year of appointment | Present

age

| Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Indonesia | Teuku Mohammad Hamzah Thayeb KCVO | Ambassador to the United Kingdom | 2012  | 72  |
South Korea | Lim Sung-nam KCVO | Ambassador to the United Kingdom | 2013  |  |
Singapore | Foo Chi Hsia DCVO | High Commissioner to the United Kingdom |  |
France | Bernard Émié KCVO | Ambassador to the United Kingdom | 2014  | 66  |
Mexico | Diego Gómez Pickering KCVO | Ambassador to the United Kingdom | 2015  | 47  |

### Officers

[edit]

* Chaplain: The Reverend Canon Thomas Woodhouse, as Chaplain of the King's Chapel of the Savoy, since 2019
* Chancellor: Richard Benyon, Baron Benyon GCVO, PC, as Lord Chamberlain, since November 2024
* Secretary: Sir Michael Stevens KCVO, as Keeper of the Privy Purse, since 2018
* Registrar: Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave, as Secretary of the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, since 2019

## See also

[edit]

Star and riband of a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order A detailed view of a stumpwork and goldwork embroidered star of a Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order

* List of knights grand cross of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by Victoria
* List of knights commander of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by Victoria
* List of knights grand cross of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by Edward VII
* List of knights commander of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by Edward VII
* List of knights grand cross of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by George V
* List of knights commander of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by George V
* List of knights and dames of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by Edward VIII
* List of knights and dames grand cross of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by George VI
* List of knights and dames commander of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by George VI
* List of knights and dames grand cross of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by Elizabeth II (1952–1977)
* List of knights and dames grand cross of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by Elizabeth II (1978–2002)
* List of knights and dames grand cross of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by Elizabeth II (2003–2022)
* List of knights and dames commander of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by Elizabeth II (1952–1977)
* List of knights and dames commander of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by Elizabeth II (1978–2002)
* List of knights and dames commander of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by Elizabeth II (2003–2022)
* List of knights and dames grand cross of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by Charles III
* List of knights and dames commander of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by Charles III
* Royal Victorian Chain
* Royal Victorian Medal
* List of people who have declined a British honour

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ For use in Canada, in accordance with the country's policy of official bilingualism.
2. ^ 20 June 1837 was Victoria's Accession Day.
3. ^ The Royal Victorian Medal does not make a person a member of the Order, but the award is associated with the Order.

## References

[edit]

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f Dundas, Charles (Spring 2008). "The Royal Victorian Order Conundrum" (PDF). Canadian Monarchist News. No. 28\. Toronto: Monarchist League of Canada. p. 6\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 November 2020.
2. ^ "Irene White Appointed to Royal Victorian Order" (Press release). Queen's Printer for Saskatchewan. 27 June 1995. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
3. ^ a b c d e f Royal Household. "The Queen and the UK > Queen and Honours > Royal Victorian Order". royal.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 19 July 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
4. ^ "Select Committee on Public Administration Fifth Report". Queen's Printer. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 8 November 2006.
5. ^ "No. 26733". The London Gazette. 24 April 1896. p. 2455.
6. ^ a b c d Office of the Governor General of Canada. "Honours > National Orders > Royal Victorian Order". Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original on 9 October 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
7. ^ "Birthday Honours – A Long List – Five New Peers – Many Baronets And Knights". The Times. 4 June 1917. p. 9\. "An interesting honour is that awarded to Lord Rosebery, upon whom the King has conferred the Royal Victorian Chain, the highest class of the Royal Victorian Order."
8. ^ a b c d e f "People > Honours > Orders of Chivalry > Royal Victorian Order". Debrett's Limited. Archived from the original on 21 October 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
9. ^ a b c d e f "The Royal Victorian Order". Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
10. ^ "The Royal Victorian Order". Retrieved 31 March 2023.
11. ^ McCreery 2008, p. 42.
12. ^ a b McCreery 2008, p. 43.
13. ^ a b Office of the Governor General of Canada (11 September 2012). "Third Biennial Gathering of the Royal Victorian Order Association of Canada". Queen's Printer for Canada. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
14. ^ "Photos & Video: Royal visit to Ottawa". Ottawa Citizen. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2014.

### Sources

[edit]

* McCreery, Christopher (2008). On Her Majesty's Service; Royal Honours and Recognition in Canada. Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN 978-1-55002-742-6.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Galloway, P.; Stanley, D.; Martin, S. (1996). Royal Service. Vol. I. London: Victorian Publishing. ISBN 0-9528527-0-5.
* Galloway, Peter (2016). The Royal Victorian Order. Spink Books. ISBN 978-1907427763.
* Weatherly, Cecil Octavius (1911). "Knighthood and Chivalry" . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 851–867, see page 856. "The United Kingdom has eight orders of knighthood...."

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Victorian Order.

* Orders and Medals (cabinetoffice.gov.uk)

* v
* t
* e

Appointments to the Royal Victorian Order

Officers|

* Officers

Knights and Dames Grand Cross by monarch|

* Victoria
* Edward VII
* George V
* George VI
* Elizabeth II
* 1952–1977
* 1978–2002
* 2003–2022
* Charles III

Knights and Dames Commander by monarch|

* Victoria
* Edward VII
* George V
* George VI
* Elizabeth II
* 1952–1977
* 1978–2002
* 2003–2022
* Charles III

Both|

* Edward VIII

* Revocations

* v
* t
* e

Orders, decorations, and medals of Canada

Awards of valour|

* Victoria Cross
* Cross of Valour

National orders|

* Order of Canada
* Order of Military Merit
* Order of Merit of the Police Forces

Dynastic orders|

* Order of Merit
* Royal Victorian Order
* Order of St John

Provincial orders|

* Alberta Order of Excellence
* Order of British Columbia
* Order of Manitoba
* Order of New Brunswick
* Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
* Order of Nova Scotia
* Order of Ontario
* Order of Prince Edward Island
* National Order of Quebec
* Saskatchewan Order of Merit

Territorial orders|

* Order of the Northwest Territories
* Order of Nunavut
* Order of Yukon

Other decorations
and medals|

* Royal Victorian Chain
* Decorations
* War and operational service medals
* Special service medals
* United Nations medals
* NATO medals
* International mission medals
* Commemorative medals
* Long service medals
* Exemplary service medals
* Special medals
* Order of Polaris

Canadian honours lists|

* 1946
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* v
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* e

Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom

Orders|

| Current|

* Garter
* Thistle
* Bath
* Merit
* St Michael and St George
* Royal Victorian
* Distinguished Service
* British Empire
* Imperial Service
* Companions of Honour
* St John

| Royal family orders|

* George VI
* Elizabeth II
* Charles III

|

Dormant|

* St Patrick
* Crown of India
* Star of India
* Indian Empire
* Indian Merit
* British India
* Burma

Defunct|

* Royal Guelphic

| Royal family orders|

* George IV
* Victoria & Albert
* Edward VII
* George V

|

Other|

* Royal Victorian Chain
* Hereditary peerage
* Life peerage
* Privy counsellor
* Baronet
* Knight Bachelor
* Aide-de-camp

Current
decorations
and medals|

| Level 1|

* Victoria Cross
* George Cross

|

Level 2A|

* Distinguished Service Order
* Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
* Royal Red Cross (class I)

Level 2B|

* George Medal
* King's Police Medal, for Gallantry
* King's Fire Service Medal, for Gallantry

Level 3A|

* Distinguished Service Cross
* Military Cross
* Distinguished Flying Cross
* Air Force Cross
* Royal Red Cross (class II)

Level 3B|

* Sea Gallantry Medal
* King's Gallantry Medal
* Royal Victorian Medal
* British Empire Medal
* King’s Police Medal, for Distinguished Service
* King's Fire Service Medal, for Distinguished Service
* King's Ambulance Service Medal
* King's Volunteer Reserves Medal
* Polar Medal
* Imperial Service Medal
* Overseas Territories Police Medal
* Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service

Level 4|

* Mentioned in Despatches
* King's Commendation for Bravery
* King's Commendation for Bravery in the Air
* King's Commendation for Valuable Service

Other|

* Badge of Honour
* Elizabeth Cross
* Elizabeth Emblem

Obsolete
decorations
and medals|

| Level 1|

* Indian Order of Merit (1st class)
* Albert Medal (1st class)
* Edward Medal (1st class)
* Empire Gallantry Medal

|

Level 2A|

* Indian Order of Merit (2nd class)
* Distinguished Conduct Medal
* Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
* Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying)

Level 2B|

* Albert Medal (2nd class)
* Edward Medal (2nd class)
* Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Gold

Level 3A|

* Order of British India (1st class)
* Order of British India (2nd class)
* Indian Order of Merit (3rd class)
* Title Badge (India) (1st class)
* Title Badge (India) (2nd class)
* Title Badge (India) (3rd class)
* Royal West African Frontier Force Distinguished Conduct Medal
* King's African Rifles Distinguished Conduct Medal
* Indian Distinguished Service Medal
* Distinguished Service Medal
* Military Medal
* Distinguished Flying Medal
* Air Force Medal
* Burma Gallantry Medal

Level 3B|

* Constabulary Medal (Ireland)
* Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver
* Kaisar-i-Hind Medal (Gold, Silver, Bronze)
* Indian Police Medal, for Gallantry
* Ceylon Police Medal, for Gallantry
* Sierra Leone Police Medal, for Gallantry
* Sierra Leone Fire Brigades Medal, for Gallantry
* Mauritius Police Medal for Meritorious Service
* Colonial Police Medal, for Gallantry
* Canada Medal
* Queen's Medal for Chiefs
* Indian Police Medal, for Meritorious Service
* Ceylon Police Medal, for Merit
* Sierra Leone Police Medal, for Meritorious Service
* Sierra Leone Fire Brigades Medal, for Meritorious Service

Level 4|

* Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct
* Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

See also
Order of Wear
British campaign medals
Degradation (knighthood)
Revocations

* v
* t
* e

Orders, decorations, and medals of Australia

(order of wearing)

National orders|

* / Order of Australia

Royal orders|

* Order of the Garter
* Order of the Thistle
* Order of Merit
* Royal Victorian Order
* Order of St John

Gallantry|

* Victoria Cross for Australia (VC)
* Star of Gallantry (SG)
* Medal for Gallantry (MG)
* Commendation for Gallantry

Bravery|

* Cross of Valour (CV)
* Star of Courage (SC)
* Bravery Medal (BM)
* Commendation for Brave Conduct
* Group Bravery Citation

Distinguished service|

* Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
* Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
* Commendation for Distinguished Service

Conspicuous service|

* Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC)
* Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM)

Nursing service|

* Nursing Service Cross (NSC)

Meritorious service|

* Public Service Medal (PSM)
* Australian Police Medal (APM)
* Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM)
* Ambulance Service Medal (ASM)
* Emergency Services Medal (ESM)
* Australian Corrections Medal (ACM)
* Australian Intelligence Medal (AIM)
* Australian Antarctic Medal (AAM)
* Royal Victorian Medal (RVM)

Campaign medals
(service periods)|

| 1939–1945|

* Australia Service Medal 1939–1945

|

1945–1975|

* Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975
* Australian General Service Medal for Korea (1953–1956)
* Vietnam Medal (1964–1973)
* Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal (1968–1973)
* Australian Service Medal 1945–1975

1975–2012|

* Australian Active Service Medal (1975–present)
* Rhodesia Medal (1979–1980)
* International Force East Timor Medal (1999–2000)
* Afghanistan Medal (2001–2014)
* Iraq Medal (2003–2013)
* Australian Service Medal (1975–present)

2012–present|

* Australian Operational Service Medal – Border Protection (2012–present)
* Australian Operational Service Medal – GMEO (2014–present)
* Australian Operational Service Medal – Special Operations (2019–present)
* Australian Operational Service Medal – Counter Terrorism/Special Recovery (2020–present)
* Australian Operational Service Medal – Africa (2023–present)
* Australian Operational Service Medal – Civilian (2012–present)

Special service|

* Police Overseas Service Medal
* Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal
* National Emergency Medal
* Civilian Service Medal 1939–1945
* National Police Service Medal
* Australian Sports Medal (2000, 2021–present)

Commemorative

* King Edward VII Coronation Medal (1902)
* King George V Coronation Medal (1911)
* King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935)
* King George VI Coronation Medal (1937)
* Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953)
* Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977)
* 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal (1999)
* Centenary Medal (2001)
* Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (2002)
* Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)
* Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022)
* King Charles III Coronation Medal (2023)

Long service|

* Defence Force Service Medal (1982–1998)
* Reserve Force Decoration (1982–1998) (RFD)
* Reserve Force Medal (1982–1998)
* Defence Long Service Medal (1998–)
* National Medal
* Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal
* Service Medal of the Order of St John

Other defence awards|

* Australian Defence Medal
* Champion Shots Medal
* Anniversary of National Service 1951–1972 Medal
* / Unit Citation for Gallantry
* / Meritorious Unit Citation

* v
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* e

Orders, decorations, and medals of New Zealand

(Order of wearing)

Orders|

* Order of the Garter
* Order of the Thistle
* Order of the Bath
* Order of Merit
* Order of New Zealand
* Order of St Michael and St George
* Royal Victorian Order
* Order of the British Empire
* Companion of Honour
* New Zealand Order of Merit
* King's Service Order
* Imperial Service Order

Gallantry|

* Victoria Cross for New Zealand
* New Zealand Gallantry Star
* New Zealand Gallantry Decoration
* New Zealand Gallantry Medal

Bravery|

* New Zealand Cross
* New Zealand Bravery Star
* New Zealand Bravery Decoration
* New Zealand Bravery Medal

Meritorious service|

* King's Service Medal
* New Zealand Antarctic Medal
* New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration
* New Zealand Memorial Cross

Commemorative

* King George V Coronation Medal
* King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
* King George VI Coronation Medal
* Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
* Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal
* Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
* Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
* Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal
* King Charles III Coronation Medal
* New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal
* New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993

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