Royal Victorian Order

Royal Victorian Order
Name	Royal Victorian Order
Awarded by	Monarch of the United Kingdom
Type	Order of chivalry
Motto	Victoria
For	Personal service to the Sovereign
Status	Currently constituted
Founder	Queen Victoria
Sovereign	Charles III
Grades	Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GCVO), Knight/Dame Commander (KCVO/DCVO), Commander (CVO), Lieutenant (LVO), Member (MVO)
Date	21 April 1896
Post-nominals	GCVO, KCVO/DCVO, CVO, LVO, MVO
Higher	Order of the Companions of Honour
Lower	Order of the British Empire

Royal Victorian Order. It is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria to recognise distinguished personal service to the reigning British monarch. Unlike many other British honours, appointments are made at the sole discretion of the Sovereign, without ministerial advice, making it a personal gift of the monarch. The order is awarded to individuals across the Commonwealth realms for services such as those performed by courtiers, diplomats, and civil servants.

History

The order was founded on 21 April 1896, during the preparations for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, to fill a gap in the honours system for rewarding personal service to the Crown. Prior to its creation, such service was often recognised with the Royal Guelphic Order or through gifts of portrait miniatures and snuff boxes. The institution of the order coincided with a period of expansion for the British Empire, and it allowed the monarch to personally honour servants from across the empire, including officials in India and the Colonial Service. Its establishment was part of a broader evolution of British chivalric awards in the late 19th century, distinct from the older Order of the Garter and Order of the Thistle.

Grades and insignia

The order comprises five classes, each with distinct insignia. The highest grade is Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GCVO), followed by Knight Commander (KCVO) or Dame Commander (DCVO), Commander (CVO), Lieutenant (LVO), and Member (MVO). The insignia features a Maltese Cross with a central medallion bearing the royal cypher of the founding monarch, surrounded by a blue enamel ring inscribed with the motto "Victoria". The star, worn by the two highest classes, is an eight-pointed silver star with the cross superimposed. The ribbon is blue with red-white-red edge stripes. The design was created by the renowned jewellers Garrard & Co..

Appointments and investitures

Appointments are announced on key dates, including New Year Honours, the monarch's official birthday, and Anniversary of the Accession. Investiture ceremonies are typically held in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace or in the Morning Room at Windsor Castle, presided over by the Sovereign or a senior member of the British royal family, such as Anne, Princess Royal or Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh. Recipients are often individuals who have served in the Royal Household, such as Private Secretaries, Equerries, or members of the Royal Collection Trust.

Current members

The current Sovereign of the order is Charles III. The order includes a limited number of knights and dames, with prominent members often including senior royal courtiers, Lords Chamberlain, and Archbishops of Canterbury. Notable living members have included figures like Dame Mary Morrison, a Woman of the Bedchamber to Elizabeth II, and Sir Edward Young, former Private Secretary to the Sovereign. Membership also extends to distinguished citizens from other Commonwealth realms, such as former Governors-General of Canada.

Precedence and privileges

Within the British honours system, it ranks after the Order of the Companions of Honour and before the Order of the British Empire. Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commanders are entitled to the prefix "Sir", and Dames Grand Cross and Dames Commanders to "Dame". Members of the two highest classes may also be granted heraldic heraldic supporters if they are not already entitled to them. There are no specific privileges attached to the lower grades, though all members are invited to certain events at St. James's Palace.

Chapel

The original chapel of the order was the Queen's Chapel at St. James's Palace, but since 1938, its chapel has been the Savoy Chapel in London. The Savoy Chapel is a Royal peculiar under the jurisdiction of the monarch and is the private chapel of the Duke of Lancaster. Annual services for the order are held there, attended by the Sovereign and members. The chapel contains memorials to many past members and displays the banners of the Knights and Dames Grand Cross.

Category:Orders of chivalry awarded to women Category:1896 establishments in the United Kingdom