Order of Wear (United Kingdom)

Order of Wear (United Kingdom)
Title	Order of Wear (United Kingdom)
Type	Protocol
Jurisdiction	United Kingdom

Order of Wear (United Kingdom) The Order of Wear is the official precedence list governing the sequence in which honours, decorations and medals are worn in the United Kingdom. It defines relative rank among awards such as the Victoria Cross, George Cross, Order of the Garter, Order of the Thistle and campaign medals from Crimean War to Falklands War, and interfaces with honours systems of the Order of Canada, Australian Honours System and the New Zealand Order of Merit for Commonwealth and foreign awards.

History and Legal Basis

The modern Order of Wear traces roots to royal warrants and instruments issued by the Crown and offices including the College of Arms, the Lord Chamberlain's Office and the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood. Precedent derives from ceremonies at Westminster Abbey, investitures at Buckingham Palace and state events like the Coronation of Elizabeth II and the State Opening of Parliament. Statutory elements interact with instruments such as the Royal Warrants and guidance from the Ministry of Defence, shaped by cases involving recipients like holders of the Victoria Cross and recipients of the Order of Merit.

Scope and Applicability

The list applies to members of the British Armed Forces, officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, recipients from the Royal Household, and civilians attending state ceremonies, including recipients from former imperial institutions such as the Order of the British Empire and the Indian Order of Chivalry. It covers decorations from conflicts including the Second Boer War, First World War, Second World War and post-war campaigns like Korean War and Gulf War. The Order is used in official dress at venues including Windsor Castle, Holyrood Palace and during events such as the Trooping the Colour and state banquets with visiting dignitaries from the United Nations and the European Union.

General Principles and Sequence

Principles emphasize precedence of gallantry awards (for example the Victoria Cross and George Cross), seniority among chivalric orders such as the Order of the Bath and the Order of St Michael and St George, followed by state orders like the Royal Victorian Order, then decorations for valour and service exemplified by the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross. Campaign medals (for example the 1914 Star, Africa General Service Medal, Korea Medal) follow, then long service awards like the Volunteer Officers' Decoration and jubilee medals such as the Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 and Diamond Jubilee Medal 2012. In settings where recipients hold multiple ranks, precedence is determined by date of award, sovereign grant, and specific instructions found in royal warrants and directives from the Central Chancery.

Orders, Decorations and Medals by Precedence

At the apex sit the Victoria Cross and George Cross, followed by orders like the Order of the Garter, Order of the Thistle, Order of the Bath, Order of St Michael and St George, Royal Victorian Order and Order of the British Empire. Decorations include the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Force Cross. Campaign and service medals cover conflicts from the Crimean War Medal and the Egypt Medal through the Second World War Star, Atlantic Star, Iraq Medal and Operational Service Medal (Afghanistan). Commemorative awards such as the Coronation Medal 1953 and Jubilee Medals are lower in precedence, while civil awards like the Queen's Police Medal and Queen's Fire Service Medal occupy specific positions within the list.

Wearing Regulations and Exceptions

Wearing rules are specified for mess dress, full dress, morning dress and civilian evening wear at events such as Remembrance Sunday and investitures at St James's Palace. Miniature medals are worn on evening dress, full-size on day uniforms, and ribbon bars on service uniforms; exceptions are issued for multiple awards of the same decoration (clasps and bars such as those for the 1914–15 Star), and for clasps denoting theatres like North West Europe 1944–45 and the Balkans 1999. Protocol governs position relative to insignia such as the Collar of the Order of the Bath and orders with sashes like the Order of the Garter; retired personnel follow rules from the Ministry of Defence and civilian recipients refer to guidance from the Cabinet Office.

Special Cases: Commonwealth, Foreign and Imperial Awards

Awards from Commonwealth realms including the Order of Australia, Order of Canada and New Zealand Order of Merit are integrated with precedence rules, subject to sovereign permission and advice from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Governor-Generals of the respective realms. Foreign awards such as the Legion of Honour and Iron Cross require royal approval and are placed according to established precedence; former imperial awards like the Order of the Star of India and the Order of the Indian Empire retain specified positions. Diplomatic exceptions arise at events involving delegations from bodies like the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and the NATO summit.

Changes, Reviews and Notable Precedent Decisions

The Order has evolved with additions like the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and revisions after campaigns such as Falklands War and Gulf War. Notable administrative changes followed reviews influenced by figures such as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and offices including the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood; legal and ceremonial precedents were set in disputes involving entitlement to wear foreign awards and the precedence of decorations in mixed multinational forces such as in Korea and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The list continues to be reviewed to reflect new awards, changes in Commonwealth relationships and royal decisions relating to orders like the Order of the Garter.

Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom