The Royal Victorian Order is an order of knighthood awarded by the sovereign of the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth realms. It is granted personally by the monarch and recognises personal service to the monarchy, the Royal Household, royal family members, and the organisation of important royal events. [1] [2] The order was officially created and instituted on 23 April 1896 by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm by Queen Victoria. [3] It was instituted with five grades, the two highest of which were Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) and Knight Commander (KCVO), which conferred the status of knighthood on holders (apart from foreigners, who typically received honorary awards not entitling them to the style of a knight). [4] [5] [6] Women were not admitted until Edward VIII altered the statutes of the order in 1936; those receiving the highest two awards were styled dames and those grades, when conferred on women, are Dame Grand Cross and Dame Commander (DCVO). [7]
No limit was placed on the number of appointments which could be made. [8] King Charles III has appointed 7 Knights Commander and 4 Dames Commander since his accession in 2022.
The list below is ordered by date of appointment. Full names, ranks and titles are given where applicable, as correct at the time of appointment to the order. Branch of service or regiment details are given in parentheses to distinguish them from offices. The offices listed are those given in the official notice, printed in the London Gazette. Where applicable, the occasion is given that was listed either with the notices or in published material elsewhere, in which case that material is cited.
Name | Date | Notes | List | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sir Nicholas Hickman Ponsonby Bacon Bt OBE DL | 30 December 2022 | Lately Lord Warden of the Stannaries and Member of The Prince's Council, Duchy of Cornwall | 2023 New Year Honours | [9] |
Helen Andrea Louise Cross CVO | 25 March 2023 | Lately Diary Secretary to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II | 2023 Demise Honours | [10] |
Philippa de Pass CVO | 25 March 2023 | Lately Lady in Waiting to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II | 2023 Demise Honours | [10] |
Jennifer Susan Gordon Lennox CVO | 25 March 2023 | Lately Lady in Waiting to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II | 2023 Demise Honours | [10] |
The Very Reverend Dr David John Ison | 30 May 2023 | Upon relinquishing his appointment as Dean of St Paul's | 2023 Special Honours | [11] |
Major-General Christopher John Ghika CBE | 28 June 2023 | Upon relinquishing his appointment as Major-General Commanding the Household Division | 2023 Special Honours | [12] |
The Right Reverend James William Scobie Newcome DL | 15 November 2023 | Upon relinquishing his appointment as Clerk of the Closet | 2023 Special Honours | [13] |
Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Charles Richards CVO | 28 November 2023 | Lately Deputy Master of the Household and Equerry to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II | 2023 Special Honours | [14] |
Rowena Jane Feilden CVO | 30 December 2023 | Lady in Waiting to The Princess Royal | 2024 New Year Honours | [15] |
Colonel Edward Thomas Bolitho OBE | 30 December 2023 | Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall | 2024 New Year Honours | [15] |
The Very Reverend Dr David Michael Hoyle MBE | 30 December 2023 | Dean of Westminster Abbey, on the occasion of the Coronation of Their Majesties The King and Queen | 2024 New Year Honours | [15] |
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III. It is named in honour of two military saints, Michael and George.
The Royal Victorian Order 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. 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. The order's chapel is the Savoy Chapel in London.
A necklet is a type of decoration which is designed to be worn and displayed around a person's neck, rather than hung (draped) from the chest as is the standard practice for displaying most decorations.