% Orders of Chivalry

The Royal Victorian Order

• Date of Institution: 1896
• Ranks: Five
  • Knight (or Dame) Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order – G.C.V.O.
  • Knight (or Dame) Commander of the Royal Victorian Order – K.C.V.O. (or D.C.V.O.)
  • Commander of the Royal Victorian Order – C.V.O.
  • Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order – L.V.O.
  • Member of the Royal Victorian Order – M.V.O.
• Motto: Victoria;
• Insignia:
  • Badge: A white enamelled Maltese cross with an oval centre of crimson enamel containing the mongram VRI (Victoria Regina Imperatrix) in gold within a blue enamel border showing the motto in gold. The centre is surmounted by an Imperial crown. The M.V.O.’s badge is of frosted silver instead;
  • Riband: Dark blue with narrow edges of three stripes, red, white and red. For Knights Grand Cross, 3¼" wide and for Dames Grand Cross, 2¼" wide; the narrow riband worn around the neck is 1¾" wide; the riband for supporting the badge as a medal is 1¼" wide;
  • Star: For G.C.V.O.s, of chipped silver with eight points and a representation of the badge at the centre; for K.C.V.O.s and D.C.V.O.s, also of silver but in the form of a Maltese cross with smaller rays issuing from the centre between the angles and with a representation of the badge at the centre but in frosted silver;
    
  • Collar: In silver gilt, alternately of octagonal pieces and perforated oblong frames. The former show a gold rose jewelled with a carbuncle on a blue enamel background. Successive frames contain parts of the abbreviated titles of Queen Victoria viz VICTORIA, BRITT:REG, DEF:FID and IND:IMP in white enamel. The octagon at the centre of the collar is larger than the others and differently decorated. It is enamelled blue, edged with red and charged with a white saltire. At the centre of the saltire is a cameo effigy of Queen Victoria. G.C.V.O.s have one badge only which must be transferred between riband and collar as necessary;
  • Mantle: Dark blue satin edged with 2" of scarlet satin and lined with white silk; cordon of dark blue silk and gold; tassels of dark blue silk and gold wire; on the left side is an embroidered representation of the star of a G.C.V.O.;
  • Hood: This order has no hood;
  • Hat: This order has no hat.
• Size of Order: No limit.
• Chapel: The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy (though services of the Order are held at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle)
• Officers:
  • Grand Master;
  • Chancellor (The Lord Chamberlain of the Household);
  • Secretary (Keeper of the Privy Purse);
  • Registrar (Secretary of the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood);
  • Chaplain;
    also
  • Honorary Genealogist

• Comments: The ranks of Lieutenant and Member were formerly Member (fourth class) and Member (fifth class), both using the post-nominal initials M.V.O. The change was made in 1984.

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• References
  • Link to the Royal Family’s web site – includes a photograph of a G.C.V.O.’s badge (though made larger) as worn by Her late Majesty Queen Victoria.
  • Galloway, Stanley and Martin (1996)