Royal Victorian Order

The Royal Victorian Order is an order of chivalry that was established by Queen Victoria on 21 April 1896. The Order includes five classes, in order of seniority:

Composition

The British Sovereign is the Sovereign of the Order and appoints all other members of the Order. The next-most senior member is the Grand Master. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, was Grand Master from 1937 until her death in 2002; she has not been replaced.

Related Topics:
British Sovereign - Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, - 1937 - 2002

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Formerly, Lieutenants and Members of the Order were known as Members (fourth class) and Members (fifth class), respectively. The name change was made in 1984. The Royal Victorian Order's membership is not subject to any numerical limits. Women have been eligible for membership since 1936. Foreigners may be admitted to the Order as "honorary members." Normally, honorary memberships are bestowed by the Sovereign during his or her visits overseas.

Related Topics:
1984 - 1936

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The Royal Victorian Medal was instituted at the same time as the Order. It, too, is awarded for personal services to the Sovereign. It is awarded in three classes: Gold, Silver and Bronze. There is a separate Royal Victorian Chain, which is unrelated to the Order; it was instituted in 1902 by Edward VII.

Related Topics:
Royal Victorian Medal - Royal Victorian Chain - 1902 - Edward VII

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The Order has five officials: the Chancellor, the Secretary, the Registrar, the Chaplain and the Genealogist. The Lord Chamberlain serves as Chancellor, the Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the Queen serves as Secretary, the Secretary to the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood serves as Registrar and the Chaplain of The Queen's Chapel of the Savoy serves as Chaplain.

Related Topics:
Lord Chamberlain - Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the Queen - The Queen's Chapel of the Savoy

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