The Royal Family Order (RFO) and other Royal Orders and Decorations 1: Ending 2022

[AnaC]

Anne is wearing the Garter tonight. https://twitter.com/citylordmayor

 

[Mbruno]

Anne is wearing the Garter tonight. https://twitter.com/citylordmayor

The mystery thickens ! I am beginning to believe that someone in Madrid forgot to pack the sash of Isabella the Catholic .

 

[Skippyboo]

The Royal Family Order (RFO) and other Royal Orders and Decorations

Philip and Charles had Spanish sashes on instead of their Garter. So they weren't wearing a U.K. sash since they had a Spanish one. Harry doesn't even have a U.K. sash to wear

 

[Mbruno]

Philip and Charles had Spanish sashes on instead of their Garter. So they weren't wearing a U.K. sash since they had a Spanish one. Harry doesn't even have a U.K. sash to wear

Philip and Charles received their Spanish orders in the 1980s. Harry doesn't have a British sash to wear, but, as I explained, as a Knight Commander in the RVO, he wears the badge of the order on a necklace, as he did yesterday. If he received a Commander grade in the Order of Isabella the Catholic , he should have worn the Spanish badge around his neck (which he didn't) and the Spanish star on his chest (which apparently he did). It doesn't add up.

Anne, reportedly as a Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, should on the other hand have worn the Spanish sash yesterday and should be wearing it today.

 

[AnaC]

Skippyboo, also Queen Elizabeth was wearing a Spanish order instead of a British one (although she could have worn both of her Spanish orders and only wore one). But multiple reporters have announced that Anne, Andrew and Harry have received a Spanish order.

The mystery thickens ! I am beginning to believe that someone in Madrid forgot to pack the sash of Isabella the Catholic .

I do not think this is possible since the sash, the miniature, the star, the pin...all goes in the same box that is presented to the person receiving the order.

 

[tommy100]

Oh heck maybe they just ran our of ribbon in the right colour then? ;-)

 

[Mbruno]

Skippyboo, also Queen Elizabeth was wearing a Spanish order instead of a British one (although she could have worn both of her Spanish orders and only wore one). But multiple reporters have announced that Anne, Andrew and Harry have received a Spanish order.

King Felipe BTW was wearing the necklace insiginia of the Spanish Order of the Golden Fleece (probably the Sovereign's necklace insignia actually) and the sash and star of the Order of the Garter, isn't that right ?

 

[AnaC]

That's right! (Although I don't think there is a Golden Fleece specifically for the Sovereign, there are grander and more bejeweled insignia than the one he usually chooses for State Visits, including yesterday's. Unlike his wife, he didn't dress up )

He could have chosen to add the star of the Charles III order, like his father used to do with foreign orders, and like he has done in the past. But like choosing smaller and less bejeweled versions of the Golden Fleece insignia, lately he only wears the sash/collar of the foreign order without the extra star of his Spanish order.

 

[wartenberg7]

Philip and Charles received their Spanish orders in the 1980s. Harry doesn't have a British sash to wear, but, as I explained, as a Knight Commander in the RVO, he wears the badge of the order on a necklace, as he did yesterday. If he received a Commander grade in the Order of Isabella the Catholic , he should have worn the Spanish badge around his neck (which he didn't) and the Spanish star on his chest (which apparently he did). It doesn't add up.

Anne, reportedly as a Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, should on the other hand have worn the Spanish sash yesterday and should be wearing it today.

Normally, if you have to choose between your own country´s order and the visiting guest´s one you received an order from, you choose the FOREIGN order! So if Harry is Knight Commd of this specific spanish order and there would go no sash with, he had to wear the spanish badge around the neck and not the british one if he wanted to do it right (stars from home and the foreign star pinned both on the breast)!
There was no question about it so far and everyone did so. Why the british Royal family gets special treatment here again I don t know...

In the very old days about 100 years ago monarchs even "exchanged" their uniforms to pay respects for one another and demonstrate a mark of politeness and closeness (the german Kaiser did so with cousin "Nicky" from Russia or cousin "Georgie" from Britain!)

 

[Mbruno]

That's right! (Although I don't think there is a Golden Fleece specifically for the Sovereign, there are grander and more bejeweled insignia than the one he usually chooses for State Visits, including yesterday's. Unlike his wife, he didn't dress up )

He could have chosen to add the star of the Charles III order, like his father used to do with foreign orders, and like he has done in the past. But like choosing smaller and less bejeweled versions of the Golden Fleece insignia, lately he only wears the sash/collar of the foreign order without the extra star of his Spanish order.

Wikipedia mentions the Sovereign's (or Grand Master's) necklace insigna. I recognize the Dame's ribbon insignia as what QEII wore yesterday, which was visble in closeup.

 

[Dman]

Anne is wearing the Garter tonight. https://twitter.com/citylordmayor

She's also wearing her new order badge.

 

[Mbruno]

She's also wearing her new order badge.

Yes, we can see it very clearly this time !

 

[Nico]

EDIT: And BTW, why was Harry wearing a miniature order (or whatever that was) on a visit to Westminster Abbey, which I wouldn't normally consider an order event ?

"Whatever that was" is called a "rosette", it's indeed, in a way, the miniature form of the given order.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosette_(decoration)

Harry pinned it on his vest to obviously thank the Spanish Royals. In fact a Rosette (less formal than a star or a sash) can be worn outside order events. It's the case in France for the Légion d'Honneur.

 

[Molly2101]

I think Sophie and Edward were given the Golden Jubilee Medal in honor of HM The Sultan of Brunei's Golden Jubilee. Edward is also wearing the silver Jubilee medal which he received when he attended 25 years ago.

Edward and Sophie

 

[scriptgirl]

I am not sure if this is the right place for this, but I read that Harry got the Spanish Order right around the State Banquet for Queen Letizia and King Felipe. Did Felipe give Harry the Order? If so, why and what does it mean? Does William have it and how many orders does Harry have?

 

[Countessmeout]

I am not sure if this is the right place for this, but I read that Harry got the Spanish Order right around the State Banquet for Queen Letizia and King Felipe. Did Felipe give Harry the Order? If so, why and what does it mean? Does William have it and how many orders does Harry have?

Yes, Harry was given the order of Isabel the catholic by Felipe. He, Andrew and Anne all received it during the state visit. They received as being part of the state visit by the couple (not simply attending the banquet). It is the first foreign order that Harry has received. It is traditional for visiting sovereigns to give medals to members of the hosting royal family. Normally to those who are actively involved. Harry took the couple on a tour of the abbey.

William has yet to receive any foreign orders.

 

[scriptgirl]

How nice! Why doesn't William have foreign orders? Is there a limit on how many foreign orders Harry can get?

 

[Alisa]

William and Kate attended the Spanish state banquet. How come neither of them got orders?

 

[Dman]

William and Kate attended the Spanish state banquet. How come neither of them got orders?

Well, some think it was because Harry and Anne escorted The King and Queen during the visit. It was an odd situation.

 

[Mbruno]

Well, some think it was because Harry and Anne escorted The King and Queen during the visit. It was an odd situation.

Prince Joachim of Denmark and his wife, Princess Marie, had no involvement AFAIK in the recent Belgian state visit to Denmark other than attending the state banquet and the return concert. Still, Joachim received the Belgian Order of the Crown and Marie got the Order of Leopold II, if I'm not mistaken. I believe they also received a Dutch order during King Willem-Alexander's and Queen Maxima's visit to Denmark allthough, once again, their participation in the official program for the visit was limited.

I understand the excuse made up by the Spanish government, but condecorating Andrew, Harry and Anne, and not giving any orders to William or, most importantly, Camilla, who escorted the King and Queen to the official welcome ceremony, was very rude IMHO and a blatant disregard for rank and precedence.

 

[Dman]

Prince Joachim of Denmark and his wife, Princess Marie, had no involvement AFAIK in the recent Belgian state visit to Denmark other than attending the state banquet and the return concert. Still, Joachim received the Belgian Order of the Crown and Marie got the Order of Leopold II, if I'm not mistaken. I believe thet also received a Dutch order during King Willem-Alexander's and Queen Maxima's visit to Denmark allthough, once again, their participation in the official program for the visit was limited.

I understand the excuse made up by the Spanish government, but condecorating Andrew, Harry and Anne, and not giving any orders to William or, most importantly, Camilla, who escorted the King and Queen to the official welcime ceremony, was very rude IMHO and a blatant disregard for rank and precedence.

None of it made any sense, but we know when it comes to orders with the British royals, nothing really make much sense. Everything is mysterious, nothing is explained and everyone is left wondering.

 

[scriptgirl]

Could it be that the Spanish royals just like Andrew, Harry and Anne better? I mean, did William do anything to participate in the State visit? Do the BRF and Spanish royals have a good relationship?

 

[Curryong]

IMO I really don't think it had anything to do with like or dislike. I just believe that Anne, Harry got a little reward so to speak for doing some individual things with the King and Queen during thr State Visit.

As far as I know (with the exception of strains about Gibraltar) the BRF and the SRF have quite good relations. Ex Queen Sophie, once a Greek princess, is a regular visitor to London, I believe.

 

[Pranter]

They are all related to each other. No reason to think a bad relationship, just not a close one for the most part I'd say.



LaRae

 

[Somebody]

Could it be that the Spanish royals just like Andrew, Harry and Anne better? I mean, did William do anything to participate in the State visit? Do the BRF and Spanish royals have a good relationship?

No, liking someone better has nothing to do with it. Somehow the Spaniards decided they didn't want to hand out orders to all the family members attending the state banquet (given the high number that makes sense). They decided to hand out orders to the royal-born family members (Camilla also acvompanied them on a more important oart of the visit than Harry but didn't receive it as was already pointed out) that accompanied them for a specific activity during the visit instead of handing them out based on the order of precedence as is customary. Had only the queen, the duke of Edinburgh, the princess of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall received an order that would have been fine. They probably could have gotten away with giving one to the princess royal as well (for hosting the guildhall dinner - although I don't recall the duke and duchess of Gloucester receiving lots of orders for taking on this responsibility on most state visits) but that's about it.

Maybe the king of Spain doesn't know how to handle these things yet as it was his first state visit to another monarchy? And the court had forgotten how they did it in the past? They surely handled it very poorly...

 

[Curryong]

Didn't Felipe and Letizia pay a State Visit to Japan early this year?

 

[GömdNatt]

Didn't Felipe and Letizia pay a State Visit to Japan early this year?

They did indeed, in April. And looks like those that were given a Spanish Order had received it prior to this state visit, so it doesn't appear they gave any new ones in Japan.

 

[Rudolph]

I thought there was a chance for William to receive one but at the very, very least Camilla should have received an order. She’s the wife of the Prince of Wales for God’s sake and yet Andrew gets a gong?

And given the pace at which these visits occur, Camilla may never receive an order from Spain. It looks very unprofessional and minor league.

 

[GömdNatt]

I thought there was a chance for William to receive one but at the very, very least Camilla should have received an order. She’s the wife of the Prince of Wales for God’s sake and yet Andrew gets a gong?

And given the pace at which these visits occur, Camilla may never receive an order from Spain. It looks very unprofessional and minor league.

It is very odd that Camilla did not receive an order, as the wife of the heir. I would have wondered if the Spanish were trying a new way of giving orders ala Belgium or Sweden, but since they gave Harry an order, I just don't get it. I get why the British are stingy, it's just the way they are, but even Prince Lorenz has a Spanish order.

Somebody in Spain dropped the ball BIG TIME.

I think it is possible that when Charles becomes King, he may visit Spain and perhaps then Camilla will finally get a Spanish Order, but who knows what the future holds.

 

[Princess Larisa]

I thought there was a chance for William to receive one but at the very, very least Camilla should have received an order. She’s the wife of the Prince of Wales for God’s sake and yet Andrew gets a gong?

And given the pace at which these visits occur, Camilla may never receive an order from Spain. It looks very unprofessional and minor league.

Well, the British didn’t give a queen consort making a State Visit to the UK any orders. And I think this is very unprofessional and minor league. However, it’s always excused by Brits being Brits. I guess the Spanish have a right to be Spanish then as well.

And I agree, Camilla should have received an order. At least a minor one, if they plan to give her a higher one when she’s queen.