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

[wbenson]

Originally Posted by AdmirerUS

Atremisia - is the sash intended to be worn this low? It looks to be riding underneath Prince Philips's Left armpit. It looks uncomfortable.
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I don't think it's actually under his armpit. With white tie, sashes can be shortened and attached to the coat. There would only be ribbon in the front.

[AdmirerUS]

Originally Posted by wbenson

I don't think it's actually under his armpit. With white tie, sashes can be shortened and attached to the coat. There would only be ribbon in the front.

Thanks for this explanation - I always wondered how guys managed this!

[EIIR]

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

The OM is one of those orders that I believe should only be given to a member of the royal family for actual achievement. To be given the OM simply because one is a royal kind of diminishes the order for those who actually have achieved great things in their lifetimes. As one wag famously said "Thats why I like the Garter, there is no damn merit about it".
There are enough honours available for the royal family that do not involve actual achievements.

I agree in principle, NGalitzine, but I think that if we're to accept that it's an Order with a Sovereign at its head, it makes complete sense to have the heir to the throne get membership before they accede to the throne. It ensures that the Order is able to seamlessly stay on track during the inevitable transition from one monarch to another.

I don't see why the OM shouldn't operate like the Garter in that the Sovereign and PoW are automatically members.

[NGalitzine]

Originally Posted by EIIR

I agree in principle, NGalitzine, but I think that if we're to accept that it's an Order with a Sovereign at its head, it makes complete sense to have the heir to the throne get membership before they accede to the throne. It ensures that the Order is able to seamlessly stay on track during the inevitable transition from one monarch to another.

I don't see why the OM shouldn't operate like the Garter in that the Sovereign and PoW are automatically members.

Well the sovereign is head of all honours but it does not necessarily follow that the heir must also have the honours or that there would be some sort of disruption at the time of succession if the heir has not received the honours. Charles for instance does not have the GCMG, the GCVO, the GBE, the CH or the DSO but he will one day be the sovereign of each order. I very much doubt QEII had all of the orders before her succession either but that did not present any problems when she became monarch. Even as sovereign does she ever actually wear the badge of an OM or CH?

The OM, in my mind, is something very special. It is one of those rare honours that even people who might refuse a knighthood will accept because it is a recognition of their exceptional achievement in their careers. Giving it to someone simply because they are royal or even an heir is not enough to justify giving it to them. I don't have a problem with Philip or Charles having it as they have given long service to the nation and to their charities, but the idea of William getting it simply because he might one day be monarch doesn't cut it with me.

[Duke-of-Earl]

I don't think HM will give William the OM either. I do think and this is just a hunch, that William will be appointed to the Order of the Bath during HM's reign.
There is no precedent I'm aware of but since getting the Thistle in May, I believe the Bath will be next.

[wbenson]

The Order of the Bath would be surprising. It hasn't had all that many royal appointments, even back when orders were given out a little more freely. I think there may only be one in the past century who wasn't the Great Master or the former King and Sovereign of the order (Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, whose late husband had been the Great Master).

[Dman]

Picture of HRH The Princess of Wales Wearing Her Grand-cross order of the Order of the Crown (Netherlands):
http://myroyalobsession.tumblr.com/image/39610183770

[carlfraley]

I can swear I saw the family order of W IV on the royal collection website. Have to keep digging


Family order of King Edward VII

[carlfraley]

Also via the Royal Collection, Queen Alexandra had one .wow


http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/co...ueen-alexandra

[carlfraley]

Still looking

[Artemisia]

Originally Posted by carlfraley

I can swear I saw the family order of W IV on the royal collection website. Have to keep digging

The order in your picture is that of Edward VII.
In regards to William IV Family Order, I believe no Family Order of the King existed worn as a badge on a ribbon.

On a slightly different note, there is a lovely picture of the very young Princess Victoria wearing a Family Order - that of George IV.

[Tiggersk8]

Who is pictured in the middle RFO? In between the top three and the cameo one. I know, or at least AFAIK, the bottom one is Queen Victoria's. Or so I've been told by a few books out there. Anyway...Anyone know who the middle one belongs to?

[carlfraley]

HM King George IV

[carlfraley]

Originally Posted by Artemisia

The order in your picture is that of Edward VII.
In regards to William IV Family Order, I believe no Family Order of the King existed worn as a badge on a ribbon.

On a slightly different note, there is a lovely picture of the very young Princess Victoria wearing a Family Order - that of George IV.

Yes I'm aware it's edward vii, that's why I posted it

[Tiggersk8]

Originally Posted by carlfraley

HM King George IV

Thanks for the answer!!

[carlfraley]

http://www.medals.org.uk/united-king...kingdom016.htm

[carlfraley]

Originally Posted by carlfraley

Still looking

Family order of HM Queen Alexandra

[NGalitzine]

Originally Posted by carlfraley

Family order of HM Queen Alexandra

I thought only the monarch had a Royal Family Order. Isn't Alexandras "order" something she would have given to her Mistress of Robes and Ladies of the Bedchamber?

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

I thought only the monarch had a Royal Family Order. Isn't Alexandras "order" something she would have given to her Mistress of Robes and Ladies of the Bedchamber?

Alexandra decided she wanted to have her own order, it is not a Royal one as you say that's only given by Monarchs. Although Victoria and Albert did share one.

The picture carlfraley posted is the version Alexandra would give to friends and family. There was another order given, as you rightly say to Mistress of Robes and Ladies of the Bedchamber, it was a similar but larger version of this Order, in which she was portrayed without her husband. Her successors as Queen Consort followed her example in providing a jewelled cameo portrait hung from a ribbon, to serve as a badge of office for their Mistresses of the Robes.

[carlfraley]

Originally Posted by Lumutqueen

Alexandra decided she wanted to have her own order, it is not a Royal one as you say that's only given by Monarchs. Although Victoria and Albert did share one.

The picture carlfraley posted is the version Alexandra would give to friends and family. There was another order given, as you rightly say to Mistress of Robes and Ladies of the Bedchamber, it was a similar but larger version of this Order, in which she was portrayed without her husband. Her successors as Queen Consort followed her example in providing a jewelled cameo portrait hung from a ribbon, to serve as a badge of office for their Mistresses of the Robes.

I would love too see Queen Mary's