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

[wbenson]

The official portrait of the Queen of Canada was taken at a black tie function, but the Queen is wearing the insignia of the Order of Canada and order of Military Merit, and Prince Philip is wearing miniature decorations.

[GillW]

Originally Posted by Warren

Hmm... Wikipedia lists Zara Phillips as having the RFO. Unlikely?

Well if it did when you posted, it doesn't now.
This is the list they give:

· HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon (deceased)
· Diana, Princess of Wales (deceased)
· HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (deceased)
· HRH Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (deceased)
· HRH The Princess RoyalCountess of Harewood (deceased)
· HRH Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone (deceased)
· HRH The Duchess of Gloucester
· HRH The Princess Royal (Princess Anne)
· HRH Princess Alexandra
· HRH The Duchess of Kent
· HRH The Countess of Wessex
It should be noted that neither HRH The Duchess of Cornwall nor Sarah, Duchess of York have, at the time of writing, received the honour.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by GillW

Well if it did when you posted, it doesn't now.
This is the list they give..

No, Zara is still (probably wrongly) listed:

quote from Wikipedia (under the heading 'Wearing the Order'): "Those who wear that of The Queen only are The Countess of Wessex, The Princess Royal, Zara Phillips, The Duchess of Gloucester and The Duchess of Kent."

[Von Schlesian]

Generally, only the more significant royal family members receive the highest order of chivalry (Order of the Garter, Order of the Elephant, Order of Leopold etc). Those further down the line of succession may receive a graded order such as the Royal Victorian Order, Order of the Dannebrog or Order of Leopold II.

Sovereigns are each their state's font of honour and as such may make appointments as ordinary members of orders within the set guidelines of that order (Order of the Garter - 25). However, the limit does not apply to additional appointments of members of the royal family (being thus created Royal Knights and Ladies), or of foreign monarchs and heads of state (stranger knights and ladies).

Lastly, it can be argued that the House of Windsor does indeed have a house order (in the European sense), The Royal Victorian Order. This order is awarded for personal service rendered to Her Majesty The Queen, Her Majesty's vice-regal representatives and to members of the royal family. This order is strictly in the personal gift of Her Majesty, with recommendations being made directly to and coming from Her Majesty, unlike the other graded orders (The Bath, St. Michael and St. George and Order of the British Empire), all recommendations to which are made through the parliament.

[joye]

On Royal Jewels Board, I recently came across htt://www.regiments.org/biograohy/royals/1947birG.htm
a site stating The Duchess of Gloucester's honours etc.
It states that in 1973 The Duchess had QEII Royal Family Order 2nd class.

What does 2nd class mean? Why is there a class difference?
What does a 2nd class Family Order look like?

Whilst reading "The Last Princess" by Matthew Dennison, a story of Princess Beatrice, the youngest daughter of Q. Victoria, it says on page 234, Beatrice received from her brother, Edward VII, His Family Order 2nd class. ???

Can anyone offer and explanation of this 2nd class Royal Family Order?
I am most intrigued and would love to know more.
joye

[Ranunculus Rex]

I believe that the First Class of the British Royal Family Orders (each created and bestowed on ladies by the reigning Sovereign) is reserved for those of queenly rank (foreign royalty) and the daughters of the Sovereign.

The Second Class would be for other Royal ladies by birth or marriage; the Third and Fourth Classes are for non-Royal ladies.

RR

[joye]

Sophie, Countess of Wessex has the FRO, so your theory would not hold.

[Ranunculus Rex]

My research indicates that Her present Majesty's Royal Family Order is not distinguished by classes, contrary to past custom.

I do not know if the citation in Regiments.Org is accurate, or reflected then-current practice, or was something assumed from the practice of earlier reigns.

RR

[davo]

Volume 2 of Royal Service (Third Millenium, 2001) lists their being two sizes for the Royal Family Orders of Edward VII, George VI and Elizabeth II, and four sizes for George V.

For the current reign it lists...

Size one
HM, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
and HM Queen Mary

Size two
HRH Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester
HRH Princess Marina, Duchesss of Kent
HRH The Princess Royal (Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood)
HRH Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone
HRH Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Mrs Angus (later Hon Lady) Ogilvy
HRH The Princess Royal
HRH The Duchess of Kent
HRH The Duchess of Gloucester
HRH The Princess of Wales

Since then we would have to add

HRH The Countess of Wessex.

Photos of all of the badges and the different sizes are show in the chapter on the royal family orders. It is interesting to note that size one badge for Elizabeth II is listed as coming from Princess Margaret and that the queen now wears size one badges of George V and George VI (even though she received size three and two respectively. These three size one badges seem to have been Queen Mary's and after her death were worn by her granddaughters.

[jcbcode99]

Any photos detailing the difference?

[PR Princess]

Heres a website of list of orders and medals, some with pictures and descriptions:

ODM of the United Kingdom: Text List

[magnik]

Does anyone have a photo of the Queen or someone else wearing the Order of the Thistle?

[PR Princess]

I don't know if you can see it clearly, but heres one of the Queen

1. is how the Order of Thistle looks like (in website: ODM of the United Kingdom: Order of the Thistle)
2. the Queen wearing the Order of Thistle ( I found it here: Royal Insight > Out and About > The Queen spends a week in Scotland)

Heres another one I found it here, which has more information:

BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Queen knights royal headmaster

[magnik]

Thanks a lot PR Princess

[jcbcode99]

Fascinating website, PRPrincess--Thank you for sharing it!

[PR Princess]

No problem!

[Al_bina]

Originally Posted by bct88

I doubt that Camilla will get the Order of the Chrysanthemum. Apart from the monarch, the heir receives it, and not the spouse of the heir. No female monarch has this order, except for Elizabeth, Beatrix, and Margrethe. As a consort, and other female members of royal families, the Order of the Precious Crown is bestowed, so if Camilla is to receive any Japanese order, she would receive the Order of the Precious Crown.

You are so right, bct88. According to my Japanese-to-the-core grandmother–in-law, it is highly unlikely for Duchess of Cornwall to get the Order of the Chrysanthemum, because it is awarded to exclusively for men. As exceptions of the rules and bow to modern realities, the above Order was given to reigning European queens, female presidents, and a Crown Princess.
If Duchess of Cornwall happens to be awarded by the Japanese Imperial family, she is most likely to get the Order of Precious Crown that can be given to foreign female dignitaries.

[sinulord]

I have a question... i dont know if this is the right forum, but could someone please satisfy my curiosity. I read on Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich's wikipedia article that he also received the Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. Does anyone know when he received it and which monarch gave it to him? And also why was it given to him? (Even though i do know that he was a second cousin of King George VI)...

[Royal Fan]

Id like to see Prince Henry get the Garter

[Mermaid1962]

I'm sure that he will, even if it's after his father becomes King. It could happen before that, though.

Originally Posted by Royal Fan

Id like to see Prince Henry get the Garter