The Royal Victorian Order is an order of knighthood awarded by the sovereign of the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth realms. It is granted personally by the monarch and recognises personal service to the monarchy, the Royal Household, royal family members, and the organisation of important royal events."Royal Victorian Order", The British Monarchy (accessed 16 August 2014)"Royal Victorian Order", The Governor-General of Canada (accessed 16 August 2014) The order was officially created and instituted on 23 April 1896 by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm by Queen Victoria.The London Gazette, issue 26733, p. 2455 It was instituted with five grades, the two highest of which were Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) and Knight Commander (KCVO), which conferred the status of knighthood on holders (apart from foreigners, who typically received honorary awards not entitling them to the style of a knight).McCreery, 2008, p. 29Honorary Knighthood , Debrett's (accessed on 20 August 2014)Knighthood, The British Monarchy (accessed on 20 August 2014) Women were not admitted until Edward VIII altered the statutes of the order in 1936; those receiving the highest two awards were styled dames and those grades, when conferred on women, are Dame Grand Cross and Dame Commander (DCVO).Duckers, 2004, p. 38
No limit was placed on the number of appointments which could be made.McCreery, 2008, pp. 28–29 King Charles III has appointed 13 Knights Commander and 7 Dames Commander since his accession in 2022.
Knights and dames commander appointed by Charles III The list below is ordered by date of appointment. Full names, ranks and titles are given where applicable, as correct at the time of appointment to the order. Branch of service or regiment details are given in parentheses to distinguish them from offices. The offices listed are those given in the official notice, printed in the London Gazette. Where applicable, the occasion is given that was listed either with the notices or in published material elsewhere, in which case that material is cited. NameDateNotesListReference Sir Nicholas Hickman Ponsonby Bacon 31 December 2022 Lately Lord Warden of the Stannaries and Member of The Prince's Council, Duchy of Cornwall 2023 New Year Honours https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4245839 Jonathan Crow 31 December 2022 Barrister; lately Attorney General to HRH The Prince of Wales between 2006 - 2020. 2023 New Year Honours https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4245842 Helen Andrea Louise Cross 25 March 2023 Lately Diary Secretary to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2023 Demise Honours Philippa de Pass Lately Lady in Waiting to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Jennifer Susan Gordon Lennox The Very Reverend Dr David John Ison 30 May 2023 Upon relinquishing his appointment as Dean of St Paul's 2023 Special Honours Major General Christopher John Ghika 28 June 2023 Upon relinquishing his appointment as Major-General Commanding the Household Division 2023 Special Honours The Right Reverend James William Scobie Newcome 15 November 2023 Upon relinquishing his appointment as Clerk of the Closet 2023 Special Honours Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Charles Richards 28 November 2023 Lately Deputy Master of the Household and Equerry to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2023 Special Honours Rowena Jane Feilden 30 December 2023 Lady in Waiting to The Princess Royal 2024 New Year Honours Colonel Edward Thomas Bolitho Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall The Very Reverend Dr David Michael Hoyle Dean of Westminster Abbey, on the occasion of the Coronation of Their Majesties The King and Queen Her Grace Isobel Jane Miller, Duchess of Northumberland 15 June 2024 Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland 2024 Birthday Honours Lieutenant Colonel The Right Honourable Rupert Charles, 7th Baron de Mauley Master of the Horse Captain Ian McNaught Deputy Master, the Corporation of Trinity House The Right Reverend Dr John Geoffrey Inge 13 November 2024 Upon relinquishing his appointment as Lord High Almoner 2024 Special Honours Sarah Rose Troughton 30 December 2024 Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire; One of the Queen's companions to Queen Camilla. 2025 New Year Honours Ian James Dudson Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire Nathan James Thompson Lately Clerk of the Council and Chief Executive, Duchy of Lancaster Robert Lowry Scott 14 June 2025 Lord Lieutenant of Tyrone 2025 Birthday Honours Susan Snowdon Lord Lieutenant of Durham Lieutenant Colonel Michael Vernon 1 July 2025 Upon relinquishing his appointment as Comptroller, Lord Chamberlain's Office 2025 Special Honours Celia Jane Innes 30 December 2025 Senior Lady-in-Waiting to The Princess Royal 2026 New Year Honours Charlotte Elizabeth Manley Lately Chapter Clerk, College of St George, Windsor Castle Elizabeth Aline Clare Hunka 13 June 2026 Director of Human Resources, Royal Household 2026 Birthday Honours Leona Mary Anson, Countess of Lichfield Lady-in-Waiting to The Princess of Wales Dr Michael David Dixon Head of the Royal Medical Household David Vines White Garter Principal King of Arms
References
Citations
Bibliography P. Duckers (2004), British Orders and Decorations (Princes Risborough: Shire Publications Ltd, ) P. Duckers (2004), British Orders and Decorations (Princes Risborough: Shire Publications Ltd, ) P. Galloway, D. Stanley, D. Martin (1996), Royal Service, volume 1 (London: Victorian Publishing, ) P. Galloway, D. Stanley, D. Martin (1996), Royal Service, volume 1 (London: Victorian Publishing, ) C. McCreery (2008), On Her Majesty's Service: Royal Honours and Recognition in Canada (Toronto: Dundurn Press; ) C. McCreery (2008), On Her Majesty's Service: Royal Honours and Recognition in Canada (Toronto: Dundurn Press; ) W. M. Shaw (1906), The Knights of England, volume i (London: Sherratt and Hughes; OCLC 185192520)