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 (GCVO) 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 10 Knights/Dames Grand Cross since his accession on 8 September 2022.
Knights and dames grand cross appointed by Charles III
The list below is ordered by date of appointment. Full names, styles, 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. 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. NameDateNotesRef. The Marquess of Cholmondeley 25 March 2023 Lately Lord Great Chamberlain, on the death of Queen Elizabeth II The Earl of Dalhousie 25 March 2023 Lately Lord Steward of the Household, on the death of Queen Elizabeth Sir Edward Young 15 May 2023 Lately Joint Private Secretary to the Sovereign David John Conner 19 July 2023 Lately Dean of Windsor Justin Portal Welby 30 December 2023 Archbishop of Canterbury The Lord Benyon 4 November 2024Lord Chamberlain of the HouseholdDame Annabel Whitehead 30 December 2024Lady of the Household Sir Michael Stevens 3 June 2025Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the KingVice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence 21 August 2025Royal FamilyThe Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry 30 December 2025Chancellor of the Order of the Thistle and lately Lord Lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale
References Notes
Citations
Bibliography 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, ) C. McCreery (2008), On Her Majesty's Service: Royal Honours and Recognition in Canada (Toronto: Dundurn Press; )