Her Majesty the Queen has been pleased to appoint Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) for services to the Sovereign. Awards in the RVO are made personally by The Queen.
The Countess of Wessex (right) wearing the riband of a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order by Frankie Fouganthin – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The last Royal appointment to the Royal Victorian Order was The Duke of Edinburgh in 2017. The Duchess of Cambridge also joins The Duchess of Cornwall who was appointed in 2012, The Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex who were both appointed in 2011, The Countess of Wessex who was appointed in 2010, Prince Michael of Kent who was appointed in 2003, The Duchess of Gloucester who was appointed in 1989, The Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra of Kent who were both appointed in 1960, The Duke of Gloucester who was appointed in 1974 and The Duchess of Kent who was appointed in 1977.
Her Majesty The Queen is at the apex of the Royal Victorian Order, followed by the Grand Master – a position currently held by the Princess Royal. Below the Grand Master are the Chancellor, the Secretary, the Registrar, the Chaplain and the Genealogist. There are five levels in the order and foreigners may be admitted as honorary members. There is no limit to the number of any grade, and members can be promoted. Upon admission into the Royal Victorian Order, members are given insignia of the organisation. The Duchess of Cambridge will be given a badge, which is Maltese cross with a medallion depicting the Royal Cypher of Queen Victoria on a red background surrounded by a blue ring bearing the motto of the order and surmounted by a Tudor crown. As a Dame Grand Cross, she will wear the badge on a sash passing from the right shoulder to the left hip.
