Explained: What is the Royal Victorian Order, and why was Sir Tim Laurence just promoted?

When Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence was quietly invested with the insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order at Balmoral Castle last week, the moment was a personal one – a private ceremony, no speech, no photographs, just a subtle note in the Court Circular.

But it was also a reminder of one of the more discreet yet highly significant honours in the British honours system: the Royal Victorian Order – a decoration that is both steeped in history and still actively bestowed by the monarch today.

A mark of personal service

The Royal Victorian Order (RVO) is unlike many other honours in the UK. It is not awarded on the advice of government ministers or vetted by committees. Instead, it is given entirely at the discretion of the reigning monarch – a rare and direct expression of personal gratitude. Established by Queen Victoria in 1896, the order was designed to recognise those who had rendered exceptional personal service to the sovereign or the royal family.

That founding principle still holds. Sir Tim, 70, is a retired Royal Navy officer and the husband of the Princess Royal, with decades of quiet dedication behind the scenes. His promotion to the highest class of the order – Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) – is widely seen as a deeply personal gesture from King Charles III, acknowledging a lifetime of loyalty and steadfast presence within the royal household.

From Queen Victoria to King Charles III

Queen Victoria founded the order the year before her Diamond Jubilee celebrations, ensuring enough time to establish its structure and induct its earliest members. More than a century later, the RVO remains a vital and symbolic means for the sovereign to honour individuals – British or foreign – who have offered sustained or particularly valuable service.

There are five grades within the order, but the highest are Knight Grand Cross and Dame Grand Cross. Holders of these titles may use the post-nominal letters GCVO and are entitled to wear elaborate mantles and insignia on state occasions. Indeed, during the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in 2023, several senior royals, including the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh, were seen wearing the distinctive blue mantles of the order.

A diplomatic tool, too

Although rooted in personal service, the Royal Victorian Order also plays a quiet diplomatic role. Earlier in 2024, King Charles appointed King Abdullah II of Jordan and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain to the order as Knights Grand Cross, joining a rare group of foreign monarchs to receive the honour. Past recipients include Emperor Akihito of Japan, King Harald V of Norway, and King Felipe VI of Spain.

These appointments often occur during state visits or in the context of longstanding diplomatic ties, serving as a powerful gesture of goodwill from one sovereign to another.

Royals among its ranks

Several members of the extended royal family are themselves senior figures within the order. Alongside the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra, and Prince Michael of Kent have all been appointed as Knights or Dames Grand Cross. The honour not only recognises their service but also underscores their ongoing roles within the royal institution.

A modern monarchy’s quiet tool

Sir Tim’s appointment comes amid a period of subtle transformation within the monarchy. King Charles has expressed a desire to streamline the royal household while preserving its core traditions. Honours like the Royal Victorian Order provide a way to reinforce key relationships – both familial and diplomatic – without the fanfare or political wrangling associated with more public awards.

While Sir Tim remains characteristically out of the spotlight, his promotion to Knight Grand Cross places him alongside some of the most respected and longstanding figures in the royal circle – a testament to a life of duty, carried out without noise or ceremony.