ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER

British order of knighthood instituted by Queen Victoria in 1896 to reward personal services rendered the monarch. As it is a family order, conferment of this honour is solely at the discretion of the British sovereign. Unlike other British orders, there is no limit on the number of members. It was Edward VIII, during his brief reign (1936), who admitted women to the order. This was the first British order to consist of more than three classes which, listed in descending order, are knight or dame grand cross (G.C.V.O.), knight or dame commander (K.C.V.O. or D.C.V.O., respectively), commander (C.V.O.), lieutenant (L.V.O.), and member (M.V.O.). Conferment of the two highest classes entails admission into knighthood. Foreigners can be admitted as honorary members. The day of the order is June 20, marking the date of Queen Victoria's accession to the throne. Since 1938, the Queen's Chapel of the Savoy, London, has been the chapel of the order, where the royal family and knights and dames grand cross have affixed their stall plates bearing their coats of arms. The order's badge depicts a Maltese Cross with the motto Victoria, the initials V.R.I., and an imperial crown. Associated with this order is the Royal Victorian Medal, awarded for personal military service to the monarch.