History

The Royal Victorian Order was established by Queen Victoria in 1896 as a personal gift that could be conferred without approval from ministers. The British Sovereign is the head of the Order who appoints a Grand Master- normally a member of the British Royal Family.

The Order is conferred in recognition of meritorious service to the Sovereign or other members of the Royal Family. Foreigners may be admitted to the Order, and women have been admitted since 1936. There are no limitations on membership.

Members of the first class are entitled to use the post-nominal letters GCVO, members of the second class are entitled to use the post-nominal letters KCVO or DCVO, members of the third class are entitled to use the post-nominal letters CVO, members of the fourth class are entitled to use the post-nominal letters LVO, and Members are entitled to use the post-nominal letters MVO. Recipients of the Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters RVM. Members of the first and second classes are also entitled to use the formal title “Knight” or “Dame.”

The motto of the Order is “VICTORIA.”

The Commander is worn by Knights Commander around the neck and by Dames Commander on the shoulder suspended from a bow. Both Knights and Dames Commander wear an accompanying breast star. The obverse features the imperial cypher of Queen Victoria with initials that stand for “Victoria Regina Imperatrix” (Victoria, Queen, Empress).