| Royal Victorian Chain | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Decoration |
| Awarded for | At the monarch's pleasure |
| Presented by | The monarch of theCommonwealth realms |
| Eligibility | Men and women, of any nation |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Established | 1902 (1902) |
| First award | 1902 |
 | |
TheRoyal Victorian Chain is adecoration instituted in 1902 by KingEdward VII as a personal award of the monarch (i.e. not an award made on the advice of anyCommonwealth realm government). It ranks above theRoyal Victorian Order,[1] with which it is often associated but not officially related. Originally reserved for members of the royal family, the chain is a distinct award conferred only upon the highest dignitaries, including foreign monarchs, heads of state, and high-ranking individuals such as theArchbishop of Canterbury.[2]
The Royal Victorian Chain was created by King Edward VII in 1902, six years after his mother created the Royal Victorian Order. The Royal Victorian Chain ranks above all decorations of the Royal Victorian Order, but it is not officially part of the Order. Edward created it to honour his mother "as a personal decoration for Sovereigns, Princes, and other Royal personages, and also for a few eminent British subjects." It was first recorded as a new decoration in August 1902, when it was reported thatFrederick Temple,Archbishop of Canterbury, was received in private audience to receive theRoyal Victorian Chain, following the coronation of the King two days earlier.[3] The first recipients included the King's son George, Prince of Wales (laterGeorge V) and the King's brotherPrince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn.[4]
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The chain is in gold, decorated with motifs ofTudor rose,thistle,shamrock, andlotus flower (symbolizingEngland,Scotland,Ireland, andIndia, respectively) and a crowned, red enamelledcypher of King Edward VII—ERI (Edwardus Rex Imperator)—surrounded by a gold wreath for men, upon which the badge is suspended. The chain is worn around the collar by men or with the four motifs and some chain links fixed to ariband in the form of bow (blue with red-white-red edges) on the left shoulder by women. However,Queen Elizabeth II's sister,Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, in later life chose to wear her chain around the collar, as male recipients do.
The badge is a gold, white enamelledMaltese cross; the oval-shaped central medallion depicts Victoria's royal and imperial cypher—VRI (Victoria Regina Imperatrix)—on a red background, surrounded by a crown-surmounted blue ring bearing the wordVictoria. Both the crown and Queen Victoria's cypher are studded with diamonds.
The Royal Victorian Chain does not confer upon its recipients anystyle, title orpostnominal letters, nor does it giveprecedence within any Commonwealth honours system. However, it represents a personal token of high distinction and esteem from the monarch. The chain can be conferred upon men and women of any nationality.
It has normally served as the senior award forCanadians, who are generally ineligible to receive titular honours underfederal Cabinet policy. Only two Canadians have thus far been decorated with the chain:Vincent Massey andRoland Michener, both formergovernors general.[5]
The Royal Victorian Chain is invariably granted to holders of the office of Archbishop of Canterbury, often just after their retirement.[6] The only holders of that title not to receive the decoration since its inception areWilliam Temple, who died in office, andJustin Welby, who resigned in 2025.
The Royal Victorian Chain must be returned on the death of the recipient.[7]
| Country | Name | Known for | Year of conferral | Present age | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denmark | QueenMargrethe II of DenmarkLG | Queen of Denmark | 1974 as Queen; abdicated 2024 | 85 | |
| Sweden | KingCarl XVI Gustaf of SwedenKG | King of Sweden | 1975 | 79 | Honorary Admiral in theRoyal Navy |
| Netherlands | PrincessBeatrix of the NetherlandsLG, GCVO | Queen of the Netherlands | 1982 as Queen; abdicated 2013 | 88 | |
| Portugal | António Ramalho EanesGCB | President of Portugal | 1985 | 91 | |
| Spain | KingJuan Carlos I of SpainKG | King of Spain | 1986 as King; abdicated 2014 | 88 | |
| Norway | KingHarald V of NorwayKG, GCVO | King of Norway | 1994 | 89 | Honorary Colonel in theRoyal Marines andHonorary General in theBritish Army |
| United Kingdom | George Carey, Baron Carey of CliftonPC | Archbishop of Canterbury | 2002[8] | 90 | |
| Rowan Williams, Baron Williams of OystermouthPC, FBA, FRSL, FLSW | 2012[9] | 75 | |||
| William Peel, 3rd Earl PeelGCVO, PC, DL | Lord Chamberlain | 2021[10] | 78 |
An interesting honour is that awarded to Lord Rosebery, upon whom the King has conferred the Royal Victorian Chain, the highest class of the Royal Victorian Order.
The Royal Victorian Chain ranks above all the five classes of the Royal Victorian Order, with which it is generally associated, but of which it does not form a part.
