Talk:Royal Victorian Chain

Non-Christian awardees?

The following statement appears in the text relating to the Royal Victorian Chain: "The Chain can be conferred upon men and women, both British and foreign: for example, it can be conferred upon non-Christian foreign monarchs, who are usually ineligible for the Order of the Garter". This statement seems inaccurate. Various Japanese Emperors and Shahs of Iran have been Knights of the Garter as were the Sultan of Turkey and the Emperor of Ethiopia.

Those cases have been exceptions from the general rule. Furthermore there was no Royal Victorian Chain when the Sultans and Shahs were made the Knights of the Garter, the last Shah received the Royal Victorian Chain instead of the Order of the Garter, and the Emperor of Ethiopia was a Christian who had the Royal Victorian Chain as well. But the Emperors of Japan seem to enjoy a kind of a special position. I wonder whether a non-Christian monarch can be invested as an Extra Knight of the Thistle... Mapple 19:55, 21 August 2005 (UTC)

you are right: I am enormously impressed by your comment. I wonder however whether there is a rule that the Garter can only be given to Christians. I agree that the Emperors of Japan seem to have a special position.

Thank you. :-) As to the Order of the Garter, the rule is unwritten. It exists at least since the 1920s, when King George V and his Foreign Secretary denied the award to the Shah of Iran (the last of Qajars, I suppose). Nevertheless, the King was compelled to appoint Hirohito to the Order in 1929. The Emperors of Japan... They are the only ones left, aren't they? :-) Mapple 12:14, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

continuing ...

I was wondering if e.g. the Kings of Nepal received the Chain or the King of Jordan, Sultan of Oman, ruler of Brunei etc.? If so, then one might see a pattern. What do you think? :-)

A pattern? I think it is safe to say that the heads of state who have some kind of a special relationship with the UK and/or the British Sovereign receive the Chain. Kings Mahendra and Birendra of Nepal (the Gurkhas etc.) were awarded the Chain and became honorary British Field Marshals. King Hussein of Jordan received the Royal Victorian Chain, too... Unfortunately I cannot find the comprehensive list of all the recipients of the Chain. Mapple 14:40, 27 September 2005 (UTC)

Picture

In the picture of George V, I count no fewer than 17 awards being worn. Is it possible to have a picture of the award (for instance, the picture on medals.org.uk)? 12.96.87.102 (talk) 16:49, 17 November 2011 (UTC)

Hereditary knighthood ranked after baronet and knight bachelor doesn't exist

At the bottom, in Orders and Honours of the UK, in the other Other Honours section, you have hereditary knighthood. I thought the only hereditary knighthood was a baronetcy. So what is this other one, and why would it be ranked lower than a bog-standard knight bachelor? Indeed here it says that a Bart is the only hereditary honour that's not a peerage, which is what I thought. Where there any hereditary knighthoods that aren't baronetcies? Are any extant? If not, it shouldn't be in the list. And if there are, why would they rank lower than a knight bachelor? Please advise. Ganpati23 (talk) 21:19, 26 July 2012 (UTC)

It would appear as though you are correct, but the proper place to talk about that would be the talk page for that template. Achowat (talk) 21:43, 26 July 2012 (UTC)

Infobox

You started an RfC on this matter and it has not reached its conclusion. ₪ MIESIANIACAL 05:30, 8 August 2022 (UTC)

It's good you agree that this page is covered by that RFC. Though, I think you've linked to the wrong change. GoodDay (talk) 05:33, 8 August 2022 (UTC)

is king charles granting himself the chain?

We have known that the chain was worn by the King REF: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=900070198344067&set=pcb.900070278344059 However no legal letters nor announcements were there. But soon we will see him wearing that again.We have to place him on the list. Him9 (talk) 15:29, 7 November 2023 (UTC)

The king is the sovereign of every UK order including the Royal Victorian Chain, a position he inherited the moment he became the king. He didn’t award it to himself, he’s the head of it and therefore can wear it at anytime, likewise the Royal Victorian Order. Nford24 (PE121 Personnel Request Form) 15:32, 7 November 2023 (UTC)

RVC is an order? 218.102.117.127 (talk) 15:50, 7 November 2023 (UTC)