Royal Victorian Chain

The Royal Victorian Chain is a British award, instituted in 1902 by HM King Edward VII as a personal award of the British Monarch (i.e. not an award by the British Government). Although it is similar in appearance to the Royal Victorian Order, the two awards are unrelated. The Royal Victorian Chain does not confer its recepients any style or title – in fact, the Chain is not even given a precedence within the British honours system – but it represents a token of highest distinction and greatest esteem from the Monarch. 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 inelligible for the Order of the Garter (HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand is a recepient of the Chain). It can also serve as the senior award for Canadians, who are ineligible to receive knighthoods.

The chain is in gold, decorated with motifs of Tudor Rose, Thistle, Shamrock and Lotus Flower (symbolizing England, Scotland, Ireland and India respectively), and a crowned, red enamelled cipher "ERI" (Edvardvs Rex Imperator) (surrounded by a wreath for men), upon which the badge is suspended upon. The chain is worn around the collar by men, on a bow (blue with red-white-red edges) on the left shoulder by women.

The badge is a gold, white enamelled Maltese Cross; the oval-shaped central medallion depicts Victoria's Royal and Imperial Cypher, "VRI" (Victoria Regina Imperatrice) on a red background, surrounded by a crown-surmounted blue ring bearing the word "Victoria". Both the crown and the cypher are studded with diamonds.

The Royal Victorian Chain must be returned to the Monarch upon the death of the recepient.

See also

• Royal Victorian Order