Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)

 

Context

Established by Queen Victoria on April 21, 1896, the Royal Victorian Order rewards extraordinary, important, or personal services performed for the Sovereign or the Royal Family. The Order may be conferred by The King of Canada to recognize services rendered to the Sovereign or to members of the Royal Family during Royal visits to Canada. Names of Canadian recipients are published in the Canada Gazette.

Description

The insignia of the Order consists of a Maltese cross of eight points which bears the Royal Cypher of Queen Victoria —VRI (Victoria Regina Imperatrix) in gold in its center, on a crimson enamelled background, surrounded by a annulus enameled blue which bears the inscription " VICTORIA " in gold letters, the annulus being surmounted by the Imperial State Crown.

Lieutenants receive a 44.5 mm badge with the arms of the cross enameled white.

The ribbon of the Order is 32 mm wide, blue in colour edged by three equal stripes of red, white, and red (1 mm).

Bar(s)

There is no bar to the Royal Victorian Order, but one can be promoted within the Order.

Wearing

The insignia of Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order shall be worn following that of Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces in the sequence prescribed in the Canadian Orders, Decorations and Medals Directive, and in the following manner: worn on the left breast, suspended from the ribbon described above.

Post-nominals

Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters “CVO”.

Historical notes

Between 1 July 1972 and 8 September 2022, 65 Canadians have been appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order.