At Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s funeral final 12 months, we noticed senior members of the royal household with chests stuffed with medals, main many to surprise what they signified.
A few of these medals denoted navy service, however others, higher described as royal medals, have been issued to reward service to the royal family or to have fun the Queen’s coronation and subsequent jubilees.
Find out more about military medals here.
What are royal medals?
The coronation of Queen Victoria was the primary to be commemorated with an official coronation medal, with official jubilee medals additionally launched to mark the golden (fiftieth) and diamond (sixtieth) years of her reign in 1887 and 1897.
A coronation medal has been issued for each British monarch since Victoria, with a silver jubilee medal additionally awarded in 1935 to mark 25 years of King George V’s reign.
An additional 4 jubilee medals have been issued throughout the reign of Queen Elizabeth II – for the silver jubilee in 1977, the golden jubilee in 2002, the diamond jubilee in 2012, and at last for the platinum jubilee in 2022.
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Who can put on a royal medal?
When coronation and jubilee medals have been first created they got to a really choose group of individuals, explains Christopher Mellor-Hill, a life-long medal collector and Head of Shopper Liaison at Noonans, the specialist medal auctioneer.
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Recipients would come with, ‘members of the royal family, ambassadors or different dignitaries, senior authorities officers and abroad officers, together with officers with a connection to royal family service and some long-serving troopers.’
Over time, based on Christopher, the scope of who’s eligible for these medals has widened, that means the later medals have been issued in a lot bigger numbers.
The 2022 platinum jubilee medal – the seventh jubilee medal awarded by a British monarch – was given to serving members of the armed forces, entrance line emergency employees, jail service workers, members of the royal family, and residing recipients of the Victoria and George Crosses.
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Will there be a medal for King Charles’ coronation?
It’s not but recognized if there might be a coronation medal for King Charles III, and whether or not it would characteristic the Queen Consort – the 1911 coronation medal for George V depicted Queen Mary, so there’s a precedent. Neither is it clear whether or not the medal might be prepared in time to be worn throughout the coronation. We additionally don’t but know who might be eligible to obtain the award.
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What medals do the royal household put on?
King Charles III
At Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral King Charles III wore 10 medals:
- Queen’s Service Order (New Zealand)
- Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
- Silver Jubilee Medal
- Gold Jubilee Medal
- Diamond Jubilee Medal
- Platinum Jubilee Medal
- Naval Lengthy Service and Good Conduct medal (with three extra service bars)
- Canadian Forces Ornament (with three extra service bars)
- The New Zealand Commemorative medal
- The New Zealand Armed Forces Award
- Order of the Garter (collar)
- Order of the Inexperienced Thistle (sash)
King Charles’ navy medals defined:
Queen’s Service Order (New Zealand)
Created by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975, this medal is awarded by the federal government of New Zealand ‘for precious voluntary service to the neighborhood or meritorious and devoted companies to the Crown or comparable companies inside the public sector, whether or not in elected or appointed workplace’. It encompasses a stylised manuka flower, native to New Zealand, with a picture of Queen Elizabeth on the centre. The ribbon has a conventional pink, black and white Māori Poutama motif, symbolising the stairway to heaven.
Naval Lengthy Service and Good Conduct medal (with three extra service bars)
In 2006 Prince Charles was promoted to Admiral within the Royal Navy, Normal within the Military and Air Chief Marshal within the Royal Air Pressure, and as monarch is Commander in Chief of the Military, Navy and Air Pressure. The medal is often awarded after 15 years of excellent service, with extra bars for every extra 15 years.
Canadian Forces Ornament (with three extra service bars)
Awarded after 12 years of navy service, with a bar for every 10 years of extra service. Since 1977, he has held numerous honorary appointments within the Canadian Forces, together with Colonel-in-Chief of Canada’s Air Reserve and 6 military regiments.
The New Zealand Commemorative medal
Instituted in 1990 to commemorate the a hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and the creation of recent New Zealand.
The New Zealand Armed Forces Award
Granted for 15 years of excellent service. Charles has held honorary roles together with Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal New Zealand Navy, Subject Marshal for the New Zealand Military and Marshal of the Royal New Zealand Air Pressure.
Order of the Garter
Denoted by a 4 inch extensive, mid-blue riband (sash) worn throughout the physique from the left shoulder, signifying his place as Royal Knight Commander of the Order, a place he has held since 2008. That is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain, established by King Edward III in 1348. It’s worn with a breast star, that includes the pink cross of St George and a motto in Center French, which interprets as ‘disgrace on him who thinks evil’.
Order of the Inexperienced Thistle
A broad, 4 inch-wide darkish inexperienced silk riband worn throughout the physique from the left shoulder, that is Scotland’s highest order and second solely to the Order of the Garter. Established in 1687 by James V11 of Scotland (later James II of England), it’s awarded on the discretion of the monarch in recognition for public service. The accompanying breast star options an enamelled thistle surrounded by a inexperienced border bearing the Order’s motto ‘nemo me impune lacessit’ – ‘nobody harms me with impunity’.
Normally the Order of the Garter takes priority. Nonetheless, on so known as ‘collar days’, together with the coronation, holders should put on the ornate gold and enamel chain of the very best Order they maintain, with the riband of the following highest Order.
The Queen Consort (Camilla)
The Queen Consort can put on:
- Order of the Garter
- Royal Household Order
The Queen Consort’s medals defined:
Throughout Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, Camilla didn’t put on any medals, however she presumably obtained the diamond and platinum jubilee medals, as she grew to become a member of the royal household after her marriage to Prince Charles in 2005.
Camilla was granted the Order of the Garter in June 2022 by Queen Elizabeth. At state events, Camilla additionally often wears the Royal Household Order pinned to her left shoulder.
On the centre of the order, which is now awarded solely to girls, is a miniature of Queen Elizabeth in night gown. Initially this was painted onto ivory, however since 2017 has been produced on glass. It’s mounted onto a pale yellow ribbon.
Each orders often are solely worn throughout official state events within the presence of the reigning monarch, resembling state banquets.
The Prince of Wales (William)
Medals from left:
- Gold Jubilee Medal
- Diamond Jubilee Medal
- Platinum Jubilee Medal
- Order of the Garter or Order of the Thistle
The Princess of Wales (Kate)
The Princess of Wales can put on:
- Silver Jubilee Medal
- Gold Jubilee Medal
- Diamond Jubilee Medal
- Platinum Jubilee Medal
- Royal Victorian Order
- Royal Household Order
The Princess of Wales’ medals defined:
The Royal Victorian Order is denoted by a blue riband (sash) bordered with pink, together with breast star and Maltese cross sash badge, signifying she is a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order of Queen Elizabeth II (abbreviated to GCVO).
That is worn throughout the physique from the best shoulder. It’s given personally, with out public ceremony, by the monarch in recognition of the recipient’s years of service as a working royal.
Initially created by Queen Victoria (therefore the identify) in 1896 it’s supposed to ‘personally thank and honour individuals who had helped her immediately, or represented her throughout the Empire.’
The Duke of Sussex (Harry)
The Duke of Sussex can put on:
- Afghanistan Service Medal
- Gold Jubilee Medal
- Diamond Jubilee Medal
- Platinum Jubilee Medal
- Royal Victorian Order
Prince Harry’s medals defined:
Prince Harry accomplished two excursions of obligation in Afghanistan, and rose to the rank of Captain and so he wears the Afghanistan Service Medal to recognise his service.
He’s additionally one other member of the household to have the Royal Victorian Order, though he often wears this on a blue ribbon round his neck, slightly than the riband throughout the torso.
The Princess Royal (Anne)
The Princess Royal can put on:
- Queen’s Service Order (New Zealand)
- Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
- Silver Jubilee Medal
- Gold Jubilee Medal
- Diamond Jubilee Medal
- Platinum Jubilee Medal
- Naval Lengthy Service and Good Conduct medal
- Canadian Forces Ornament
- Order of St John Service medal
- New Zealand Commemorative Medal
- Order of the Garter and/ or Order of the Thistle
- Royal Victorian Order
Princess Anne’s medals defined:
First issued in 1899, the Order of St John Service medal rewards conspicuous service within the St John Ambulance Brigade, and never completely size of service. The Princess Royal is the Commander in Chief of the organisation.
The Duke of York (Andrew)
The Duke of York can put on:
- South Atlantic Marketing campaign Medal: Denotes Andrew’s lively service throughout the Falkland’s Conflict as a helicopter pilot.
- Silver Jubilee Medal
- Gold Jubilee Medal
- Diamond Jubilee Medal
- Platinum Jubilee Medal
- Naval Lengthy Service and Good Conduct medal
- Canadian Forces Ornament
- New Zealand Commemorative Medal
- Order of the Garter
- Royal Victorian Order
Prince Andrew’s medals defined:
The South Atlantic Marketing campaign Medal denotes Andrew’s lively service throughout the Falkland’s Conflict as a helicopter pilot.
The Earl of Wessex (Edward)
The Earl of Wessex can put on:
- Silver Jubilee Medal
- Gold Jubilee Medal
- Diamond Jubilee Medal
- Platinum Jubilee Medal
- Lengthy Service and Good Conduct medal
- Canadian Forces Ornament
- New Zealand Commemorative Medal
- Order of the Garter
- Royal Victorian Order
The Countess of Wessex (Sophie)
The Countess of Wessex can put on:
- Silver Jubilee Medal
- Gold Jubilee Medal
- Diamond Jubilee Medal
- Platinum Jubilee Medal
- Royal Household Order
Mike Tindall
- MBE for companies to rugby
- Diamond Jubilee Medal
- Platinum Jubilee Medal
Can you purchase royal medals?
It’s doable to purchase a real platinum jubilee medal for round £40 on eBay. Older coronation and jubilee medals, for instance from the reign of Queen Victoria, make comparable sums.
Though they’re fairly reasonably priced, anybody considering of sporting a coronation or jubilee medal, for instance throughout the coronation festivities for King Charles III, ought to assume once more.
It’s thought of unhealthy type to put on a medal in case you weren’t awarded it personally, with one exception. After World Conflict One it grew to become widespread follow for widows to put on their deceased husband’s medals on the best breast – medals are usually worn on the left – and it has now turn out to be a typically accepted follow for relations to put on their deceased relations’ medals.
It is solely when coronation and jubilee medals are well-documented as belonging to members of the the Aristocracy or the royal family, or are offered in teams with named navy medals, that they make a lot cash at public sale.
For instance, in January 2022 Noonans offered a 1953 coronation medal and a royal family lengthy service medal belonging to Herbert Oliver Heuston, who served as a gamekeeper at Sandringham for 28 years.
The pair was offered with numerous accompanying royal letters and invites, and was hammered down for £1,000.
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