Royal Family Order of George IV | |
---|---|
Awarded by King George IV | |
Type | Royal Family Order |
Ribbon | Blue |
Awarded for | At the monarch's pleasure |
Status | Defunct; not awarded since the death of George IV |
The Royal Family Order of George IV is an honour that was bestowed as a mark of personal esteem on female members of the British royal family by King George IV. It was the first Royal Family Order issued in the United Kingdom. Prior to George IV's accession in 1820, both ladies and gentlemen of the Court, as well as female members of the royal family, had worn the Sovereign's portrait set in a jewelled frame. George IV formalised the order.[1]
King George IV's Royal Family Order was rather ornate in appearance, and the frame that surrounded his portrait was of diamond oak leaves and acorns. The badge was worn on "a blue ribbon on the left shoulder", as noted in Letters of Queen Victoria. 1st series I p.16..[2] Examples of the order in the Royal Collection are in at least three different designs (items RCIN 441442,[3] RCIN 441443,[4] and RCIN 441444[5]).