Royal Victorian Medal (RVM)

Context

Established by Queen Victoria in 1896, the Royal Victorian Medal recognizes extraordinary, important or personal services to the Sovereign, members of the Royal Family or the Sovereign’s representatives. The Medal recognizes individuals in more junior positions than those who are eligible for appointment to the Royal Victorian Order. This Medal is within the personal gift of His Majesty The King and is administered by the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood at St. James's Palace in London, England. The Medal may be awarded in silver gilt (gold), silver and bronze and is part of the Canadian Honours System.

Description

The Royal Victorian Medal consists of a 28mm circular medal struck in gold (silver gilt), silver or bronze, depending on the level of the award. The obverse bears an effigy of the Sovereign surrounded by the Royal title. The reverse of the Medal bears the uncrowned Royal Cypher surrounded by ribbons and laurels, with the inscription "ROYAL VICTORIAN MEDAL" upon a curled ribbon in the base.

The ribbon of the Royal Victorian Medal is 32 mm wide, blue in colour edged on each side by three equal stripes of red, white, and red (2 mm).

Bar(s)

A recipient of the Bronze Medal may wear both the Bronze and a subsequent Silver or Gold Medal if it is awarded. Bars may be awarded to each class of Medal for further services and the Medals may be worn in addition to the insignia of the Royal Victorian Order if the latter is subsequently conferred.  In most circumstances, the Silver Medal is awarded.

Wearing

The Royal Victorian Medal shall be worn following the Meritorious Service Medal 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  “RVM”.

Historical notes

Between 1 July 1972 and 8 September 2022, 23 Canadians have been awarded the Royal Victorian Medal.