List of Knights and Dames Commander of the Royal Victorian Order appointed by Elizabeth II (1952–1977)
The Royal Victorian Order is an order of knighthood awarded by the sovereign of the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth realms. It is granted personally by the monarch and recognises personal service to the monarchy, the Royal Household, royal family members, and the organisation of important royal events. The order was officially created and instituted on 23 April 1896 by letters patent under the Great Seal of the Realm by Queen Victoria. It was instituted with five grades, the two highest of which were Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) and Knight Commander (KCVO), which conferred the status of knighthood on holders (apart from foreigners, who typically received honorary awards not entitling them to the style of a knight). Women were not admitted until Edward VIII altered the statutes of the order in 1936; those receiving the highest two awards were styled dames and those grades, when conferred on women, are Dame Grand Cross (GCVO) and Dame Commander (DCVO). No limit was placed on the number of appointments which could be made. Queen Elizabeth II (reigned since 1952) appointed 288 Knights Commander and 19 Dames Commander of the order during the first 25 years of her reign (from her accession to the