Medals
The Prince of Wales has a number of medals that he wears on ceremonial and military occasions.
The medals can be viewed in the filmstrip above.
Picture 1: The Prince often wears a row of medals on the left.
The Queen's Service Order (New Zealand) awarded 1983
Instituted on 13th March 1975, this order is to recognize valuable voluntary service to the community and meritorious and faithful public services, both in a civilian capacity.
Coronation Medal – This was awarded in 1953 to commemorate The Queen's Coronation.
Silver Jubilee Medal – This was awarded in 1977 to commemorate The Queen's 25 years on the Throne. This is known as a Silver Jubilee.
Golden Jubilee Medal – This was awarded in 2002 to commemorate The Queen's 50 years on the Throne. This is known as a Golden Jubilee.
Canadian Forces Decoration – This was awarded in 2002. The Prince has a number of special relationships with Canadian regiments.
The New Zealand Commemorative Medal – These medals were only awarded in 1990 and marks The Prince's special relationship with New Zealand.
Picture 2: The Most Noble Order of the Garter
The Garter Star is often worn on the left below row of medals. It is a silver eight pointed, star centre medallion portraying the enamelled red Cross of St George surrounded by enamelled blue garter inscribed with the motto of the Order.
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded by Edward III in 1348, is the senior British Order of Chivalry. The Prince of Wales automatically became a Knight of the Garter when he became Prince of Wales in 1958, but was not installed until 17th June 1968, at Windsor Castle.
Knights of the Garter are chosen personally by the Sovereign to honour those who have held public office, who have contributed in a particular way to national life or who have served the Sovereign personally.
Every June, the Knights of the Garter gather at Windsor Castle, where new knights take the oath and are invested with the insignia. A lunch is given in the Waterloo Chamber, after which the knights process to a service in St George's Chapel, wearing their blue velvet robes (with the badge of the Order - St George's Cross within the Garter surrounded by radiating silver beams - on the left shoulder) and black velvet hats with white plumes.
Picture 3: The Most Noble Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is mainly awarded to officers of the Armed Services, as well as to a small number of civil servants.
Numbers may be increased in times of war or in the event of any military or civil action or service which merits 'peculiar honour or reward'.
The Prince of Wales was made Great Master of the Order on 28th May 1975, second only to The Queen.
The title of the Order is late medieval in origin. It arose from the ritual washing (inspired by the washing of baptism), a symbol of spiritual purification, which formed part of a knight's preparations for the conferment of knighthood.
The honour was not conferred until the candidates had prepared themselves by various rituals designed to purify the inner soul by fasting, vigils and prayer, and cleansing themselves by bathing.
The picture above shows the badge of the Order of the Bath and the collar with which it is sometimes worn.
Picture 4: The Order of Merit
The Order of Merit is a special honour awarded to individuals of great achievement in the fields of the arts, learning, literature and science. It is relatively new, and is one of the most coveted of British distinctions. The Order is restricted to 24 members (as well as additional foreign recipients).
As with the Royal Victorian Order, the Order of Merit is in the sole gift of the Sovereign but carries no rank apart from the initials OM after the name. The Prince of Wales was awarded the Order of Merit on 26th June, 2002.
It is sometimes worn around the neck, or on the military braiding worn on the right side of the chest, known as the Aide-de-Camp braiding. The badge is an eight-pointed cross of red and blue enamel surmounted by the imperial crown; in the centre, upon blue enamel and surrounded by a laurel wreath, are the words in gold lettering 'For Merit'.