‘The new & honourable order of valour’: The history of the Victoria Cross

On 29th January 1856 Queen Victoria issued a Royal Warrant introducing the most prestigious award, the Victoria Cross. Designed and made by London jewellers, Hancocks & Co., the 1.4 inch medals were designed to celebrate the acts of extreme bravery during the Crimean War.

The idea of a new gallantry award was first put forward by Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, in 1855. The Crimean War was one of the first wars to affect all areas of society, with men from all social classes being called to fight. With this in mind it’s no surprise that the public were excited to hear of Albert’s plans for the new ‘Military Order of Victoria’ (the name was later changed by the Queen to ‘Victoria Cross’) and the idea was approved by parliament by the end of the year.

As the daughter of a soldier and the head of the military, Queen Victoria was keen to have her say in both the design of the medal and the terms in which it would be distributed.

As stated by its name, the medal is a cross pattée, with a crown and lion in the centre. At the base of this is an inscription which reads ‘for valour’. Originally it had been designed to say ‘for bravery’ but the Queen felt that this wording invalidated the bravery shown by others that had served in the war. There were two versions of the medal, with ‘blue ribbons for the Navy, & red, for the Army’. (1) This later changed when the Royal Air Force was created and red began being used for all three armed services. As with the physical design, Queen Victoria insisted that the new medal be for everyone, no matter their military rank or social class.

Although the events surrounding the new medal had come with endless trauma, its creation sparked an element of excitement amongst war veterans. However, the selection process for rightful recipients was tough and required the approval of several officers, captains and chiefs before the nomination was put to the Queen. With every class eligible, the nominations were understandably endless, with the only conditions being that you must not have died during the war or subsequently as a result of any injuries.

Queen Victoria first names the Victoria Cross in her journal on 19th May 1856 when she laid the foundation stone for the Royal Victoria Military Hospital in Netley. However, it was to be another year before the first Victoria Cross was presented to a deserving war hero.

On 26th June 1857 Queen Victoria found herself ‘full of agitation for the coming great event of the day… the solemn inauguration of the new & honourable order of valour.’ (2) Having had an early breakfast, Victoria dressed in her full red and black military uniform before anxiously mounting her horse, ‘sunset’. It was the first time that the 38-year-old monarch had ridden horseback for a military review, while it was also the first time that two of her sons – presumably Princes Albert Edward and Alfred – had ridden as part of such a large scale state event. To add to the family excitement and anxieties, Albert had just received his new title of ‘Prince Consort’ and it was the first time her youngest son, Prince Leopold, appeared in public, with the addition of the Queen’s future son-in-law, Prince Friedrich of Prussia.

Positioned between Friedrich and her beloved husband, Prince Albert, the Queen left Buckingham palace and rode down the streets to Hyde Park, with excited crowds lining every inch of the route and cheering loudly as the royal procession made its way past. ‘The sight in Hyde Park was very fine,’ wrote the Queen, ‘the tribunes & stands, full of spectators, the Royal one being in the centre. After riding down the line, the ceremony of giving medals, began.’ (3)

Throughout the ceremony Victoria remained on horseback as she decorated the brave men with their newest medals. Proving that the award was inclusive of all classes, the Queen records how some of the men were in ordinary ‘plain clothes’. She particularly notes how one man was ‘a gate keeper & one a policeman’. (4)

Since the creation of the Victoria Cross 170 years ago, 1,358 medals have been awarded to a total of 1,355 men, three of which received two awards for separate events. While the Victoria Criss still exists today and can be given to anyone that shows gallantry in the presence of the enemy, it is a rare honour to receive, with this year (2026) marking 11 years since the last medal was given out by Queen Elizabeth II.

© Queen.Victoria.Roses 2026

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