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The Royal Orders of Chivalry

HM The Queen is the Sovereign of the Order for the two Danish Royal Orders of Chivalry, the Order of the Elephant and Order of Dannebrog. HRH The Prince Consort is Chancellor of the Order.

The Order of the Elephant is the oldest and most distinguished order and dates back to the 15th century. The statutes of the Order were established by Christian V on 1 December 1693. Since 9 April 1959, women have been eligible for admission to the Order. In earlier times the Order was mainly conferred on foreign princes and distinguished Danish noblemen. Nowadays the Order is almost exclusively awarded to Heads of State and Members of the Royal Family.

The explanation for the elephant as the symbol of the Order is most likely that a warrior elephant was used as a symbol for the defenders of Christianity who were incensed at the sight of Christ’s blood. At the same time the elephant symbolised purity and chastity.

The Order of Dannebrog was instituted by Christian V in 1671, and like the Order of the Elephant, acquired its first official statutes on 1 December 1693. In 1808 the statutes were amended and extended, modelled on the French Legion of Honour, and the Order was divided into different grades. It is now mainly used to decorate meritorious Danish citizens. On 10 October 1951 women became eligible for admission to the Order of Dannebrog.

Now, as always, the decision to award an Order remains with the Master of the Order, HM The Queen, and is hers alone. The daily administration of the Orders is by the Chancery of the Royal Orders, an independent institution which is part of the Royal Household.

The Order of the Elephant
The badge of the Order of the Elephant is a white, enamelled, gold elephant decorated with a cross on one side and the monogram of the reigning monarch on the other. The elephant carries a tower on its back and a black moor holding a spear on its neck. The badge is worn either on a chain of gold elephants and towers, or on a blue ribbon across the left shoulder together with the Star of the Order.

The Order of Dannebrog
The badge of the Order of Dannebrog is a white enamelled gold or silver cross, edged in red, with a crown and the monogram of the reigning monarch. The face of the badge carries an inscription “God and King” with the monogram of Christian V in the centre.

The Badge of the Grand Commander (abbreviated S Kmd) is conferred on members of the Royal Family who are already Knights of the Elephant. It is worn on a cravat - women wear it on a ladies’ bow - with a breast star.