Order of The House of Orange - The House Order Today

The House Order Today

Since the reorganisation in 1969 the House Order itself has these grades:

1. Grand Cross (Grootkruis) - badge may be worn on a sash on the right shoulder, plus an 8-pointed star on the left chest;
2. Grand Honorary Cross (Groot erekruis) - wears the badge on a necklet;
3. Honorary Cross (Erekruis) - wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.

Every subject of the Queen, apart from the members of the Royal House (see note), can be awarded the Cross of Honour. Once awarded, the recipient can be promoted to a higher grade of the House Order after three years.

Note: The Royal House (Koninklijk Huis) is a rather vague definition within Dutch constitutional theory and Dutch law. It consists of the Monarch, his or her consort, former monarchs and their consorts and those members of her family that have a right to succeed her. The Government is responsible for the actions and words of the members of the Royal House. It is not the same as the Royal Household, although that calls itself, and is usually called the Royal House as well. The Queen's second son decided not to ask for parliamentary approval for his marriage and lost his right to succeed to the throne, his membership of the Royal House and the title Prince of the Netherlands. He did however remain a Royal Highness ,a Prince of Orange-Nassau and a member of the Royal Family.In the eyes of the genealogy and heraldry the words Royal House apply to various descendants of the Dutch monarch. The law on funerals does not apply to funerals of the members of the Royal House, but in this context membership will probably be defined in yet another way.