ROYAL FAMILY ORDERS

George IV started the formal practice of presenting Family Orders, or portraits of the Sovereign set in diamonds suspended from a ribbon.

Before 1820, the Sovereign's portrait set in a jewelled frame had been worn by both ladies and gentlemen at Court, and especially by female members of the Royal Family.
 
George IV's successors continued this practice, with most sovereigns presenting jewelled portraits of themselves suspended on different coloured ribbon for each monarch - that of George V was white, that of George VI was rose pink, and The Queen's is chartreuse yellow.

The Orders are now worn on formal occasions by female members of the Royal Family only. The Queen and her late sister, The Princess Margaret, were given their awards by their father, George VI, and both wore them as young girls at the coronation of their parents in 1937.

More than one Order can be worn at the same time. For example, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother wore the Orders of both The Queen and George VI.