Order of the Star of India | |
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Insignia of a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India | |
Awarded by the Queen of the United Kingdom | |
Type | Order |
Motto | HEAVEN'S LIGHT OUR GUIDE |
Awarded for | At the monarch's pleasure |
Status | Not awarded since 1947 Dormant order since 2009 |
Sovereign | Charles III |
Grades (w/ post-nominals) | Knight Grand Commander(GCSI) Knight Commander(KCSI) Companion(CSI) |
Former grades | Knight Companion |
Established | 1861–2009 |
Precedence | |
Next (higher) | Order of the Bath |
Next (lower) | Order of St. Michael and St. George |
Ribbon bar of the Star of India |
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:
No appointments have been made since the Partition of India in 1947. The last living knight, The Maharaja of Alwar, died in 2009 and the order became dormant.
The motto of the Order is Heaven's light our guide. The "Star of India", the emblem of the Order, also appeared on the flag of the Viceroy of India.
The Order is the senior order of chivalry of the Empire of India; the junior order is The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, and there was also, for women only the Imperial Order of the Crown of India. It is the fifth-most-senior British order of chivalry, following The Most Noble Order of the Garter, The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick, and The Most Honourable Order of the Bath.