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Order of the Polar Star
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<h2 id="grades">Grades</h2> <p>The Order has five degrees: </p> <ol><li><i>Commander Grand Cross</i> (KmstkNO) – Wears the badge on a <a href="/facts/Livery_collar/dCKqjt1z">collar</a> (chain) or on a sash over the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;</li> <li><i>Commander 1st Class</i> (KNO1kl) – Wears the badge on a necklet, plus the star on the left chest;</li> <li><i>Commander</i> (KNO) – Wears the badge on a necklet;</li> <li><i>Knight 1st Class</i> (RNO1kl) – Wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest;</li> <li><i>Knight</i> (RNO) – Wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.</li></ol> <p>Before 2023, clergymen and women were not called Knight, but instead made a <i>Ledamot av andliga ståndet</i> ("Member of the Cloth") for priests or a <i>Ledamot</i> ("Member") for Women. However, since 2023, the order make no difference between men and women.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p><p>The Order also has a medal: the "Polar Star Medal". </p> <h2 id="investiture">Investiture</h2> <p>Before 1975 each royal order had their own investiture ceremony. When the royal orders were reinstated, however, this practice was not restored. Instead a new state ceremony was created in which all recipients of all orders are awarded. The new ceremony is held in the White Sea Hall of the Stockholm Palace, decorated with the banners and insignia of the royal orders. After the King and Queen are announced by the Herald of the Royal Orders, tapping his staff on the floor twice, and make their entrance to the Seraphim March, the Chancellor of the Royal Orders makes an introduction speech and the King himself delivers a speech each recipient of all orders are, one by one, one order at a time from highest to lowest in rank, announced and called upon by the Deputy Chancellor of the Royal Orders to receive their insignia from the King and shake his hand. After all recipients of a certain order have received their award, the fanfare of that order is performed before the investiture of members of the next order begins. This ceremony was first held on 31 May 2024.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="insignia-and-habit">Insignia and habit</h2> <ul><li>The <i>collar</i> of the Order is in gold, consists of eleven white-enamelled five-pointed stars and eleven crowned back-to-back <a href="/facts/Monogram/7SMVEawE">monogram</a> "F"s (for King <a href="/facts/Frederick_I_of_Sweden/B5Vc2qCr">Frederick I of Sweden</a>) in blue enamel, joined by chains.</li> <li>The <i>badge</i> of the Order is a white enamelled <a href="/facts/Maltese_Cross/tCA8s5fQ">Maltese Cross</a>, in silver for a Knight and in <a href="/facts/Gilding/Q109QPJs">gilt</a> for a Knight 1st Class and above; crowns appear between the arms of the cross. The central disc, which is identical on both sides, is in blue enamel, with a white-enamelled five-pointed star surrounded by the Order's motto <i>Nescit occasum</i> ("It knows no decline"). The badge hangs from a royal crown.</li> <li>The <i>star</i> of the Order is a silver <a href="/facts/Maltese_cross/tCA8s5fQ">Maltese cross</a>, with a silver five-pointed star at the centre. The star of a Grand Cross also has straight silver rays between the arms of the cross.</li> <li>The <i>ribbon</i> of the Order is black.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> From 1975–2023 it was blue with yellow stripes near its borders (see above). In spring 2013, the Grand Master decided that Swedish royal princes would wear the Order with the original black ribbon, while other members would still use the blue with yellow stripes. From 2023, the black ribbon was used again. The last black ribbon 18kt gold Knight class prior to 2023 was awarded in 1988 to historian George Loper of <a href="/facts/Bridgeton,_New_Jersey/kAKDCaQh">Bridgeton, New Jersey</a>, for his research which was the basis for the <a href="/facts/New_Sweden_Farmstead_Museum/J32vsRLm">New Sweden Farmstead Museum</a>. This was presented by the King.</li> <li>The Order used to have a distinctive red and white habit worn on formal occasions such as at chapters of the Order. The habit included red <a href="/facts/Breeches/NvPSqevu">breeches</a> and red <a href="/facts/Doublet_(clothing)/2Pgrx3GG">doublet</a>, both with padded shoulders and white <a href="/facts/Piping_(sewing)/3N4zzfUD">piping</a>, a white sash with a gold <a href="/facts/Fringe_(trim)/b31ry347">fringe</a> around the waist and a red <a href="/facts/Mantle_(clothing)/uYsI7r1s">mantle</a> with white lining. The star of the Order was embroidered on the left breast of both the doublet and the mantle. A black <a href="/facts/Top_hat/BaQ3UL1l">top hat</a> with a gold hat band and a <a href="/facts/Plume_(feather)/UMfD5eQc">plume</a> of white <a href="/facts/Ostrich/yNg0BwDf">ostrich</a> and black <a href="/facts/Egret/7j6fxwLc">egret</a> feathers and red <a href="/facts/Boot/k3vtmnUW">boots</a> with gilded <a href="/facts/Spur/KptqU1jG">spurs</a> completed the habit. The collar of the Order was worn over the shoulders of the doublet. Clergymen of the <a href="/facts/Church_of_Sweden/8CFCBJ7d">Church of Sweden</a> wore the Order around the neck with a white <a href="/facts/Cassock/gMoC47d4">cassock</a> with a red sash with a gold fringe around the waist and a red mantle with a white lining and with the star of the Order embroidered on its left side.</li></ul> <table><tbody><tr><th colspan="5">Ribbon bars (1748–1975; 2023–present)</th></tr><tr><td>Commander Grand Cross</td><td>Commander 1st Class</td><td>Commander</td><td>Knight 1st Class</td><td>Knight</td></tr></tbody></table> <table><tbody><tr><th colspan="5">Ribbon bars (1975–2023)</th></tr><tr><td>Commander Grand Cross</td><td>Commander 1st Class</td><td>Commander</td><td>Knight 1st Class</td><td>Knight</td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="recipients-since-2023">Recipients (since 2023)</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Name</th><th>Citizenship</th><th>Main occupation</th><th>Grade</th></tr><tr><td rowspan="1">29 September 2023<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a></td><td><a href="/facts/Sirje_Karis/nN6D8H3v">Sirje Karis</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Estonia/PVjB16TI">Estonia</a></td><td><a href="/facts/First_Lady_of_Estonia/4mVHXQS5">First Lady of Estonia</a></td><td rowspan="4">Commander Grand Cross (KmstkNO)</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="1">30 January 2024<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a></td><td><a href="/facts/Brigitte_Macron/nwPp23JP">Brigitte Macron</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/France/CxIeIKM3">France</a></td><td><a href="/facts/List_of_spouses_or_partners_of_the_president_of_France/130HM4At">Spouse of the French President</a></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">21 March 2024<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a></td><td><a href="/facts/Svante_P%C3%A4%C3%A4bo/HSRqEmdb">Svante Pääbo</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Sweden/u3qC7lyj">Sweden</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Professor/JNqot4sU">Professor</a> and <a href="/facts/Geneticist/cCvzvuKU">Geneticist</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Anne_L%27Huillier/mKHnduoh">Anne L'Huillier</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Sweden/u3qC7lyj">Sweden</a>/ <a href="/facts/France/CxIeIKM3">France</a> </td><td><a href="/facts/Professor/JNqot4sU">Professor</a></td></tr><tr><td>Catarina Wingren</td><td> <a href="/facts/Sweden/u3qC7lyj">Sweden</a> </td><td><a href="/facts/Diplomat/HP56MrVL">Diplomat</a>/<a href="/facts/Diplomatic_rank/pMXBDsQA">Third Embassy Secretary</a></td><td>Knight (RNO)</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4">23 April 2024<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a></td><td><a href="/facts/Suzanne_Innes-Stubb/hSdGYFYa">Suzanne Innes-Stubb</a></td><td rowspan="6"> <a href="/facts/Finland/G5Ak6T91">Finland</a></td><td><a href="/facts/First_Lady_of_Finland/wbyemKTF">First Lady of Finland</a></td><td rowspan="9">Commander Grand Cross (KmstkNO)</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Elina_Valtonen/tKtFrpES">Elina Valtonen</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Minister_for_Foreign_Affairs_(Finland)/c9gKMkB5">Minister for Foreign Affairs</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Anna-Maja_Henriksson/Y66FmLyd">Anna-Maja Henriksson</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Minister_of_Education_(Finland)/dfzJIV6r">Minister for Education</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Olli_Rehn/zChcAc4k">Olli Rehn</a></td><td>Governor of the <a href="/facts/Bank_of_Finland/27I0Y1WR">Bank of Finland</a></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="10">22 October 2024<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a></td><td><a href="/facts/Sanna_Marin/76SbFLL7">Sanna Marin</a></td><td>Former <a href="/facts/Prime_Minister_of_Finland/kuFDP4Af">Prime Minister of Finland</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Pekka_Haavisto/AtErWDVT">Pekka Haavisto</a></td><td>Former <a href="/facts/Minister_for_Foreign_Affairs_(Finland)/c9gKMkB5">Minister for Foreign Affairs</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Jens_Stoltenberg/fqG1Vxbe">Jens Stoltenberg</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Norway/wlDRKRTR">Norway</a></td><td>Former Secretary-General of <a href="/facts/NATO/dCeTddMY">NATO</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Antony_Blinken/gDbKCr5D">Antony Blinken</a></td><td rowspan="2"> <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a></td><td>71st <a href="/facts/United_States_Secretary_of_State/AgUe4Dkq">United States Secretary of State</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Jake_Sullivan/x4PRl8RJ">Jacob Sullivan</a></td><td>28th <a href="/facts/United_States_National_Security_Advisor/C2kEWjBE">United States National Security Advisor</a></td></tr><tr><td>Petri Hakkarainen</td><td> <a href="/facts/Finland/G5Ak6T91">Finland</a></td><td>Director General at the <a href="/facts/Ministry_for_Foreign_Affairs_of_Finland/P50Apj9u">Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland</a></td><td rowspan="5">Commander 1st Class (KNO1kl)</td></tr><tr><td>Stian Jenssen</td><td> <a href="/facts/Norway/wlDRKRTR">Norway</a></td><td>Former <a href="/facts/Chief_of_Staff/Pg6Hkyuf">Chief of Staff</a> to the Secretary-General of NATO</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Julianne_Smith/z0NsC0Nt">Julianne Smith</a></td><td rowspan="3"> <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a></td><td>25th <a href="/facts/United_States_Ambassador_to_NATO/QnjcesKn">United States Ambassador to NATO</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Jeffry_Flake/8Td0kmo1">Jeffry Flake</a></td><td>Former <a href="/facts/United_States_Ambassador_to_Turkey/7xFpA2zo">United States Ambassador to Turkey</a></td></tr><tr><td>Amanda Sloat</td><td>Former senior director, <a href="/facts/United_States_National_Security_Council/HYwSNFA6">United States National Security Council</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="gallery">Gallery</h2> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul> <li>Sweden portal</li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Orders,_decorations,_and_medals_of_Sweden/Wt61oF7x">Orders, decorations, and medals of Sweden</a></li> <li>List of recipients of the Order of the Polar Star</li></ul> <h3>Bibliography</h3> <ul><li>(in Swedish) Per Nordenvall, <i>Kungliga Serafimerorden 1748–1998</i>. Stockholm: Kungl. Maj:ts orden, 1998. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-91-630-6744-0</li> <li><a href="http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchytheroyalcourt/orders/theorderofthepolarstar.4.396160511584257f2180005711.htmlThe">Order of the Polar Star, Royal Court of Sweden</a></li> <li>Hieronymussen, Paul; Struwing, Aage, (phot. ill.); Crowley, Christine (English trans.). <i>Orders and Decorations of Europe in Color</i> . The MacMillan Company. New York, 1967. Originally published as <i>Europaeiske Ordner I Faever</i>. Politikens Forlag, 1966. Color plates # 28-32; text pp. 126–127.</li> <li>Lawrence-Archer, J. H. <i>The Orders of Chivalry from the Original Statutes of the Various Orders of Knighthood and other Sources of Information</i>. London: W. H. Allen and Company, 13 Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, S. W. Publishers to the India Office. 1887.</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Order of the Polar Star. <ul><li><a href="http://www.royalcourt.se/royalcourt/themonarchytheroyalcourt/theswedishmonarchy/orders.4.396160511584257f2180005150.html">Swedish Royal Court: Orders and medals</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Dir. 2019:76 Kommittédirektiv Det offentliga belöningssystemet, de allmänna flaggdagarna och utformningen av anslaget till hovet" (in Swedish). Government of Sweden. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2021. <a href="https://www.regeringen.se/rattsliga-dokument/kommittedirektiv/2019/11/dir.-201976" target="_blank">https://www.regeringen.se/rattsliga-dokument/kommittedirektiv/2019/11/dir.-201976</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Ett offentligt belöningssystem för Sveriges främsta utmärkelser" (Media Release) (in Swedish). Justitiedepartementet, Regeringskansliet. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022. <a href="https://www-regeringen-se.translate.goog/pressmeddelanden/2022/12/ett-offentligt-beloningssystem-for-sveriges-framsta-utmarkelser/?_x_tr_sl=sv&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc" target="_blank">https://www-regeringen-se.translate.goog/pressmeddelanden/2022/12/ett-offentligt-beloningssystem-for-sveriges-framsta-utmarkelser/?_x_tr_sl=sv&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Förordning om Sveriges främsta utmärkelser" (PDF). Svensk författningssamling (SFS 2022:1800) (in Swedish). Regeringskansliet. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022. <a href="https://svenskforfattningssamling.se/sites/default/files/sfs/2022-12/SFS2022-1800.pdf" target="_blank">https://svenskforfattningssamling.se/sites/default/files/sfs/2022-12/SFS2022-1800.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Sunnqvist, Martin (30 January 2023). "Det är nytt med vårt nya ordenssystem" (in Swedish). Svenska Dagbladet. Retrieved 6 February 2023. <a href="https://www.svd.se/a/76qkgv/det-ar-nytt-med-vart-nya-ordenssystem" target="_blank">https://www.svd.se/a/76qkgv/det-ar-nytt-med-vart-nya-ordenssystem</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"H.M. Konungen har beslutat om ordensförläningar för exceptionella insatser". www.kungahuset.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2024-10-08. <a href="https://www.kungahuset.se/arkiv/pressmeddelanden/2024-03-21-h.m.-konungen-har-beslutat-om-ordensforlaningar-for-exceptionella-insatser" target="_blank">https://www.kungahuset.se/arkiv/pressmeddelanden/2024-03-21-h.m.-konungen-har-beslutat-om-ordensforlaningar-for-exceptionella-insatser</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"STATUTES FOR THE ROYAL SWEDISH ORDERS (adopted on 15 February 2023)" (PDF) (in Swedish). Retrieved 2024-03-23. <a href="https://kungligmajestatsorden.se/download/18.516d7c47186a1c5d5561fdc3/1678188499162/Ordensstadgar.pdf" target="_blank">https://kungligmajestatsorden.se/download/18.516d7c47186a1c5d5561fdc3/1678188499162/Ordensstadgar.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Rätzer, Johan BratellSarah (2024-05-31). "Abba återförenas inför kungen – får unik utmärkelse | Nöje | Expressen". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). 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