Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry in the British honours system. The Order was established by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order was the senior Indian Order, the junior one being the Order of the Indian Empire. It was awarded to Indian Princes and to British subjects serving the government in the Empire of India. After Indian independence in 1947, no further appointments were made.
The Order was divided into three classes of members:
- Knigh Grand Commander (post-nominal GCSI)
- Knight Commander (KCSI)
- Companion (CSI)
There insigina included several elements:
- The Collar was a gold chain composed of alternate links in the shapes of lotuses, red and white roses and palm branches, with an imperial crown in the centre. Only Knights Grand Commanders were entitled to the collar, which they wore around the neck.
- The Badge included an oval suspended from a star; in the centre of the oval was a portrait of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, surrounded by the words Heaven's Light Our Guide. Knights Grand Commanders wore it suspended from the Collar.
- The Star included an image of a sun with twenty-six large rays, with a smaller ray between each pair of large ones. At the centre was a star surrounded by a blue ribbon bearing the words Heaven's Light Our Guide. The Star was worn only by Knights Grand Commanders and Knights Commanders.
- The Mantle was a blue-white satin coat worn by Knights Grand Commanders.