St John Ambulance was established in 1877 in response to the need to provide first aid training and equipment in the dangerous industrial workplaces of Victorian Britain. Edward, Prince of Wales - later King Edward VII - was a big supporter of this work and he petitioned his mother, Queen Victoria, to grant a Royal Charter of Incorporation to recognise their efforts. This charter, which received the royal assent on 14 May 1888, is the basis of the Order’s status today.
Queen Victoria became the Order’s first Sovereign Head and Edward became its first Grand Prior. The role of Grand Prior continues to be held by a senior member of the royal family, and other senior royals hold the positions of Chief Commissioner for Youth and President of St John Ambulance in England.
The Sovereign Head of the Order honours individuals with admission to the Order in recognition of their outstanding service and achievement in furthering the Order’s aims. The main way in which the Order achieves its aims in England is through the work of its charity, St John Ambulance, which provides first aid training and services. Most people who become members of the Order are St John Ambulance volunteers and those who have been appointed to the two highest grades of the Order are invested by the Grand Prior.
St John Ambulance’s uniformed volunteers provide first aid cover at events big and small all over England and events relating to the monarchy are no exception. From weddings to funerals, coronations to jubilees, St John Ambulance has been on hand to assist at royal events for over 130 years.
Find out more about St John Ambulance and the Order of St John’s connections with royalty below.
Queen Victoria became the Order’s first Sovereign Head and Edward became its first Grand Prior. The role of Grand Prior continues to be held by a senior member of the royal family, and other senior royals hold the positions of Chief Commissioner for Youth and President of St John Ambulance in England.
The Sovereign Head of the Order honours individuals with admission to the Order in recognition of their outstanding service and achievement in furthering the Order’s aims. The main way in which the Order achieves its aims in England is through the work of its charity, St John Ambulance, which provides first aid training and services. Most people who become members of the Order are St John Ambulance volunteers and those who have been appointed to the two highest grades of the Order are invested by the Grand Prior.
St John Ambulance’s uniformed volunteers provide first aid cover at events big and small all over England and events relating to the monarchy are no exception. From weddings to funerals, coronations to jubilees, St John Ambulance has been on hand to assist at royal events for over 130 years.
Find out more about St John Ambulance and the Order of St John’s connections with royalty below.
