Order of the Royal Union
| Order of the Royal Union | |
|---|---|
 Insignia of the Order of the Royal Union | |
| Awarded by the Head of the Royal Union | |
| Ribbon |  |
| Motto | Eendracht Maakt Macht Unity makes Strength |
| Eligibility | Civilian |
| Criteria | Commendable contributions to the improvement of relations between  Hindia Belanda and  Noordenstaat through the arts, sciences, charity and public service. |
| Status | Currently constituted |
| Sovereign | Anne Charlotte II |
| Grandmaster | Governor-General Maryam Rahmadisoerja |
| Chancellor | XY |
| Classes | Knight/Dame Grand Cross Knight/Dame Commander Commander Knight/Dame Member |
The Order of the Royal Union (Dutch: Orde van de Koninklijke Unie, Indonesian: Ordo Uni Royal) is an order of chivalry awarded by the Head of the Royal Union to individuals for their commendable contributions to the improvement of relations between Hindia Belanda and Noordenstaat through the arts, sciences, charity and public service. Established on 12 August 1929, on the day the colony of Hindia Belanda became an independent commonwealth, the Order of the Royal Union is considered as one of the most prestigious of chivalric orders in both countries.
Nominations for membership of the Order can be made by both member states of the Royal Union. In each country, anyone can put forward nominations which are sifted through by an independent commission before they are recommended to the Head of the Royal Union by the Prime Minister of either country.
Classes
The Order of the Royal Union has five distinct classes and is headed by the Head of the Royal Union, currently Anne Charlotte II as Sovereign and the Governor-General of Hindia Belanda, currently Maryam Rahmadisoerja, as Grandmaster. The five classes of the Order are listed in descending order as follows:
- Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (Ridder/Dame Grootkruis | Perewa/Dame Salib Agung)
- Knight Commander or Dame Commander (Ridder-Commandeur/Dame-Commandeur | Perewa-Panglima/Dame-Panglima)
- Commander (Commandeur | Panglima)
- Knight (Ridder/Dame | Perewa/Dame)
- Member (Lid | Ahli)
The two most senior classes, the Knight/Dame Grand Cross and the Knight/Dame Commander, are reserved for select Hindia Belandan and Noordenstaater nationals who have made contributions of great significance to the advancement of the arts and sciences of both countries, in addition to former Governors-General of Hindia Belanda as well as former Prime Ministers and public servants of both countries. The honours Commanders, Knights and Members are routinely invested to select Hindia Belandan and Noordenstaater nationals every year as part of the Sovereign's Honours List on New Year's Day, nominations to which are often made by on the basis of contributions to the arts and sciences as well as charitable work.
Privilege
Knights/Dames Grand Cross and Knights/Dames Commander are entitled to display the collar of the Order as well as incorporate supporters in their coats of arms. All members of the Order, irrespective of classes, are entitled to the use of post-nominals.
History
The Order of the Royal Union was founded on 12 August 1929 by Queen Margriet upon the independence of Hindia Belanda to foster closer relations between the newly independent commonwealth and Noordenstaat by instituting a joint chivalric order. Since its inception, an appointment to the Order is considered a great honour and for those whose work revolves around the arts and sciences, a mark of high achievement in their careers. The Order counts amongst its members a litany of academics, artists, actors and actresses, musicians and dancers as well as former public servants and charity workers, amongst others.
Insignia
| Order of the Royal Union | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knight/Dame Grand Cross | Knight/Dame Commander | Commander | Knight | Member | |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Ribbons | |||||
| Knight/Dame Grand Cross | Knight/Dame Commander | Commander | Knight | Member | |
|
|
|
|
| |
Notable recipients
- Dewi Kartasoekarti, former Governor-General of Hindia Belanda and Chief Curator of the Commonwealth Collection Trust
- Kasih, Hindia Belandan singer-songwriter and one of Astyria's best selling recording artists