Constantinian Order Investiture ceremony at Westminster Cathedral

Source: Constantinian Order

The Duke of Calabria, as Grand Prefect of the Constantinian Order of Saint George and the Royal Order of Francis I, presided over the 2006 annual investiture ceremony which took place at Westminster Cathedral in London. The Grand Prefect represented his father and the Order's Grand Master, HRH The Duke of Castro. Over two hundred and fifty knights, dames, medalists and their guests attended including representatives of many embassies and high commissions in the United Kingdom and members of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords including Lord Alton of Liverpool and Rudi Viz, MP. The Chief Celebrant was The Right Reverend Thomas Burns, Bishop in Ordinary to Her Majesty's Armed Forces who was assisted by several priests in attendance including Father Michael Seed, Ecumenical Secretary to the Archbishop of Westminster. Among those honoured were: SACRED MILITARY CONSTANTINIAN ORDER OF SAINT GEORGE To the honour and dignity of Knight Commander of Justice: Fr Frederick Crichton-Stuart, Chancellor of the Grand Priory of England of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. To the honour and dignity of Knight of Justice: Nobile Vincenzo Patrizio dei Baroni Gallo Zugaro and Nobile Giancarlo dei Marchesi Doria dei Conti Montaldeo. To the honour and dignity of Ecclesiastical Knight Commander of Grace: The Rt Rev Thomas Burns, Roman Catholic Bishop to Her Majesty's Armed Forces. To the honour and dignity of Ecclesiastical Knight Commander of Grace: The Rev Fr Edmund Eggleston. To the honour and dignity of Knight Grand Cross of Merit: HE Dr Paul van Hanswijck de Jonge, Delegate of the Constantinian Order in The Netherlands. To the honour and dignity of Knight Commander of Merit with Star: General Sir Michael Willcocks, - Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, HE Senor Alfonso Lopez-Caballero, Ambassador of Republic of Colombia to the Court of St James's, Dr Alberto Laplaine Guimaris, Chief of Staff of the Mayor of Lisbon and former Secretary of the Council of State of the Portuguese Republic, and HE Mr Francis O'Donnell, KM, Ambassador of the United Nations to the Republic of Ukraine. To the honour and dignity of Knight of Merit with Star: Mr James Dobbin, MP, - Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Pro Life Group, Mr Leo Simmonds, KCSG, KCHS, Secretary of the Papal Knights Association in Great Britain, John Thomas Kennedy, Esq., CBE, KSG, DL, Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Greater Manchester and Dr Martin Vorderwlbecke. To the honour of dignity of Dame of Merit with Star: Mrs Maria Rosa Picard de Francis, Charge d'affaires of the Principality of Andorra to the Court of St James's. To the honour of dignity of Knight of Merit: The Hon Alexander Brennan, The Hon Patrick Brennan and Mr Franck Galland. To the honour of dignity of Dame of Merit: Dr Sorca Conroy. To the honour and dignity of the Gold Benemerenti Medal: General The Rt Hon Lord Ramsbotham, and HE Mr Anthony Bailey. ROYAL ORDER OF FRANCIS I To the honour and dignity of Knight Grand Cross: Mr Mahmoud Khayami To the honour and dignity of Knight Commander: Alderman Sir Gavyn Arthur, former Lord Mayor of London, Sir Michael Craig-Cooper, CBE, TD, DL, Vice-Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, Air Vice-Marshal David Hawkins-Leth, CB, MBE, DL, HE Dr Lachezar Matev, Ambassador of Bulgaria to the Court of St James's, Mr Norman Gooding and HE Matthew Neuhaus, Director of Political Affairs, Commonwealth Secretariat. To the honour and dignity of Dame Commander: The Rt Hon Dame Angela Rumbold, DBE, and The Dowager Marchioness of Salisbury. To the honour and dignity of Knight First Class: Mr Sidney Shipton, OBE, Three Faith Forum, Mr Alexander Creswell, Mr Peter Schaad, Col Tom S Ogilvie-Graham, MBE, RAVC, The Very Rev Mgr Vladimir Felzmann, KHS, KGCO, and Mr Ahmed Suleiman, MBE. To the honour and dignity of Dame First Class: The Rev Canon Flora Winfield, Lady Hazel Sternberg, DSS, Miss Annie Austin and Miss Xuelin Black.