His Majesty The King's Medal
H.M. the King's Medal in gold of the 12th size with Seraphim riband, below H.M. the King's Medal in silver of the 8th size (left) and H.M. the King's Medal in silver of the 8th size (right). Photo: Alexis Daflos/Kungl. Hovstaterna
His Majesty The King’s Medal has been awarded since the year 1800. Since 1975 it is awarded to Swedish citizens for special merit and functionaries of the Royal Court and the Royal Orders of Knighthood for long and faithful service. The medal was called The Court Medal until 1975 and was as such mainly awarded as a reward for long and faithful service at the Royal Court.
Since 1975, it has been awarded to Swedish citizens in recognition of exceptional contributions, and to leading figures of the Royal Court for long and faithful service.
HM The King’s Medal is awarded in different sizes: 12th (43 mm in diameter), 8th (33 mm in diameter) och 5th (24 mm in diameter). The medal ribbon is royal blue unless otherwise stated.
The medal can be awarded in:
- gold of the 12th size with brilliants to be worn around the neck in a gold chain (image)
- gold of the 12th size to be worn around the neck in a gold chain (gilt fine silver)
- gold (gilt fine silver) of the 12th size to be worn around the neck in the riband of the Order of the Seraphim (image)
- gold (gilt fine silver) of the 12th size to be worn around the neck
- gold (gilt fine silver) of the 8th size to be worn on the cheast in the riband of the Order of the Seraphim
- gold (gilt fine silver) of the 8th size to be worn on the cheast
- gold (gilt fine silver) of the 5th size to be worn on the cheast
- as above, with a laurel clasp on the riband, awarded for förtjänster om svensk idrott (for merits in Swedish sports)
- silver of the 8th size to be worn on the cheast
H.M. the King's Medal of the 12th size in gold with collar. Photo: Pelle T Nilsson/SPA
H.M. the King's Medal in gold of the 12th size, reverse with inscription of the recipient and year. Photo: Jonas Borg/Kungl. Hovstaterna
1800: The First Medal
In 1800, King Gustav IV Adolf presented a silver medal of the 18th size with a chain to Olof Larsson in Bie, speaker of the peasant estate at the Riksdag in 1800. The medal is reproduced in portraits preserved in the Economic Museum - Royal Coin Cabinet
External link, opens in new window. and Floda church in Södermanland External link, opens in new window.. The medal is preserved in Uppsala University's coin cabinet External link, opens in new window..
Olof Larsson's medal has been described in the literature as being "Illis Quorum", but this is an incorrect statement. The reverse of the extant medal is completely different, the medal being a singular medal of the King with unique inscription and as such, the first known example of H.M. The King's Medal awarded to be worn.