The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously awarded to service personnel in the broader British Empire, with most successor independent nations now having established their own honours systems and no longer recommending British honours. It may be awarded to a person of any military rank in any service and to civilians under military command. No civilian has received the award since James Adams in 1879. Since the first awards were presented by Queen Victoria in 1857, two thirds of all awards have been personally presented by the British monarch. The investitures are usually held at Buckingham Palace.
The first investiture of the Victoria Cross in Hyde Park, London.
On June 26, in the year 1857, The first investiture of the Victoria Cross in Hyde Park, London. This event is recorded as a Historical Events event in the history of June 26, a notable event in this corner of history.
Key Facts
- This event took place on June 26, 1857 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Historical Events event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 2 Wikipedia articles.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 13 June 2026.
On This Date in History
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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