Orders, Decorations and Medals

Five: William Macdonald, Gardener on the Balmoral Estate

Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Royal Household Faithful Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, suspension dated ‘1919-1939’ (Macdonald, William); Japan, Order of the Rising Sun, 7th class Decoration of the Green Pawlonia Leaves, silver and enamels; Order of the Rising Sun, 8th class Decoration of the White Pawlonia Leaves, silver, generally good very fine (5) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Royal Household Awards.

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William Macdonald served as a gardener on the Balmoral Estate and received his Faithful service Medal in October 1939. He is also entitled to a bar for ‘Thirty Years’. Whilst the Crown Prince Hirohito visited England in 1921, he never went to Balmoral. Although the Crown Prince is known to have been a keen gardener, there is no record of him giving Macdonald these awards. Several other members of the Japanese Royal Family visited England at various times and possibly the awards were made in connection with another visit or even visits.