You can easily pick King Philippe of Belgium out of a crowd by looking for his sash of majestic purple. The sash draped around the king and his wife, Queen Mathilde, is the highest honor established for those with military, maritime, or civil excellence, the Order of Leopold I. In addition to the eye-catching color, the badge features a white cross decorated in laurel and oak wreath, stated the Association of the Order of Leopold.
The honor, established in 1832, is named after the first official king of Belgium and is structured like most royal Orders with rankings for the Grand Officer, Knights, Officers, Commanders, and Grand Ribbon holders, noted the Association. While it's the highest honor of the Belgium royalty, it's just one of three orders, including the Order of the Crown and the Order of Leopold II.
It's hard to miss a royal sash draped around a king or queen as they greet the crowd or attend a family function. It's just as much a part of their attire as their tiara or their metals. But just like the royal jewels, there's a structure for wearing your riband.
