There are three official orders in Finland: the Order of the Cross of Liberty, the Order of the White Rose of Finland and the Order of the Lion of Finland. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The orders are administered by boards consisting of a chancellor, a vice-chancellor and at least four members. The orders of the White Rose of Finland and the Lion of Finland have a joint board.
The Order of the White Rose of Finland was established by Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim in his capacity as regent (temporary head of state) on January 28, 1919. The order's rules and regulations were confirmed on May 16, 1919, and its present rules date from June 1, 1940. The revised scale of ranks was confirmed most recently in 1985. The decorations were designed by Akseli Gallen-Kallela. The honour can be granted for military as well as civilian merit. The ribbon for all classes is ultramarine.
The classes of the Order of the White Rose of Finland are:
- Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
- Commander, First Class, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
- Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
- Knight, First Class, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
- Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
- Cross of Merit of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
- Medal, First Class with golden cross, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
- Medal, First Class, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
The President of Finland wears the Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland on a neck chain. The chain is worn four centimetres from either side of the collar and hangs at equal distances at the front and back. The President also has the Star of the Order of the White Rose of Finland.
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