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A Belgian award: Order of Leopold II in Silver with swords, which is worn on the left chest. The Crossed swords are added to the ribbon when awarded in wartime.

The Order of Leopold II is an order of Belgium and is named in honour of King Leopold II. The decoration was established on 24 August 1900 by Leopold II as Sovereign of the Congo Free State and was in 1908, upon Congo being handed over to Belgium, incorporated into the Belgian awards system.

The order is awarded for meritorious service to the sovereign of Belgium, and as a token of his personal goodwill. It can be awarded to both Belgians and foreigners and is seen as diplomatic gift of merit.

The order has become a long service order for people in the civil service and is awarded alternatively with the Order of the Crown, as the Order of Leopold is awarded under rarer circumstances. The order currently stands third after the Order of Leopold (1st) and the Order of the Crown (2nd) in the Belgian honour’s hierarchy. The Order of Leopold II is awarded by royal decree.

Reference XX25