A Minor Role in the British Government
Mycroft’s kerchief echoes the red drapes of his civil office, which echoes the red robes in the image on his wall. It’s Leonard Bowden’s 1953 portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. She’s seated sporting the red robes of Order of the Bath. Red, red, red… Could it be that Mycroft is actually a member of the Order of Bath?! Obviously, yes.
Regular membership is limited to citizens of the United Kingdom and of other Commonwealth countries of which the Queen is Sovereign. Appointees are usually officers of the armed forces or senior civil servants, such as permanent secretaries.
Members appointed to the Civil Division must “by their personal services to [the] crown or by the performance of public duties have merited … royal favour.“ (x)
Does Mycroft hold a minor position in comparison to the company he keeps? Perhaps he is simply a Companion of the Order of Bath (CB), or even a Knight Commander (KCB). But If he held the highest non-sovereign rank of Knight Grand Cross (GCB) he might yet convincingly feign humble. There are three higher orders, after all:
The Order of the Bath is the fourth-most senior of the British Orders of Chivalry, after The Most Noble Order of the Garter, The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle… (x)
Here to See the Queen
Here’s the REAL head canon fodder: If Mycroft were a GCB he’d wear the mantle of the Order on important occasions. Here it is.
And this:
The hat, worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross and Knights and Dames Commander, is made of black velvet; it includes an upright plume of feathers.
Imagine Mycroft proudly puffed up in his finery looking just like
royal poultrythe Queen herself from that well-known portrait. Can you imagine Sherlock’s unrelenting snickering and mockery? I can’t stop giggling myself.What we see is tame by comparison, I’m sure:
Head Canon Update— I found the plumed hat from another order. Mycroft’s would look like this:
