Cat's eye really became popular by the end of the 19th century when the Duke of Connaught gave a ring with a cat's eye as an engagement token; this was sufficient to make the stone more popular and increase its value greatly.
The track was founded in 1913, named after the governor-general of the time Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, who was also the club's first honorary president.
The ceiling cove is of Mosaic work and in addition to figures and symbols from Masonic ritual includes, in the corner, figures representing the four cardinal virtues – Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice – and the Arms of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (youngest son of Queen Victoria) Grand Master 1901–1939, at whose suggestion the Masonic Peace memorial was built.
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1850–1942), third son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
It was formally dedicated in an impressive ceremony in August 1912 by Canada's Governor General the Duke of Connaught who was also Queen Victoria's son Prince Arthur.
The Grand Prior Award was established as St John's Principal and Senior Cadet Award in 1931 by the Grand Prior of the time, the Duke of Connaught.
Its opening, by the Duke of Connaught, was received with hopeful enthusiasm, unfortunately not matched by the weather, which contributed to a £30,000 loss, equivalent to nearly £2M at today's value.
Duke University | Duke Ellington | Duke | Duke of Wellington | Prince William, Duke of Cambridge | Duke of York | Duke of Norfolk | Duke of Edinburgh | Duke of Burgundy | Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn | George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham | Prince Andrew, Duke of York | Duke of Northumberland | Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha | Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester | Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany | George Duke | Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond | Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans | Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset | Philippe II, Duke of Orléans | John Frederick II, Duke of Saxony | Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster | George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle | Frederick Schomberg, 1st Duke of Schomberg | Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba | Duke of Buccleuch | Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen | Annie Duke | The Duke |
In Franz Xaver Winterhalter's painting 'The First of May', made in 1851, Victoria can be seen wearing it as she holds Prince Arthur, the future Duke of Connaught and Strathearn.