King Charles III will induct three new Knights and the Duchess of Gloucester into the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior British Honour, during today’s annual Garter Day Service at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle!
Founded by King Edward III in 1348, the Order was allegedly formed after the Countess of Salisbury’s garter slipped from her leg while dancing, and the King allegedly picked it up and uttered the phrase:
‘Honi soit qui mal y pense’ – Shame to whom who thinks evil of it.’
King Edward III was so inspired by tales of King Arthur and the chivalry of the Knights of the Round Table that he set up his own group of honourable knights, called the Order of the Garter.
The insignia features a gold Collar, from which is suspended the ‘Great George’, a pendant depicting Saint George on horseback slaying a dragon. It is worn at the State Opening of Parliament or the Service, along with the Mantle and Hat.
The Badge, known as the ‘Lesser George’, oval-shaped pendant, is suspended from the four-inch wide, kingfisher blue Sash that is worn from the left shoulder to the right hip.
The eight-pointed silver Star, with a central disc featuring the heraldic shield of St George’s Cross, encircled by the garter, is worn on the torso.
The four-inch wide ‘kingfisher blue’ Sash is worn over the left shoulder, or pinned beneath it, to the right hip, and was introduced in the 17th century by King Charles I.
The Garter is made of dark blue velvet edged with gold, bearing the motto of the Order in gold lettering, and is worn by men just below the left knee, while women wear it on the left arm.
The oldest and most senior Order in the United Kingdom, the Order of the Garter is limited to the Sovereign, the Prince of Wales and 24 members as well as members of the Royal Family, known as Royal Knights and Ladies, and Foreign Sovereigns, known as Stranger (or Extra) Knights and Ladies.
The annual Garter Day procession, where The King and the Knights process in grand velvet robes, glistening insignia and plumed hats, is one of the most traditional ceremonies in the Royal calendar. New members are traditionally announced on St George’s Day, April 23rd, and the annual Order of the Garter Service is held at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on the Monday of Ascot Week in June.
The day begins with the Sovereign formally investing any new Companions with the Order’s insignia in the Throne Room of the Castle. The members and officers attend a lunch hosted by the Sovereign, and then all process on foot to a service in St. George’s Chapel. There is a short service where any new Companions are installed. The Sovereign and other members of the Order then return to the Upper Ward of the castle in carriages and cars.
Every June, a grand procession of the knights takes place at Windsor Castle, accompanied by a marching band and Officers of the Order, all in grand ceremonial dress.
Only the Sovereign and the Prince of Wales are automatically Knights of the Order of the Garter, while other members of the Family receive it after extraordinary years of service to the Monarchy.
King Charles III
(1958)
Queen Camilla
(2022)
The Prince of Wales
(2008)
The Princess Royal
(1994)
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh
(2006)
Prince Andrew, Duke of York
(2006)
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
(1997)
Duchess of Gloucester
(2024)
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
(1985)
Princess Alexandra of Kent
(2003)
For centuries, Foreign Royalty have been appointed as ‘Stranger Knights and Ladies of the Garter’ separate from the 24 Knights, a position now usually limited to European Sovereigns and the Emperor of Japan. The Order is almost always granted during State Visits, with the Foreign Sovereign being formally invested on the following Garter Day.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
(1979)
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
(1983)
King Harald V of Norway
(2001)
Emperor Akihito of Japan
(1998)
King Felipe VI of Spain
(2017)
King Juan Carlos of Spain
(1988)
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
(2018)
Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands
(1989)
Membership in the Order is strictly limited and includes the Monarch, the Prince of Wales, not more than 24 Companion members. Male members of the Order are titled “Knights Companion” and female members are called “Ladies Companion”. Knights Companion prefix “Sir” and Ladies Companion prefix “Lady” to their forenames, and use the post-nominal letters “KG” and “LG” respectively. Members are appointed in recognition of extraordinary public service, contributions to national life or personal service to the Sovereign, and the Order is granted solely at the discretion of the King. The current Knights and Ladies of the Garter are:
The Duke of Abercorn (1999)
The Lord Butler of Brockwell (2003)
Sir John Major (2005)
The Lord Luce (2008)
Sir Thomas Dunne(2008)
The Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers (2011)
The Lord Stirrup (2013)
The Baroness Manningham-Buller (2014)
The Lord King of Lothbury (2014)
The Lord Shuttleworth (2016)
The Viscount Brookeborough (2018)
Lady Mary Fagan (2018)
The Marquess of Salisbury (2019)
Lady Mary Peters (2019)
The Baroness Amos (2022)
Sir Tony Blair (2022)
The Baroness Ashton of Upholland (2023)
The Lord Patten of Barnes (2023)
Air Chief Marshal The Lord Peach (2024)
The Lord Kakkar (2024)
The Lord Lloyd-Webber (2024)
