The Most Noble Order of the Garter

The Most Noble Order of the Garter

THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER

The Order of the Garter, constituted by King Edward III in 1348, has since 1831 consisted of the Sovereign and twenty-five Companions (including the Prince of Wales, who is a constituent part of the original Institution), together with such lineal descendants of King George I as may be appointed, and such Stranger Knights as may be admitted to the Order.

The Habit and Ensigns of the Order are (i) A GARTER of dark blue velvet, edged with gold, bearing the motto, Honi soit qui mal y pense, in gold letters, with a buckle and pendant of gold, richly chased. (It is worn on the left, below the knee) (ii) A MANTLE of dark blue velvet lined with white taffeta, with a representation of the Garter encircling the Cross of St George on an escutcheon argent embroidered on the left shoulder, the Sovereign having the star. (iii) A HOOD of crimson velvet. (iv) A SURCOAT of crimson velvet, lined with white taffeta. (v) A HAT of black velvet, a plume of white ostrich feathers. (vi) A COLLAR of gold (weighing thirty ounces, troy) consisting of twenty-four pieces, each in the form of a Garter surrounding the Tudor Rose, connected by twenty-four knots of chased gold, and pendent thereto (vii) the GEORGE, an enamelled figure of St. George on horseback, encountering the dragon. (viii) The LESSER GEORGE or BADGE of gold is worn pendent from a four-inch blue ribbon over the left shoulder. (ix) The STAR of eight points of silver, in the centre the Cross of St. George gules, encircled with the Garter. At death the Badge and Star are delivered up to His Majesty by the Knight’s male or female heir, the collar (with pendant Badge) and Garter being returned to the Central Chancery. The King’s Royal Free Chapel of St George, Windsor Castle, is the chapel of the Order.


A Current List of the Knights of the Garter

(preceded by year of appointment)

Sovereign

King CHARLES III 

Royal Knights Companions and Ladies of the Order

1985 - HRH The Duke of Kent

1994 - HRH The Princess Royal

1997 - HRH The Duke of Gloucester

2003 - HRH Princess Alexandra, the Hon Lady Ogilvy

2006 - The Duke of York

2006 - HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

2008 - HRH The Prince of Wales

2022 - The Queen

2024 - HRH The Duchess of Gloucester

Extra Knights and Ladies Companions of the Order

1979 - Margrethe of Denmark

1983 - The King of Sweden

1988 - Juan Carlos of Spain

1989 - Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands

1998 - Akihito of Japan

2001 - The King of Norway

2017 - King Felipe VI of Spain

2018 - The King of The Netherlands

2024 - Emperor Naruhito of Japan

Knights and Ladies Companions of the Order

1999 - The Duke of Abercorn

2003 - Baron Butler of Brockwell

2005 - Sir John Major

2008 - Baron Luce

2008 - Sir Thomas Dunne

2011 - Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers

2013 - Baron Stirrup

2014 - Baroness Manningham-Buller  (Chancellor)

2014 - Baron King of Lothbury

2016 - Baron Shuttleworth

2018 - Viscount Brookeborough

2018 - Lady Mary Fagan

2019 - The Marquess of Salisbury

2019 - Lady Mary Peters

2022 - Baroness Amos

2022 - Sir Tony Blair

2023 - Baroness Ashton of Upholland

2023 - Baron Patten of Barnes

2024 - Baron Peach

2024 - The Rt Hon Baron Kakkar

2024 - Baron Lloyd-Webber

 

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