Order of the Garter

The Most Noble Order of the Garter was founded in 1348 by King Edward III of England as "a society, fellowship and college of knights."

History

Tradition suggests that it was founded after Edward III recovered the garter of the Countess of Salisbury, which had fallen to the floor in the dancing at a festival. Supposedly, when the others present began laughing, the King responded, "Honi soit qui mal y pense," meaning in English, "Shame on him who thinks evil of it," or "Evil is he who thinks evil of it." The French phrase is now the official motto of the Order of the Garter, which is the oldest and highest order of chivalry in the British honours system. The Order's Scottish equivalent is the Order of the Thistle. Formerly, there was an order for Ireland, the Order of St Patrick, but it has become obsolete since most of Ireland left the United Kingdom in 1922.

Membership

In conscious imitation of King Arthur's legendary Round Table, the Order has twenty-six companions: twenty-four Knights or Ladies, the Sovereign, and the Prince of Wales. To each is assigned a stall in the choir of St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle (the chapel of the order); each knight's coat of arms is displayed on a banner hanging over that seat. Since 1786 there have also been extra ("supernumerary") knights, not counted in the twenty-four, such as members of the royal family and foreign monarchs. In the earliest days of the order and after 1901 some ladies were associated with the order but none (except female monarchs) were full companions until in 1987 Queen Elizabeth II decided to admit women in the same fashion as men.

As with the other orders of chivalry, the sovereign fills vacancies in the membership by naming persons who have performed some noteworthy service for the nation. However, membership of the Order is personally determined by the Sovereign; the Prime Minister does not formally advise on appointments. Knights may use the post nominal "KG" after their names, while Ladies use "LG."

Insignia

For the Order's great festivals (such as the annual service each June in St. George's Chapel, Windsor), the Knights and Ladies wear elaborate costume:

• The Garter is dark blue velvet buckled strap bearing the motto Honi soit qui mal y pense in gold letters. It is worn by a Knight below the left knee and a Lady on the upper left arm.
• The Collar is a gold chain, consisting of twenty-four pieces, each piece consisting of an enamelled Tudor rose surrounded by a representation of the Garter, connected by twenty-four knots of gold. It is worn around the neck.
• The George is an brightly-colored enamelled figure of St George slaying a dragon. It is worn suspended from the collar.
• The Mantle is a dark blue velvet coat, with a white shield, surrounded by a representation of the Garter, bearing the Cross of St George, on the left shoulder.
• The Hood and Surcoat are of crimson velvet.
• The Hat is of black velvet and is plumed with white ostrich feathers.

On other occasions, simpler insignia are used:

• The Lesser George is a gold badge showing St George slaying a dragon. It is worn (at the right hip) on a bright blue sash (called the ribbon) passing over the left shoulder.
• The Star is a silver eight-pointed figure, with the Cross of St George, encircled by a representation of the Garter, in the centre. It is worn on the left breast.

In addition to the Knights and Ladies, the ceremonies of the order are attended by its officers: the Prelate, the Chancellor, the Registrar, the Usher and the King of Arms. Ex officio, the Prelate is the Bishop of Winchester, the Chancellor the Bishop of Oxford and the Registrar the Dean of Windsor. Garter Principal King of Arms serves as the order's King of Arms and is responsible for its heraldry. Finally, the usher is the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod (who is also an officer of the House of Lords).

Current Membership of the Order

Sovereign: HM The Queen

HRH The Prince of Wales

Knights and Ladies Companions:

1. The Duke of Grafton (b. 1919)
2. The Lord Richardson of Duntisbourne (b. 1915)
3. The Lord Carrington (b. 1919)
4. The Lord Callaghan of Cardiff (b. 1912)
5. The Duke of Wellington (b. 1915)
6. Field Marshal The Lord Bramall (b. 1923)
7. The Rt Hon. Sir Edward Heath (b. 1916)
8. The Viscount Ridley (b. 1925)
9. The Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover (b. 1927)
10. The Lord Ashburton (b. 1928)
11. The Lord Kingsdown (b. 1927)
12. The Rt Hon. Sir Ninian Stephen (b. 1923)
13. The Lady Thatcher (b. 1925)
14. Sir Edmund Hillary (b. 1919)
15. Sir Timothy Colman (b. 1929)
16. The Duke of Abercorn (b. 1934)
17. Sir Erskine William Gladstone of Fasque and Balfour, Bart (b. 1925)
18. Field Marshal The Lord Inge (b. 1935)
19. Sir Anthony Arthur Acland (b. 1930)
20. The Duke of Westminster (b. 1951)
21. The Lord Butler of Brockwell (b. 1938)
22. The Lord Morris of Aberavon (b. 1931)

Royal Knights and Ladies:

• HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (b. 1921)
• HRH The Duke of Kent (b. 1935)
• HRH The Princess Royal (b. 1950)
• HRH The Duke of Gloucester (b. 1944)
• HRH Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy (b. 1936)

Stranger Knights and Ladies

• HRH Jean, sometime Grand Duke of Luxembourg (b. 1921)
• HM The Queen of Denmark (b. 1940)
• HM The King of Sweden (b. 1946)
• HM The King of Spain (b. 1936)
• HM The Queen of the Netherlands (b. 1938)
• HIM The Emperor of Japan (b. 1933)
• HM The King of Norway (b. 1937)

Officers

Prelate: The Rt. Rev'd Michael Scott-Joynt (Bishop of Winchester)
Chancellor: The Rt. Rev'd Richard Harries (Bishop of Oxford)
Registrar: The Rt. Rev'd David Conner (Dean of St. George's Chapel, Windsor)
King of Arms: Peter Llewellyn Gwynn-Jones
Usher: Lt General Sir Michael Willcocks

See Also

• A list of historical Knights and Ladies of the Garter
• Ladies of the Garter (1358-1488)