Order of the Garter

Emblem of Order of the Garter

The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an English order of chivalry. It was started in 1348, by King Edward III of England. The Order is the highest level of knighthood that can be given by the English monarch. It is the world's oldest national order of knighthood. Membership in the Order is limited to those people who have done many great things for the United Kingdom.

Queen Elizabeth II in robe of Order of the Garter

Banners in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle

The Order of the Garter is made up of a very small number of people. This group includes the Sovereign (the King or Queen of Britain) and no more than 25 full members. These members are called "Companions". Male companions are called "Knight Companions". Female members are called "Lady Companions". There are also a number of extra members known as "Supernumerary" Knights and Ladies. These members are usually members of the British royal family, and monarchs of other countries.

The monarch alone can grant membership to the order. He or she is known as the Sovereign of the Garter, and the Prince of Wales is known as a Knight Companion of the Garter.

Knights of the Order use the post-nominal letters (KG) and Ladies of the Order (LG). Knights Companion can use the title "Sir" before their first name, and their wives can use the title "Lady" before their surnames. Ladies Companion can use the title "Lady" before their first name, but their husbands cannot use any title.

Current Members

• Sovereign: Charles III
• Royal Knight: The Prince of Wales KG KT GCB PC

Knights and Ladies Companion:

1. The Duke of Abercorn KG
2. The Lord Butler of Brockwell KG GCB CVO PC
3. Sir John Major KG CH PC
4. The Lord Luce KG GCVO PC
5. Sir Thomas Dunne KG KCVO
6. The Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers KG PC
7. The Lord Stirrup KG GCB
8. The Baroness Manningham-Buller LG DCB
9. The Lord King of Lothbury KG GBE
10. The Lord Shuttleworth KG KCVO
11. Sir David Brewer KG CMG CVO
12. Lady Mary Fagan LG DCVO
13. The Viscount Brookeborough KG
14. Lady Mary Peters LG CH DBE
15. The Marquess of Salisbury KG KCVO PC
16. The Baroness Amos LG CH PC
17. Sir Tony Blair KG
18. The Baroness Ashton of Upholland LG GCMG PC
19. The Lord Patten of Barnes KG CH PC
20. The Lord Lloyd-Webber KG
21. The Lord Kakkar KG KBE PC
22. The Lord Peach KG GBE KCB

Royal Knights and Ladies Companion:

1. The Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO
2. The Princess Royal KG KT GCVO QSO
3. The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO
4. Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy KG GCVO
5. The Duke of York KG GCVO
6. The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT GCVO
7. The Queen LG LT GCVO GBE PC
8. The Duchess of Gloucester LG GCVO

Order Of The Garter Media

• 

  Order of the Garter UK ribbon

• 

  Badge of the Order embroidered onto the left shoulder of a Knight's blue velvet mantle

• 

  Henry of Grosmont, Earl (later Duke) of Lancaster (d. 1361), the second appointee of the Order, shown wearing a tabard displaying the royal arms of England over which is his blue mantle or garter robe. Illuminated miniature from the Bruges Garter Book c. 1430 by William Bruges, first Garter King of Arms

• 

  Statutes of the Order of the Garter, this copy having once belonged to Emperor Alexander III of Russia

• 

  Knights Companion processing to St George's Chapel for the Garter Service

• 

  Emperor Taishō, after the 1902 Anglo-Japanese Alliance, in his Garter robes

• 

  Officers of the Order of the Garter (left to right): Secretary (barely visible), Black Rod, Garter Principal King of Arms, Register, Prelate, Chancellor

• 

  Military Knights of Windsor in the procession to the Garter Service

• 

  King Charles III and Queen Camilla wearing their insignia on Garter Day in 2024.

• 

  The insignia of a knight/lady companion of the Order of the Garter