View source for Order of the Garter

{{Short description|Order of chivalry founded by Edward III of England}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Infobox order
| title           = Most Noble {{nowrap|Order of the Garter}}
| image           = Arms of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.svg
| caption         = Badge of the Order of the Garter: <br>''The [[attributed arms]] of [[Saint George]] circumscribed by the Garter''
| awarded_by      = <!--[[WP:WP:ICON]] --><br /> the [[Monarch of the United Kingdom]]
| type            = [[Dynastic order]]
| established     = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1348}}
| motto           = {{lang|frm|[[Honi soit qui mal y pense]]}}<br />([[Anglo-Norman language|Anglo-Norman]] for 'Shame on him who thinks evil of it')<ref name="SGC" />
| eligibility     =
| criteria        = At the monarch's pleasure
| status          = Currently constituted
| founder         = [[Edward III]]
| head_title      = Sovereign 
| head            = [[Charles III]]
| head2_title     = Chancellor 
| head2           = [[Eliza Manningham-Buller| The Baroness Manningham-Buller]]
| head3_title     = Prelate
| head3           = The [[Bishop of Winchester]] (''ex officio'')
| classes         = {{unbulleted list | Royal Knight/Lady (Companion)|Stranger Knight/Lady Companion|Knight/Lady Companion|(all abbreviated as KG/LG)}}
| former_grades   = 
| first_induction = 1348
| total           = {{show
|
| {{Plainlist|
* [[Edward III of England|Edward III]]: 62
* [[Richard II of England|Richard II]]: 29
* [[Henry IV of England|Henry IV]]: 27
* [[Henry V of England|Henry V]]: 21
* [[Henry VI of England|Henry VI]]: 44
* [[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]]: 36
* [[Edward V of England|Edward V]]: 0
* [[Richard III of England|Richard III]]: 8
* [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]]: 37
* [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]]: 53
* [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]]: 13
* [[Mary I of England|Mary I]] & [[Philip II of Spain|Philip]]: 9
* [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]]: 54
* [[James VI and I|James I]]: 29
* [[Charles I of England|Charles I]]: 21
* [[Charles II of England|Charles II]]: 47
* [[James II of England|James II]]: 7
* [[Mary II of England|Mary II]] & [[William III of England|William III]]: 14
* [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Anne]]: 14
* [[George I of Great Britain|George I]]: 21
* [[George II of Great Britain|George II]]: 32
* [[George III of the United Kingdom|George III]]: 75
* [[George IV of the United Kingdom|George IV]]: 14
* [[William IV of the United Kingdom|William IV]]: 14
* [[Queen Victoria|Victoria]]: 132
* [[Edward VII]]: 27
* [[George V]]: 45
* [[Edward VIII]]: 0
* [[George VI]]: 31
* [[Elizabeth II]]: 110
* [[Charles III]]: 7
}}}}
Tally: 1,032
| higher          = [[George Cross]]
| lower           = [[Order of the Thistle]]
| image2          = [[File:Order of the Garter UK ribbon.svg|90px]]
| caption2        = Ribbon of the Order of the Garter
}}
[[File:KG badge.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Badge of the Order embroidered onto the left shoulder of a Knight's blue velvet mantle]]
[[File:Portrait of Henry, Duke of Lancaster - William Bruges's Garter Book (c.1440-1450), f.8 - BL Stowe MS 594 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster|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]]'' {{circa|1430}} by [[William Bruges]], first [[Garter King of Arms]]]]
The '''Most Noble Order of the Garter''' is an [[order of chivalry]] founded by [[Edward III of England]] in 1348. The most senior [[order of knighthood]] in the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom|British honours system]], it is outranked in [[United Kingdom order of precedence|precedence]] only by the [[Award|decorations]] of the [[Victoria Cross]] and the [[George Cross]]. The Order of the Garter is dedicated to the [[image]] and [[Coat of arms|arms]] of [[Saint George]], England's [[patron saint]].

Appointments are at the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|Sovereign]]'s sole discretion, typically made in recognition of national contribution, service to the Crown, or for distinguished personal service to the Monarch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/order-garter|title=The Order of the Garter|website=The Royal Family|date=11 November 2015|access-date=21 August 2016|archive-date=7 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407022835/https://www.royal.uk/order-garter|url-status=live}}</ref> Membership of the order is limited to the sovereign, the [[Prince of Wales]], and no more than 24 living members, or Companions. The order also includes [[Supernumerary]] Knights and Ladies (e.g., members of the [[British royal family]] and foreign monarchs).

The order's emblem is a [[garter (stockings)|garter]] [[circlet]] with the [[motto]] {{lang|frm|[[Honi soit qui mal y pense]]}} ([[Anglo-Norman language|Anglo-Norman]] for "Shame on him who thinks evil of it") in gold script.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stowe MS 594 |url=https://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Stowe_MS_594 |work=William Bruges' Garter Book |access-date=28 May 2023 |quote=Languages: Anglo-Norman |last1=Bruges |first1=William |year=1430–1440 |archive-date=9 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109222010/http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Stowe_MS_594 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Members of the order wear it on ceremonial occasions.

==History==
King [[Edward III]] founded the Order of the Garter around the time of his [[English claims to the French throne|claim to the French throne]].<ref name="SGC">{{cite web |url=http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/about-st-georges/history/the-order-of-the-garter.html |title=College of St George – Windsor Castle – The Order of the Garter |publisher=College of St George – Windsor Castle |access-date=4 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715135657/https://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/about-st-georges/history/the-order-of-the-garter.html |archive-date=15 July 2017 }}</ref> The traditional year of foundation is usually given as 1348 (when it was formally proclaimed). However, ''[[The Complete Peerage]]'', under "The Founders of the Order of the Garter", states the order was first instituted on 23 April 1344, listing each founding member as knighted in 1344. The list includes Sir [[Sanchet D'Abrichecourt]], of whom the latest notice (according to the book) is 20 October 1345.<ref name="Complete Peerage 1887 pg 276">{{cite book |editor-last=Cokayne |editor-first=George Edward |year=1887 |title=Complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct or dormant (A to Bo) |volume=1 |edition=|location=London |publisher=George Bell & Sons |page=276}}</ref> Other dates from 1344 to 1351 have also been proposed. The King's wardrobe account shows Garter habits first issued in the autumn of 1348. Also, its original statutes required that each member of the Order already be a [[knight]] (what would now be referred to as a [[knight bachelor]]) and some of the initial members listed were only knighted that year.<ref name="ne">{{harvnb|Chisholm|1911|pp=851–867}}</ref> Its foundation is likely to have been inspired by the [[Crown of Castile|Castilian]] [[Order of the Band]], established in about 1330.<ref>{{harvnb|Rogers|2018|pp=131–134}}</ref>

===List of Founder Knights===
At the time of its foundation, the Order consisted of King Edward III, together with 25 Founder Knights, listed in ascending order of [[Garter stall plate|stall number]] in [[St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle|St George's Chapel]]:<ref>{{harvnb|Beltz|1841|pp=cxlix–cl}}</ref>
* King [[Edward III of England|Edward III]] (1312–77)
* [[Edward the Black Prince]], Prince of Wales (1330–76)
* [[Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster|Henry of Grosmont, 4th Earl of Lancaster]] ({{Circa|1310}}–61)
* [[Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick]] (1313–69)
* [[Jean III de Grailly, Captal de Buch|Jean de Grailly, III Captal de Buch]] (d. 1376)
* [[Ralph de Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford]] (1301–72)
* [[William de Montacute, 2nd Earl of Salisbury]] (1328–97)
* [[Roger Mortimer, 2nd Earl of March]] (1328–60)
* [[John de Lisle, 2nd Baron Lisle (second creation)|John, 2nd Baron Lisle]] (1318–55)
* [[Bartholomew de Burghersh, 2nd Baron Burghersh|Bartholomew, 2nd Baron Burghersh]] (c. 1329–69)
* [[John de Beauchamp, 1st Baron Beauchamp (second creation)|John, 1st Baron Beauchamp]] (d. 1360)
* [[John de Mohun, 2nd Baron Mohun|John, 2nd Baron Mohun]] ({{Circa|1320}}–76)
* Sir [[Hugh de Courtenay (KG)|Hugh de Courtenay]] (1327–49)
* [[Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent]] (1314–60)
* [[John de Grey, 1st Baron Grey de Rotherfield|John, 1st Baron Grey de Rotherfield]] (1300–59)
* Sir [[Richard Fitz-Simon]] (1295–1348/49)
* Sir [[Miles Stapleton of Bedale]] (c. 1320–64)
* Sir [[Thomas Wale (Knight of the Garter)|Thomas Wale]] (1303–52)
* Sir [[Hugh Wrottesley]] (d. 1381)
* Sir [[Nele Loring]] (1320–86)
* Sir [[John Chandos]] (c. 1320–69)
* Sir [[James Audley (died 1369)|James Audley]] (c. 1318–69)
* Sir [[Otho Holand]] (c. 1316–59)
* Sir [[Henry Eam]] (d. before 1360)
* Sir [[Sanchet D'Abrichecourt]] (c. 1330–59)<ref name="Complete Peerage 1887 pg 276"/>
* Sir [[Walter Paveley]] (1319–75)

They are all depicted by individual portraits in the ''[[Bruges Garter Book]]'' compiled {{Circa|1431}}, and now in the [[British Library]].

===Legendary origins===
[[File:Statutes of the Order of the Garter (Alexander III of Russia).jpg|thumb|upright|left|Statutes of the Order of the Garter, this copy having once belonged to Emperor [[Alexander III of Russia]]]]

Various legends account for the origin of the Order. The most popular involves the "Countess of Salisbury", whose [[garter (stockings)|garter]] is said to have slipped from her leg while she was dancing at a court ball at [[Calais]]. When the surrounding [[courtier]]s sniggered, the King picked it up and returned it to her, exclaiming, "{{lang|frm|Honi soit qui mal y pense}}" ("Shame on him who thinks ill of it"), which phrase has become the Order's [[motto]].<ref name="SGC"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Harrison|first=James|author-link=James Harrison (author and academic)|date=1996|chapter=The Plantagenets|title=Children's Encyclopedia of British History|edition=Rev., reformatted and updated|location=London|publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|Kingfisher]]|page=46|isbn=1856960269}}</ref> However, the earliest written version of this story dates from the 1460s, and it seems to have been conceived as a retrospective explanation for the adoption of what was then seen as an item of female underclothing as the symbol of a band of knights. In fact, at the time of the Order's establishment in the mid-14th century, garters were predominantly an item of male attire.<ref>{{harvnb|Rogers|2018|pp=126–131}}</ref>

According to another legend, King [[Richard I of England|Richard I]] was inspired in the 12th century by St George the Martyr while fighting in the [[Crusades]] to tie garters around the legs of his knights, who subsequently won the battle. King Edward supposedly recalled the event in the 14th century when he founded the Order.<ref name="ne" /> This story is recounted in a letter to ''[[The Annual Register]]'' in 1774:<ref name="ar">{{cite journal|title=On the Origin of the Order of the Garter; from the Supplement to Granger's Biographical History|journal=[[The Annual Register]]|volume=17|date=December 1774|page=145|url=http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/ilej/image1.pl?item=page&seq=1&size=1&id=ar.1774.x.x.17.x.a.145|access-date=23 November 2014|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923193051/http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/ilej/image1.pl?item=page&seq=1&size=1&id=ar.1774.x.x.17.x.a.145|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Blockquote|In Rastel's Chronicle, I. vi. under the life of Edward III is the following curious passage: "About the 19 yere {{sic}} of this kinge, he made a solempne feest at Wyndesore, and a greate justes and turnament, where he devysed, and perfyted substanegally,{{efn|Dibdin's 1811 edition of Rastell's 'The Pastime of People, Or, The Chronicles of Divers Realms; and Most Especially of the Realm of England' gives this word as 'substancyally'.}} the order of the knyghtes of the garter; howe be it some afferme that this order began fyrst by kynge Rycharde, Cure de Lyon, at the sege of the citye of Acres; where, in his great necessyte, there were but 26 knyghtes that fyrmely and surely abode by the kynge; where he caused all them to were thonges of blew leyther about theyr legges. And afterwarde they were called the knyghtes of the blew thonge." I am obliged for this passage to John Fenn, Esq; a curious and ingenious gentleman of East-Dereham, in Norfolk, who is in possession of the most rare book whence it is taken. Hence some affirm, that the origin of the garter is to be dated from Richard I* and that it owes its pomp and splendor to Edward III.

: *Winstanley, in his ''Life of Edward III'' says that the original book of the institution deduces the invention from King Richard the First.}}
The motto in fact refers to Edward's claim to the French throne, and the Order of the Garter was created to help pursue this claim.<ref>{{harvnb|Rogers|2018|pp=134–138}}</ref> The use of the garter as an emblem may have derived from straps used to fasten armour, and may have been chosen because it held overtones of a tight-knit "band" or "bond" of knightly "supporters" of Edward's cause.<ref name="SGC"/><ref>{{harvnb|Rogers|2018|pp=139–144}}</ref>

There is a connection between the Order of the Garter and the Middle English poem ''[[Sir Gawain and the Green Knight]]'' (late 14th century).
The motto is inscribed, as ''hony soyt qui mal pence'', at the end of the text in the [[Pearl Manuscript|sole surviving manuscript]] in the [[British Library]], albeit in a later hand.<ref>Cotton Nero A.x [http://contentdm.ucalgary.ca/cdm/singleitem/collection/gawain/id/356/rec/176 128v] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113150354/http://contentdm.ucalgary.ca/cdm/singleitem/collection/gawain/id/356/rec/176 |date=13 January 2018 }}.</ref> In the poem, a [[girdle]], very similar in its erotic undertones to the garter, plays a prominent role. A rough equivalent of the Order's motto has been identified in Gawain's exclamation ''corsed worth cowarddyse and couetyse boþe'' ('cursed be both cowardice and coveting', v. 2374).<ref name=woot>{{Cite journal |last1= Friedman |first1=Albert B. |year=1997 |first2=Richard H. |last2=Osberg |journal= The Journal of American Folklore |title=Gawain's Girdle as Traditional Symbol |volume=90 |issue=157 |pages=301–315 |doi= 10.2307/539521 |publisher=American Folklore Society |jstor= 539521}}</ref> While the author of that poem remains disputed, there seems to be a connection between two of the top candidates and the Order of the Garter, [[John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster]], and [[Enguerrand VII, Lord of Coucy|Enguerrand de Coucy]], seventh [[Lords of Coucy|Sire de Coucy]]. De Coucy was married to King Edward III's daughter, [[Isabella, Countess of Bedford|Isabella]], and was given admittance to the Order of the Garter on their wedding day."<ref name=holler>{{Cite journal |last=Savage |first=Henry L. |year=1938 |journal=ELH |title= Sir Gawain and the Order of the Garter |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=146–149 |doi= 10.2307/2871614 |publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press |jstor= 2871614}}</ref>

{{anchor|Ladies of the Garter}}

===Ladies of the Garter===
Soon after the founding of the order, women were appointed "Ladies of the Garter", but some historians argue that they were not appointed companions, as they were not knights. Queen [[Philippa of Hainault|Philippa]] was the first lady to be appointed in 1358. King [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]] discontinued the practice in 1488; his mother, [[Lady Margaret Beaufort|Margaret Beaufort]], was the last Lady of the Garter before Queen [[Alexandra of Denmark|Alexandra]].

Except for female sovereigns, the next Lady of the Garter named was Queen Alexandra, by her husband King [[Edward VII]]. King [[George V]] also made his consort, Queen [[Mary of Teck|Mary]], a Lady of the Garter and King [[George VI]] subsequently did the same for his wife, Queen [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Elizabeth]], and his daughter Princess [[Elizabeth II|Elizabeth]] (later Queen Elizabeth II). Throughout the 20th century, women continued to be associated with the Order, but save for foreign female monarchs, they were not made Companions.<ref name="RH2">{{cite web |url= http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Honours/OrderoftheGarter/OrderoftheGarter.aspx |title= The Monarchy Today – Queen and Public – Honours – The Order of the Garter |publisher=The Royal Household |access-date=4 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614210437/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Honours/OrderoftheGarter/OrderoftheGarter.aspx |archive-date= 14 June 2009 }}</ref>

In 1987, by a statute of Queen Elizabeth II, the installation of "Ladies Companion of the Garter" became possible.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Waddington |first=Raymond B. |year=1993 |journal= Sixteenth Century Journal |title= Elizabeth I and the Order of the Garter |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=97–113 |doi= 10.2307/2541800 |publisher=The Sixteenth Century Journal |jstor= 2541800|s2cid=165893968 }}</ref> Unlike previous queens consort, [[Queen Camilla]] was named a Royal Lady of the Garter by her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, when she was still the Duchess of Cornwall.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-02-05|title= Queen wants Camilla to be Queen Consort when Charles becomes king |language=en-GB |work= The Guardian | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/feb/05/queen-wants-camilla-to-be-queen-consort-when-charles-becomes-king }}</ref>

In 2022, [[Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos]], became the first Black Lady Companion of the Order since its foundation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-13 |title=Prince Andrew out of view as Tony Blair receives royal honour |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61772917 |access-date=2022-06-13 |archive-date=13 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613212912/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61772917 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Eliza Manningham-Buller]], Baroness Manningham-Buller, became the first Lady Companion to be appointed [[Chancellor of the Order of the Garter|chancellor of the Order]], on 18 June 2024.<ref name="Furness">{{cite news |last1=Furness |first1=Hannah |title=Former M15 boss becomes first female Chancellor of the Order of the Garter |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2024/06/13/chancellor-order-garter-manningham-butler-king-charles/ |access-date=19 June 2024 |work=The Telegraph |date=13 June 2024}}</ref>

==Composition==
{{See also|List of current knights and ladies of the Garter}}
[[File:Knights Companion of the Garter.JPG|thumb|right|upright|Knights Companion processing to [[St George's Chapel, Windsor|St George's Chapel]] for the Garter Service]]

===Members===
Membership in the Order is strictly limited and includes the Monarch, the [[Prince of Wales]], not more than 24 Companion members, and various [[wikt:supernumerary|supernumerary]] members. The monarch alone decides who is appointed.<ref name="PN">{{Cite web |last=Gay |first=Oonagh |date=20 March 2006 |url=http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-02832.pdf |title=Honours Standard Note: SN/PC/2832 |publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom|United Kingdom Parliament]] |access-date=7 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016235112/http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-02832.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2006}}</ref> The monarch is known as the ''Sovereign of the Garter'', and the Prince of Wales is known as a ''Royal Knight Companion of the Garter''.<ref name="SGC2">{{cite web |url=http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/about-st-georges/royal-connection/orders-of-chivalry.html |title=College of St George – Windsor Castle – Orders of Chivalry |publisher=College of St George – Windsor Castle |access-date=4 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219220802/http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/about-st-georges/royal-connection/orders-of-chivalry.html |archive-date=19 February 2010 }}</ref>

Male members of the Order are titled "Knights Companion" and female members are called "Ladies Companion". Formerly, the sovereign filled vacancies upon the nomination of the members. Each member would nominate nine candidates, of whom three had to have the rank of [[earl]] or higher, three the rank of [[baron]] or higher, and three the rank of [[knight]] or higher. The sovereign would choose as many nominees as were necessary to fill any vacancies in the order. They were not obliged to choose those who received the most nominations. Candidates were last nominated in 1860, and appointments have since been made by the sovereign acting alone, with no prior nominations. The statutes prescribing the former procedure were not amended, however, until 1953.<ref>{{harvnb|Begent|Chesshyre|1999|p=198}}</ref>

From the 18th century, the sovereign made their choices on the advice of the [[Government of the United Kingdom|government]]. In 1946, with the agreement of [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Clement Attlee]] and [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Opposition Leader]] [[Winston Churchill]], membership of Great Britain's highest ranking orders of chivalry (the Order of the Garter, the [[Order of the Thistle]] and the dormant [[Order of St Patrick]]) became a personal gift of the Sovereign once again.<ref name="RH2"/> Thus, the sovereign personally selects Knights and Ladies Companion of the Garter, without political influence.<ref name="SC">{{Cite web |date=13 July 2004 |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmpubadm/212/21204.htm |title=Select Committee on Public Administration Fifth Report |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=8 November 2006 |archive-date=23 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061123161341/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmpubadm/212/21204.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Appointments are typically announced on [[Saint George's Day]] (23 April).<ref name="RH2"/>

===Supernumerary members===
[[File:Emperor Taisho the Order of the Garter.jpg|upright|thumb|left|Emperor [[Taishō]], after the 1902 [[Anglo-Japanese Alliance]], in his Garter robes]]
The Order includes [[wikt:supernumerary|supernumerary]] members, whose number do not count towards the limit of 24 companions. Several supernumerary members, known as "Royal Knights and Ladies of the Garter", belong to the [[British Royal Family|royal family]]. These titles were introduced in 1786 by King [[George III]] so that his many sons would not curtail the number of non-royal companions. He created the statute of supernumerary members in 1805 so that any descendant of King [[George II of Great Britain|George II]] could be installed as such a member. In 1831, this statute was extended again to include all descendants of King [[George I of Great Britain|George I]].<ref name="ne" />

With the installation of Emperor [[Alexander I of Russia]] in 1813, supernumerary membership was extended to foreign monarchs, who are known as "Stranger Knights and Ladies of the Garter".<ref name="RH4">{{Cite web |date=June 2004 |url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/OutPut/Page3210.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222251/http://www.royal.gov.uk/OutPut/Page3210.asp |archive-date=27 September 2007 |title=Royal Insight: June 2004: Focus: The Order of the Garter |publisher=The Royal Household}}</ref> Each such installation originally required the enactment of a statute; however, a 1954 statute authorises the regular admission of Stranger Knights or Ladies without further special enactments.<ref name="RH4"/>

===Degradation of members===<!-- Isn't more a "revocation" than a "degradation"? -->
The sovereign may "[[Degradation (knighthood)|degrade]]" members who have taken up arms against the Crown. From the late 15th century, there was a formal ceremony of degradation, in which [[Garter King of Arms]], accompanied by the rest of the [[Herald]]s, processed to St George's Chapel. While the Garter King read aloud the Instrument of Degradation, a Herald climbed up a ladder and removed the former Knight's [[banner]], [[Crest (heraldry)|crest]], [[Helmet (heraldry)|helm]], and [[sword]], throwing them down into the [[Choir (architecture)|quire]]. Then the rest of the Heralds kicked them down the length of the chapel, out of the doors, and into the castle ditch. The last such formal degradation was that of [[James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde]], in 1716.<ref>{{cite book|author=Peter J Begent|title=The Most Noble Order of the Garter, its History and Ceremonial}}</ref>

During the First World War, two Royal Knights and six Stranger Knights, all monarchs or princes of enemy nations and including Kaiser [[Wilhelm II]] of Germany, and Emperor [[Franz Joseph I of Austria]], were struck off the roll of the order, their appointments being annulled in 1915.<ref name="RH4" /> The banner of King [[Victor Emmanuel III]] was removed from the chapel after [[Fascist Italy|Italy]] entered World War II against the United Kingdom and its allies in 1940.<ref>{{cite book|author=David Kemp|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8jYdEyVnQn4C&dq=Victor+Emmanuel+III+of+Italy+Order+of+the+Garter&pg=PA141|title=The Pleasures and Treasures of Britain: A Discerning Traveller's Companion|date= 1992|page=141|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=9781770700703|access-date=15 March 2023|archive-date=8 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408032005/https://books.google.com/books?id=8jYdEyVnQn4C&dq=Victor+Emmanuel+III+of+Italy+Order+of+the+Garter&pg=PA141|url-status=live}}</ref> The banner of Emperor [[Hirohito]] was removed from St George's Chapel when [[Empire of Japan|Japan]] entered World War II in 1941, but that banner and his knighthood were restored by [[Elizabeth II]] in 1971, when Hirohito made a [[state visit]] to the United Kingdom. The Emperor was particularly pleased by the restoration to the Garter.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kingston|first=Jeff|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2005/03/13/books/book-reviews/the-tokyo-envoys-englishmen-in-japan/#.WPqHpVLMyRs|title=The Tokyo envoys: Englishmen in Japan|work=The Japan Times|location=Tokyo|date=13 March 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604025115/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2005/03/13/books/book-reviews/the-tokyo-envoys-englishmen-in-japan/ |archive-date=4 June 2016 }}</ref>

===Officers===
[[File:Officers of the Order of the Garter.JPG|thumb|right|upright|Officers of the Order of the Garter (left to right): Secretary (barely visible), Black Rod, Garter Principal King of Arms, Register, Prelate, Chancellor]]
The Order has six officers: the [[Prelate]], the [[Chancellor of the Order of the Garter|Chancellor]], the Register, the [[Garter Principal King of Arms]], the [[Black Rod|Usher]], and the Secretary.<ref name="Knight">{{Cite book |last=Knight |first=Charles |year=1811 |title=Guide to Windsor |chapter=9}}</ref> The offices of Prelate, Register, and Usher were created on the order's establishment; those of Garter Principal King of Arms and Chancellor, in the 15th century; and that of Secretary, in the 20th century.<ref name="COA">{{cite web|url=http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/About/06.htm |title=The origin and history of the various heraldic offices |publisher=The College of Arms |access-date=16 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729132925/http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/About/06.htm |archive-date=29 July 2010 }}</ref>

[[William of Edington]], [[Bishop of Winchester]], was the first Prelate of the Order, and that office has since been held by his successors at Winchester, traditionally a senior bishopric of the [[Church of England]].<ref>{{harvnb|Begent|Chesshyre|1999|p=105}}</ref>

The office of Chancellor is now held by one of the companions of the order. For most of its existence, the [[Bishop of Salisbury]] has held the office, although [[laymen]] held it from 1553 to 1671. In 1837, after boundary changes made [[Windsor Castle]] fall in the [[diocese of Oxford]], the Chancellorship was transferred to the [[Bishop of Oxford]]. A century later, the Bishop of Salisbury challenged this transfer, on the grounds that the Chancellorship had been attached to his office regardless of the [[diocese]] in which the chapel of the order lay; and that, in any event, [[St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle|St George's Chapel]], as a [[Royal Peculiar]], was not under diocesan jurisdiction. The office of Chancellor was removed from the Bishop of Oxford (the outgoing bishop, [[Thomas Strong (bishop)|Thomas Strong]], had been outspoken in the [[Edward VIII abdication crisis]]), and so it was withheld from his successor, [[Kenneth Kirk]], and has since been held by one of the Knights and Ladies Companion.<ref>{{harvnb|Begent|Chesshyre|1999|pp=109–112}}</ref>

The office of Register has been held by the [[Dean of Windsor]] since 1558.<ref>{{harvnb|Begent|Chesshyre|1999|p=116}}</ref> The Garter Principal King of Arms is ''[[ex officio]]'' the senior officer of the [[College of Arms]] (the [[heraldic authority]] of England), and is usually appointed from among the other [[officer of arms|officers of arms]] at the College.<ref name="begent-chesshyre">{{harvnb|Begent|Chesshyre|1999|p=122}}</ref> As the title suggests, Garter Principal King of Arms has specific duties as the Order's officer of arms, attending to the companions' [[Coat of arms|coats of arms]] and [[Banner of arms|banners of arms]], which are exhibited in the chapel. The Secretary, who acts as deputy to Garter in the ceremonial aspects of the Order, has since 1952 typically also been selected from the other officers of the College of Arms.<ref>{{harvnb|Begent|Chesshyre|1999|p=143}}</ref> The office of Usher is held by the [[Black Rod|Usher of the Black Rod]], who is also the [[Serjeant-at-Arms]] of the [[House of Lords]].<ref>{{harvnb|Begent|Chesshyre|1999|p=132}}</ref>

*'''Prelate''': [[Philip Mounstephen]], [[Bishop of Winchester]] (''ex officio'', 2023)
*'''Chancellor''': [[Eliza Manningham-Buller]], Baroness Manningham-Buller {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|LG|DCB}} (2024)
*'''Register''':<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://issuu.com/exposeddesign/docs/companionmagazine-order-of-the-gart |title=The Register of the Order of the Garter |magazine=The Companion – magazine for the College of St George |issue=21 |page=12 |publisher=The Dean and Canons of Windsor |publication-date=13 June 2015 |via=issuu.com |accessdate=23 April 2021}}</ref> Dr [[Christopher Cocksworth]], Dean of Windsor (''ex officio'', 2023)
*'''King of Arms''': [[David White (officer of arms)|David White]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|OStJ}}, Garter Principal King of Arms (''ex officio'', 2021)
*'''Secretary''': Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave (2024)
*'''Usher''': Lieutenant General [[Ed Davis (Royal Marines officer)|Ed Davis]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|CBE|CBE|KStJ}}, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod (''ex officio'', 2025)

==Military Knights of Windsor==
{{Main|Military Knights of Windsor}}
[[File:Military Knights of Windsor.JPG|thumb|right|upright|[[Military Knights of Windsor]] in the procession to the Garter Service]]

At the founding of the Order of the Garter, 26 "poor knights" were appointed and attached to the Order and its chapel. This number was not always maintained, and by the 17th century, there were only thirteen such knights. King [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] increased the number to 18 (in large part because of funds allocated from Sir Francis Crane's will) after his coronation in 1660. After the knights objected to being termed "poor", King [[William IV]] redesignated them in the 19th century as the Military Knights of Windsor.<ref name="SGC3">{{cite web |url=http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/about-st-georges/whos-who/military-knights.html |title=College of St George – Windsor Castle – Military Knights |publisher=College of St George – Windsor Castle |access-date=4 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510013842/http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/about-st-georges/whos-who/military-knights.html |archive-date=10 May 2010 }}</ref>

The poor knights were impoverished military veterans, required to pray daily for the Knights Companion. In return, they received a salary and lodging in Windsor Castle. The knights are no longer necessarily poor, but are still military pensioners. They participate in the Order's processions, escorting the members, and in the chapel services. However, they are not considered members of the Order.<ref name="SGC3" />

The poor knights originally wore red [[mantle (clothing)|mantles]], each of which bore St George's Cross, but did not depict the Garter. Queen [[Elizabeth I]] replaced the mantles in the 16th and 17th centuries with blue and purple gowns, but the red mantles returned in the 17th century under King [[Charles I of England|Charles I]]. When the knights were renamed, the mantles were abandoned. The military knights now wear the old military uniform of an "army officer on the unattached list": black trousers with red stripe, a red [[double-breasted]] swallow-tailed coat, gold [[epaulet]]s and brushes, a [[cocked hat]] with a [[hackle|plume]], and a sword on a white baldric.<ref name="HN" />

==Robes and insignia==
[[File:King Charles III and Queen Camilla Garter Day 2024.jpg|thumb|right|King [[Charles III]] and [[Queen Camilla]] wearing their insignia on Garter Day in 2024.]]

===Members===

====Order's ceremonial occasions====

For the Order's ceremonial occasions, such as the annual Garter Day, the members wear elaborate [[vestment]]s and [[accoutrements]], which include:
*The ''mantle'' is a vestment or robe worn by members since the 15th century. Once made of wool, by the 16th century it was made of [[velvet]]. The mantle was originally purple, but varied during the 17th and 18th centuries between [[celestial blue]], pale blue, royal blue, dark blue, violet, and [[ultramarine]]. Mantles are now dark blue and lined with white [[taffeta]]. The mantles of the Sovereign, the Prince of Wales, and Royal Knights and Ladies end in [[Train (clothing)|trains]]. The [[Escutcheon (heraldry)|heraldic shield]] of [[St George's Cross]] encircled by the Garter is sewn onto the left shoulder of the mantle, but the Sovereign's mantle instead has the star of the Order. Attached to the mantle over the right shoulder are a dark red velvet hood and [[surcoat]], which have lost all function over time and appear to the modern observer simply as a splash of colour.<ref name="HN">{{Cite journal |last=Cox |first=Noel |year=1999 |journal=Heraldry News, the Journal of Heraldry |title=The ceremonial dress and accoutrements of the Most Noble Order of the Garter |issue=22 |pages=6–12 |publisher=Journal of Heraldry Australia Inc. |url=http://www.geocities.com/noelcox/Garter_Dress.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030420201952/http://www.geocities.com/noelcox/Garter_Dress.htm |archive-date=20 April 2003}}</ref>
*The ''hat'' is a [[Tudor bonnet]] of black velvet with a plume of white ostrich and black heron feathers.<ref name="HN" />
*The ''[[Livery collar|collar]]'' is worn around the neck, over the mantle and is secured with white ribbons tied in bows on the shoulders. Like the mantle, it was introduced in the 15th and 16th centuries. Made of pure gold, it weighs {{convert|30|ozt|kg|sigfig=3|lk=in}}. The collar is composed of gold [[heraldic knot]]s alternating with [[Vitreous enamel|enamelled]] medallions, each showing a rose encircled by the Garter. During the reign of [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]] (1485–1509), commencing at the termination of the [[Wars of the Roses]], each garter surrounded two roses – one red for the [[House of Lancaster]] and one white for the [[House of York]] – but he changed the design to encircle the Tudor rose<ref name="HN" /> alone, a combination of both forms.{{efn|See for example the single roses on the collar of the effigy of [[Robert Willoughby, 1st Baron Willoughby de Broke]], KG (died 1502) in Callington Church, Cornwall (see image [[:File:RobertWilloughbyCallington.jpg]]).}} Today one of the most visible representations of the collar forms part of the monarch's [[heraldic achievement]] on the gates of [[Buckingham Palace]].{{efn|See image [[:File:Buckingham Palace - 02.jpg]].}}
*{{anchor|Great George}}The ''Great George'', which is worn suspended from the collar, is a colourfully enamelled (sometimes jewelled) three-dimensional figure of [[Saint George|St George the Martyr]] on horseback slaying a dragon.<ref name="HN" />
[[File:Hosenbandorden.jpg|thumb|left|The insignia of a knight/lady companion of the Order of the Garter]]
*The ''[[Garter (clothing)|Garter]]'' is worn on ceremonial occasions around the left calf{{efn|The Garter is worn over and above the left strap of the dress breeches of men but nowadays it is anachronistically worn over the trousers because the wearing of court dress by most Garter knights has fallen into disuse.}} by knights and around the left arm by ladies, and is depicted on several insignia. The Garter is a buckled dark-blue (originally light-blue) velvet strap, and bears the motto in gold letters. The garters of Stranger Knights and Ladies were once set with several jewels.<ref name="HN" /> Two styles have been used: one is a working garter where the end slips through the [[buckle]], passed behind, and then is tucked down through the formed loop, as it is shown in the arms of the order, and the other style is a 'pre-made' one that has the buckled and tucked end pre-fashioned and is fastened with a clip attachment.

Up until the middle part of the 20th century, it was customary to wear [[Tudor period|Tudor style]] under-dress, consisting of white silk embroidered [[Doublet (clothing)|doublet]], [[breeches]], [[full hose]], white doeskin [[Court shoe|pumps]] with satin bows and a sword belt with sword, under the robes. Nowadays, morning dress or a [[lounge suit]] is worn, except for coronations when Tudor [[under-dress]] is worn by the canopy-bearers.<ref>{{cite book|author=Una Campbell|year=1989|title=Robes of the Realm: 300 Years of Ceremonial Dress|publisher=Michael O'Mara Books|page=21}}</ref>

====Other occasions====
[[File:GarterInsigniaBurkes.JPG|thumb|upright|Top: A Garter "Star"; middle: A "Great George" (St George on horseback slaying the dragon) pendant from the Collar; bottom: the Garter]]

On other occasions when decorations are worn, the members wear simpler insignia:
*The ''collar'' is worn on designated [[collar day]]s over military uniform or [[morning dress]] by members attending formal events. The collar is fastened to the shoulders with silk ribbons (or gold safety pins when worn with morning dress). Since the collar signifies the Order of the Garter, members can then wear the riband of any other order to which they belong.<ref name="HN" />
*The ''star'', which is worn pinned to the left breast, was introduced in the 17th century by King [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] and is a colourfully enamelled depiction of the heraldic shield of St George's Cross, encircled by the Garter, which is itself encircled by an eight-point silver badge. Each point is depicted as a cluster of rays, with the four points of the cardinal directions longer than the intermediate ones. The stars of Stranger Knights and Ladies were once set with several jewels. Since the Order of the Garter is the senior order of the United Kingdom, a member will wear its star above the others (up to three) that they hold.<ref name="HN" /> There are examples in the [[Royal Collection]] of the stars of foreign orders given to [[George V]] surrounded with the Garter, e.g. the Prussian [[Order of the Black Eagle]] given to George V when Prince of Wales.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/441498/order-of-the-black-eagle-prussia-george-vs-star-with-garter|title=- Order of the Black Eagle (Prussia). George V's star with garter|website=www.royalcollection.org.uk|access-date=18 April 2018|archive-date=19 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419055036/https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/441498/order-of-the-black-eagle-prussia-george-vs-star-with-garter|url-status=live}}</ref>
*The ''riband'' is a {{convert|4|in|cm|sigfig=4|spell=in|adj=on}}-wide [[sash]] 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 riband's colour has varied over the years: it was originally light blue, but was a dark shade under the Hanoverian monarchs. In 1950, the colour was fixed as "kingfisher blue". A member will wear only one riband, even if they belong to several orders.<ref name="HN" />
*The ''badge'' is worn suspended from a small gold link from the riband at the right hip, and is sometimes known as "the Lesser George". Like the Great George, the badge shows St George the Martyr on horseback slaying a dragon, but it is flatter and gold. In earlier times, the badge was worn from a ribbon tied around the neck.<ref name="HN" />

On the death of a member, the Lesser George and breast star are returned personally to the sovereign by the former member's nearest male relative, and the other insignia to the [[Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood]], save the riband, mantle and hat.<ref name="HN" />

===Officers===
For ceremonial occasions of the Order, the officers wear the following garments and accessories:
*The mantles for the prelate and chancellor are dark blue like those of the members (as a member, the chancellor wears a member's mantle), but the mantles for the other officers are dark red. All mantles are embroidered with a heraldic shield of St George's Cross. For Garter ceremonies, [[Garter Principal King of Arms]] wears this red mantle rather than the [[tabard]] of the [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|royal arms]] worn for other State ceremonial occasions.<ref name="HN" />
*Officers wear badges of office suspended from a chain worn around the neck. The badge for the prelate shows the Lesser George encircled by the Garter, which is surmounted by a bishop's [[mitre]]. The badge for the chancellor is a rose encircled by the Garter. The badge for the register is two crossed [[Feather|quills]] over a book encircled by the Garter surmounted by a crown. The badge for Garter Principal King of Arms is the royal arms [[Impalement (heraldry)|impaled]] with St George's Cross encircled by the Garter and surmounted by a crown. The badge for the usher is a knot (like those on the collars of the companions of the order) encircled by the Garter and surmounted by a crown. The badge for the secretary shows two crossed quills in front of a rose and encircled by the Garter surmounted by a crown.<ref name="HN" />

The chancellor carries a purse, which is embroidered with the royal arms impaled by the Cross of St George. The purse contains the [[Seal (emblem)|seal]] of the Order. Garter Principal King of Arms carries his [[Staff of office|baton of office]]. The usher carries their staff of office, the [[Black Rod]].<ref name="HN" />

==Chapel==
[[File:Castell de Windsor - Capella de Sant Jordi.JPG|thumb|Banners in St George's Chapel of members of the Order of the Garter]]

[[St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle|St George's Chapel]] in [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]] is the [[mother church]] of the Order of the Garter and the location of special services in relation to the Order.<ref name="RH2"/>

During their lifetime, all members of the Order of the Garter are entitled to display their heraldic crests and banners in St George's Chapel. While the Garter stall plates {{see below}} stay in the chapel permanently, the crests and banners of deceased knights are, following presentation at the High Altar, removed from the chapel. Sometimes they are then given to institutions that were connected with the late knight, or kept privately depending on family wishes.<ref name=GarterBannerList/> Originally after a knight's death, the crests became the property of Garter King of Arms, and these crests have been the subject of occasional exhibitions in the Earl Marshal's Court at the [[College of Arms]].

[[Garter stall plate]]s are small enamelled and engraved brass plates located in St George's Chapel as memorials to Knights of the Garter.<ref name="RH2"/>

==Investiture and installation==
[[File:Order of the Garter investiture of King Haakon VII of Norway, by Sydney Prior Hall.jpg|thumb|left|[[Edward VII]] invests [[Haakon VII of Norway]] with the insignia of the Order of the Garter in the Throne Room of Windsor Castle, 9 November 1906. Painting by [[Sydney Prior Hall]].]]

Each June, on Garter Day, the members of the Order, wearing their habits and garter insignia, meet at [[Windsor Castle]]. When any new Knights and/or Ladies of the Garter are due for installation, an [[investiture]] ceremony is held in the [[Throne_room#Windsor_Castle|Throne Room]] of Windsor Castle on the morning of Garter Day.<ref name="RH2"/> This ceremony is attended by all available Knights and Ladies Companion of the Order, wearing the ceremonial habits and garter insignia, and also by their spouses. The wording of the oath sworn by the new knights at this ceremony and of the Admonitions addressed to them in turn by the prelate and chancellor of the order when the several items of insignia are placed upon them are extremely similar to the traditions of the past.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia Heraldica Or Complete Dictionary of Heraldry|volume=1|author=William Berry}} Google eBook.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ResearchGuide1-The-Order-of-the-Garter.pdf|title=Research guides No.1: The Order of the Garter|at=s.v. "Oath"|publisher=St George's Chapel Archives and Chapter Library|access-date=23 September 2018|archive-date=23 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923162945/https://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ResearchGuide1-The-Order-of-the-Garter.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the investiture ceremony, two senior knights or ladies of the order assist the Sovereign by placing the garter around the left leg of the new knight, or left arm of the new lady, and in the fastening of the riband and Lesser George about the body of the new knight or lady, and in the adjustment of the mantle and the collar.<ref>{{cite book|title=The British Herald, or Cabinet of armorial bearings of the nobility and gentry of Great Britain & Ireland|author=Thomas Robson|year=1830|page=96}} Google eBook.</ref> After the investiture ceremony at Windsor is concluded, a state luncheon is held in the Banqueting Room. This is attended by the royal family, by all the Companions of the Order and their spouses, and by the Officers of the Order. After the banquet all the knights and ladies of the order, together with the prelate, chancellor and other officers of the order, in their mantles and ceremonial robes, led by the Military Knights of Windsor, move in procession, watched by a great crowd of spectators, through the castle, down the hill, which is lined with soldiers, to Saint George's Chapel for a worship service, before which the formal installation of the new knights takes place.<ref>{{cite book |last=De la Bere |first=Brigadier Sir Ivan |title=The Queen's Orders of Chivalry |publisher=Spring Books |location=London |year=1964 |page=85}}</ref>

While (then just) knights continued to be invested with their ensigns, the formal installation of knights at St George's Chapel ceased in 1805. Installation, along with the annual Garter service, returned in 1948;<ref name=GarterBannerList>{{cite web |url=https://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/about-st-georges/history/the-order-of-the-garter/garter-banner-list.html |title=Garter Banner List |access-date=23 April 2019 |publisher=Dean & Canons of Windsor |archive-date=10 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610170313/https://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/about-st-georges/history/the-order-of-the-garter/garter-banner-list.html |url-status=live }}</ref> on the occasion of the order's 600th anniversary.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/assets/files/Companion/Companion21-web.pdf |title=Order of the Garter Timeline|journal=The Companion: The Magazine for the College of St George | issue=21 | page=3 | date= 2015 |access-date=10 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922113457/http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/assets/files/Companion/Companion21-web.pdf |archive-date=22 September 2015  }}</ref>

==Privileges==
=== Precedence ===
{{Multiple image
| total_width = 320
| image1= Member of the Garter - Non Arms.svg
| caption1= Members of the order may encircle their heraldic arms with the Garter.
| image2= Collar of the Order of the Garter.svg
| caption2= The collar of the order as it appears on some heraldic arms.
}}

Members are assigned positions in the [[Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom|order of precedence]], coming before all others of knightly rank, and above [[baronet]]s. The wives, sons, daughters and daughters-in-law of Knights Companion are also assigned precedence. Relatives of Ladies Companion are not, however, assigned any special positions. (Generally, individuals can derive precedence from their fathers or husbands, but not from their wives.) The Chancellor is also assigned precedence, but since 1837 the office has been held by a diocesan bishop of the [[Church of England]] or a [[Peerage of the United Kingdom|peer]], which have a higher precedence than that bestowed by the Chancellorship.<ref name="BP">{{Cite web|last=Mosley |first=Charles |year=2005 |url=http://www.burkes-peerage.net/articles/peerage/page62-4.aspx |title=Precedence |publisher=Burke's Peerage and Gentry |access-date=18 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928111704/http://www.burkes-peerage.net/articles/peerage/page62-4.aspx |archive-date=28 September 2008 }}</ref>

Knights Companion prefix "[[Sir]]"<ref name=debrett>{{cite web |url=http://www.debretts.com/forms-of-address/titles/knight.aspx |access-date=11 August 2009 |work=Forms of Address |title=Knight |publisher=Debretts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825170811/http://www.debretts.com/forms-of-address/titles/knight.aspx |archive-date=25 August 2009 }}</ref> and Ladies Companion prefix "[[Lady]]" to their forenames.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.debretts.com/forms-of-address/titles/knight/ladies-of-the-garter.aspx |access-date=11 August 2009 |work=Forms of Address |title=Ladies of the Garter and Ladies of the Thistle |publisher=Debretts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821170905/http://www.debretts.com/forms-of-address/titles/knight/ladies-of-the-garter.aspx |archive-date=21 August 2009 }}</ref> Wives of Knights Companion may prefix "Lady" to their surnames, but no corresponding privilege exists for husbands of Ladies Companion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.debretts.com/forms-of-address/titles/dame.aspx |access-date=11 August 2009 |work=Forms of Address |title=Dame |publisher=Debretts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807112826/http://www.debretts.com/forms-of-address/titles/dame.aspx |archive-date=7 August 2009 }}</ref> Such forms are not used by royalty, peers, peeresses, or Anglican clergymen, who instead use only the post-nominal letters.<ref name=debrett/>

Knights and Ladies Companion use the [[post-nominal letters]] "KG" and "LG" respectively.<ref name="SC" /> When an individual is entitled to use multiple post-nominal letters, those of the Order of the Garter appear before all others, except "Bt" or "Bart" ([[Baronet]]), "VC" ([[Victoria Cross]]) and "GC" ([[George Cross]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://honours.gov.uk/honours/wear.asp |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20060130194436/honours.gov.uk/honours/wear.asp |archive-date=30 January 2006 |title=Order of Wear |work=The UK Honours System |publisher=Cabinet Office |access-date=21 August 2016}}</ref>

=== Heraldry ===
In their [[Achievement (heraldry)|heraldic achievements]], members of the Order of the Garter may encircle their [[Escutcheon (heraldry)|escutcheon]] with the Garter.<ref name="Churchill">{{Cite web |last=Courtenay |first=Paul |url=http://www.winstonchurchill.org/resources/reference/the-armorial-bearings-of-sir-winston-churchill |title=The Armorial Bearings of Sir Winston Churchill |date=14 October 2008 |publisher=The Churchill Centre |access-date=21 August 2016 |archive-date=6 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406234425/http://www.winstonchurchill.org/resources/reference/the-armorial-bearings-of-sir-winston-churchill |url-status=live }}</ref> Knights and Ladies Companion are also entitled to receive [[heraldic supporter]]s, a privilege granted to few other private individuals. While some families claim supporters by ancient use, and others have been granted them as a special reward, only members of the Royal Family, peers, Knights and Ladies Companion of the Garter, Knights and Ladies of the Thistle, and Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the junior orders of chivalry are automatically entitled to them.<ref name="Churchill" />

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
WinchesterCathedral LordAshburtonKG 1991.jpg|Garter banner of [[Alexander Baring, 6th Baron Ashburton]], now in [[Winchester Cathedral]]
Hagley, St John the Baptist - interior, 1st Visc Chandos' Garter Banner - photo 2 cropped.jpg|Garter banner of [[Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos]], now in [[St John the Baptist Church, Hagley]]
Wilson banner.jpg|Garter banner of [[Harold Wilson|Lord Wilson of Rievaulx]], now at [[Jesus College, Oxford|Jesus College]] Chapel, Oxford
Belvoir Castle 13 2012-07-06 cropped further.jpg|Garter banner of [[Henry Manners, 8th Duke of Rutland]], now at [[Belvoir Castle]]
Coat of Arms of Philip II of Spain (Order of the Garter).svg|Arms of [[Philip II of Spain|Philip, Prince of Asturias]] at his investiture, encircled by the Garter (in 1554)
GarterPlateHenryCadogan5thEarlCadogan1891.jpg|Garter stall plate of [[George Cadogan, 5th Earl Cadogan]]
Coat_of_Arms_of_Margaret_Thatcher,_The_Baroness_Thatcher_(1995%E2%80%932013).svg|Arms of [[Margaret Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher]]
1st Duke of Marlborough arms.png|The arms of [[John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough]], are encircled by both the Garter and the collar.
Coat_of_arms_of_Johann_Casimir,_Count_Palatine_of_Simmern.png|The arms of [[John Casimir of the Palatinate-Simmern]], encircled by the Garter
Karl XIs ordensstjärna för riddare av Strumpebandsorden, 1668 - Livrustkammaren - 108770.tif|The Garter "Star" worn by King [[Charles XI of Sweden]], late 17th century
Order of the Garter of Franz Joseph I of Austria.jpg|The garter of Emperor [[Franz Joseph I of Austria]]
</gallery>

===Armorial===

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto; table-layout: fixed; text-align: center;"
|colspan = "2" align="center"|'''The Order'''
|-
| [[File:Arms of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.svg|195px]]
| [[File:Arms of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (Royal Arms Variant).svg|175px]]
|-

| Arms of the Order 
| Variant with the [[Coat of arms of the United Kingdom|royal arms]] and [[St Edward's Crown]]
|-

|}

==See also==
{{Portal|England}}
* [[List of current knights and ladies of the Garter]]
* [[List of knights and ladies of the Garter]]
* [[The Society of the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book |first=Elias |last=Ashmole |author-link=Elias Ashmole |title=Institution, Laws and Ceremonies of the Most Noble Order of the Garter |url=https://archive.org/details/gri_33125012878183 |location=London |year=1672 }}
*{{Cite book |last1=Begent |first1=P.J. |year=1999 |last2=Chesshyre |first2=H. |title=The Most Noble Order of the Garter: 650 Years |publisher=Spink and Son |location=London |isbn=1902040201}}
*{{Cite book |last=Beltz |first=George Frederick |year=1841 |title=Memorials of the Order of the Garter |location=London |publisher=William Pickering |url=https://archive.org/stream/memorialsorderg00beltgoog#page/n150/mode/2up |access-date=27 October 2013 }}
*{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Knighthood and Chivalry |volume=15 |pages=851–867 }}
*{{cite book |title=The Knights of the Garter, 1348–1939: With a Complete List of the Stall Plates in St. George's Chapel |series=[[Historical monographs relating to St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle]] |volume=1 |first=Edmund |last=Fellowes |author-link=Edmund Fellowes |publisher=SPCK |year=1939 }}
*{{cite book |first=Clifford J. |last=Rogers |chapter=The symbolic meaning of Edward III's Garter badge |editor1-first=Gary P. |editor1-last=Baker |editor2-first=Craig L. |editor2-last=Lambert |editor3-first=David |editor3-last=Simpkin |title=Military Communities in Late Medieval England: essays in honour of Andrew Ayton |year=2018 |publisher=Boydell |location=Woodbridge |isbn=9781783272983 |pages=125–145 }}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|last1=Hope|first1=W. H. St.John |display-authors=etal |title=The Stall Plates of the Knights of the Order of the Garter 1348–1485|year=1901}} Reprinted 2005.
*[http://www.heraldicsculptor.com/Garters.html Brennan, I. G. "The Most Noble Order of the Garter." HeraldicSculptor.com. 2004.]
*[http://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/order_precedence.htm Velde, F. R. "Order of Precedence in England and Wales." 2003.]
*[https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/statutes_of_orders/response/2348141/attach/4/The%20Order%20of%20the%20Garter%20Statutes%201%20Part2.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1 Statutes of the Order as provided by the Cabinet Office, 2023.]

==External links==
{{Commons and category|Order of the Garter}}
*[https://www.royal.uk/the-order-of-the-garter The Order of the Garter] – Royal Household website
*[https://honours.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/about/orders-and-medals/#garter Order of the Garter] – UK Cabinet Office
*[https://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/about-st-georges/history/the-order-of-the-garter/ St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle – Order of the Garter]
*[http://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/garterstalls.htm#earlier List of historic occupants of Garter stalls]
*[http://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/garterlist.htm List of the Knights of the Garter]
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/image_galleries/order_of_the_garter_2009_gallery.shtml BBC gallery: Order Of The Garter]

{{Members of the Order of the Garter}}
{{British Honours System}}
{{Orders, decorations, and medals of Australia}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Order Of The Garter}}
[[Category:1348 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1348]]
[[Category:Order of the Garter| ]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Berkshire]]