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{{Short description|British order of chivalry associated with Scotland}}
{{Infobox order
| name             = Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle
| native_name      = 
| native_name_lang = 
| image            = Insignia of Knight of the Thistle.png
| image_size       = 
| alt              = 
| caption          = Insignia of Knights and Ladies of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle
| awarded_by       = the monarch of Scotland (United Kingdom) and successor states
| type             = [[Order of chivalry]]
| established      = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1687}}
| country          = 
| house            = 
| religion         = 
| seat             = 
| ribbon           = 
| motto            = {{Lang|la|[[Nemo me impune lacessit]]}}
| eligibility      = 
| criteria         = At the monarch's pleasure
| status           = Currently constituted
| founder          = [[James VII of Scotland|James VII]]
| head_title       = Sovereign
| head             = [[Charles III]]
| head2_title      = [[Chancellor of the Order of the Thistle|Chancellor]]
| head2            = [[Richard Scott, 10th Duke of Buccleuch|The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry]]
| head3_title      = 
| head3            = 
| classes          = {{Plainlist|
*Extra Knight/Lady (KT/LT)
*Knight/Lady (KT/LT)}}
|first_induction = 29 May 1687
|last_induction  = 10 March 2024
|total           = {{Plainlist|
*[[James II of England|James VII]]: 8
*[[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Anne]]: 12
*[[George I of Great Britain|George I]]: 8
*[[George II of Great Britain|George II]]: 17
*[[George III of the United Kingdom|George III]]: 29
*[[George IV of the United Kingdom|George IV]]: 10
*[[William IV of the United Kingdom|William IV]]: 4
*[[Queen Victoria|Victoria]]: 53
*[[Edward VII]]: 8
*[[George V]]: 27
*[[Edward VIII]]: 0
*[[George VI]]: 12
*[[Elizabeth II]]: 58
*[[Charles III]]: 5}}
| post-nominals    = 
| former_grades    = 
| website          = 
| higher           = [[Order of the Garter]]
| lower            = [[Order of St Patrick]]
| same             = 
| related          = 
| image2           = Order of the Thistle UK ribbon.svg
| image_size2      = 90px
| alt2             = 
| caption2         = Ribbon of the Order of the Thistle
| image3           = 
| image_size3      = 
| alt3             = 
| caption3         = 
| image4           = 
| image_size4      = 
| alt4             = 
| caption4         = 
}}

The '''Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle''' is an [[Chivalric order|order of chivalry]] associated with [[Scotland]]. The current version of the order was founded in 1687 by King [[James II of England|James VII of Scotland]], who asserted that he was reviving an earlier order. The order consists of the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|sovereign]] and sixteen knights and ladies, as well as certain "[[wikt:supernumerary|extra]]" knights (members of the [[British royal family]] and foreign monarchs). The sovereign alone grants membership of the order; they are not advised by the [[Scottish Government|government]], as occurs with most other orders.

[[File:Coat of arms of the United Kingdom in Scotland.svg|right|upright=0.75|thumb|Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom for use in Scotland]]
The order's primary emblem is the [[thistle]], the [[national flower]] of Scotland. The [[motto]] is {{Lang|la|[[Nemo me impune lacessit]]}} ([[Latin]] for "No one provokes me with impunity").<ref>1687 Statutes, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1987), p6</ref> The same motto appears on the [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom]] for use in Scotland and [[British coin One Pound|pound coins]] minted in 1984, 1989, 1994, and 1999 (since withdrawn), and is also the motto of the [[Royal Scots Dragoon Guards]], the [[Scots Guards]], the [[Royal Regiment of Scotland]], and the [[Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada]]. The [[patron saint]] of the order is [[Saint Andrew|St Andrew]].

Most British orders of chivalry cover the whole [[United Kingdom]], but the three most exalted ones each pertain to one [[countries of the United Kingdom|constituent country]] only. The Order of the Thistle, which pertains to Scotland, is the second most senior in precedence. Its equivalent in England, the Most Noble [[Order of the Garter]], is the oldest documented order of chivalry in the United Kingdom, dating to the middle fourteenth century. In 1783 an Irish equivalent, the Most Illustrious [[Order of St Patrick]], was founded, but it is now dormant.

== History ==
[[File:John Drummond.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|[[John Drummond, 1st Earl of Melfort]] in 1688; originator of the 'revived' order]]
The claim that James VII was reviving an earlier order is generally not supported by the evidence. The 1687 warrant states that during [[Athelstaneford|a battle in 786]] with Angles under [[Æthelstan of East Anglia]], the [[Flag of Scotland|cross of St Andrew]] appeared in the sky to [[Legendary kings of Scotland|Achaius]], King of Scots; after his victory, he established the Order of the Thistle and dedicated it to the saint.<ref>This version, without the date, is given in the warrant 'reviving' the order in 1687. (1687 warrant, quoted in ''Statutes'', 1978, p. 1)</ref> This seems unlikely on the face of it, since Achaius died a century before Æthelstan<ref>Nicholas, p. 4, footnote 1, notes that Achaius died more than a century before Aethelstan</ref> (though it is now thought that the opponents in this battle were not the East Anglian king Æthelstan (born around 894) but an earlier [[Northumbria]]n of the same name, and not the legendary Scottish King Achaius but the historical [[Picts|Pictish]] King [[Óengus II]]).

An alternative version is that the order was founded in 809 to commemorate an alliance between Achaius and Emperor [[Charlemagne]]; there is some plausibility to this, insofar as Charlemagne is believed to have employed Scottish bodyguards.<ref>Nicolas, Appendix, p.vi, quotes Nisbet's ''A system of heraldry'', which relates this version.</ref> Yet another version is that [[Robert I of Scotland|Robert the Bruce]] instituted the order after his victory at [[Battle of Bannockburn|Bannockburn]] in 1314.<ref>Mackey and Heywood, p. 890</ref>

Most historians consider the earliest credible claim to be the founding of the order by [[James III of Scotland|James III]], during the fifteenth century.<ref name="royal">{{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Honours/OrderoftheThistle.aspx |title=The Monarchy Today: Queen and Public: Honours: The Order of the Thistle |publisher=The Royal Household |access-date=18 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414021132/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Honours/OrderoftheThistle.aspx |archive-date=14 April 2010 }}</ref> He adopted the thistle as the royal badge, issued coins depicting thistles<ref>McGill, pp. 290–291</ref> and allegedly conferred membership of the "Order of the Burr or Thissil" on [[Francis I of France]], although there is no conclusive evidence for this.<ref>Nicolas, p. 3</ref><ref>Nicolas, footnote 7, p. 15, quotes Nisbet in support of these claims.</ref>

[[File:Detail of painting of James V of Scotland, with Thistle collar.jpg|right|upright=0.75|thumb|[[James V]] wearing a Thistle-style collar, {{Circa|1538}}]] 
Some Scottish order of chivalry may have existed during the sixteenth century, possibly founded by [[James V]] and called the Order of St. Andrew, but lapsed by the end of that century, although the evidence is unclear.<ref>Stevenson, Katie [https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/abs/10.3366/shr.2004.83.1.3 "The Unicorn, St Andrew and the Thistle: Was there an Order of Chivalry in Late Medieval Scotland?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123175419/https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/abs/10.3366/shr.2004.83.1.3 |date=23 November 2022 }}, ''Scottish Historical Review''. Volume 83, Page 3&ndash;22, April 2004</ref><ref>Nicolas quotes [[Elias Ashmole]]'s ''Treatise on Military Orders'' (1672) which mentions a ceremony involving Knights of St Andrew (i.e. Knights of the Thistle) but Nicolas goes on to say that "it was not pretended that there were any "Knights of the Thistle" or "of St Andrew" after the accession of [[James VI]] in 1567"</ref> A royal thistle collar is depicted in a [[book of hours]], prepared for [[James IV of Scotland|James IV]] in about 1503, where he is shown kneeling at an altar bearing the royal arms encircled by a collar of thistles and a badge depicting St Andrew.<ref>McGill, p. 291</ref> In a painting of 1538, James V is shown wearing a gold collar of linked thistles with a St Andrew badge, although the King's wardrobe inventories of the period make no mention of a thistle collar.<ref>McGill, pp. 291–292</ref>

In 1558, a French commentator described the use of the crowned thistle and St Andrew's cross on [[Scottish coinage|Scottish coins]] and banners but noted there was no Scottish order of knighthood.<ref>''Calendar of State Papers Scotland'', vol. 1 (1898), 206.</ref> Writing around 1578, [[John Lesley]] refers to the three foreign orders of chivalry carved on the gate of [[Linlithgow Palace]], with James V's ''ornaments'' of St Andrew, ''proper to this nation''.<ref>Leslie, John, ''Historie of Scotland'', vol. 2, STS (1895), 230&ndash;1.</ref><ref>[[Charles Burnett (officer of arms)|Charles Burnett]], 'Outward Signs of Majesty', Janet Hadley Williams, ''Stewart Style, 1513–1542'' (Tuckwell, 1996), p. 291.</ref> In 1610 [[William Fowler (makar)|William Fowler]], the Scottish secretary to [[Anne of Denmark]] was asked about the Order of the Thistle. Fowler believed that there had been an order, founded to honour Scots who fought for [[Charles VII of France]], but it had been discontinued in the time of James V, and could say nothing of its ceremonies or regalia.<ref>E. K. Purnell & A. B. Hinds, ''HMC Downshire'', vol. 2 (London, 1936), pp. xxii-xxiii, 388.</ref>

James VII issued [[letters patent]] "reviving and restoring the Order of the Thistle to its full glory, lustre and magnificency" on 29 May 1687.<ref name=1687Gazette>{{London Gazette|issue=2251|pages=1–2|date=13 June 1687}}</ref><ref>1687 Warrant, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), p. 1</ref> His intention was to reward Scottish Catholics for their loyalty, but the initiative actually came from [[John Drummond, 1st Earl of Melfort|John, 1st Earl and 1st Jacobite Duke of Melfort]], then [[Secretary of State]] for Scotland. Only eight members out of a possible twelve were appointed; these included Catholics, such as Melfort and the [[Lord Chancellor of Scotland]], his elder brother [[James Drummond, 4th Earl of Perth|James, 4th Earl and 1st Jacobite Duke of Perth]], plus Protestant supporters like the [[James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton|Earl of Arran]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Glozier |first1=Mathew |title=The Earl of Melfort, the Court Catholic Party and the Foundation of the Order of the Thistle, 1687 |journal=The Scottish Historical Review |date=2000 |volume=79 |issue=208 |pages=233–234 |jstor=25530975 |doi=10.3366/shr.2000.79.2.233 }}</ref>
   
After James was deposed by the 1688 [[Glorious Revolution]] no further appointments were made, although the exiled [[House of Stuart]] continued to issue a [[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] version until 1784 (the last appointment being [[Charlotte Stuart, Duchess of Albany|Charlotte Stuart, Jacobite Duchess of Albany]]), although none of those were recognised by the British Crown.<ref>McGill, p 294</ref> Queen [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Anne]] appointed knights to the Order from 1704,<ref>Joseph Timothy Haydn's ''Book of Dignities'' (Longmans, 1851), p. 434</ref> and it has remained in existence since then, and is used to recognise Scots 'who have held public office or contributed significantly to national life.'<ref name="RF-Thistle">{{cite web |title=The Order of the Thistle |url=https://www.royal.uk/order-thistle |website=The Royal Family |access-date=13 October 2018|date=2015-11-11 }}</ref>

===Founder knights: 1687 creation===
*[[James Drummond, 4th Earl of Perth]]; went into exile with James in 1688, died in France 1716
*[[George Gordon, 1st Duke of Gordon]]; exiled in 1689 but returned home and pardoned, included in the 1703 revival by Anne, died 1716
*[[John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl]]; reconciled with new regime in 1689, died 1703
*[[James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton|James, Earl of Arran]]; confirmed in his titles by William III in 1698, heavily involved in the disastrous [[Darien scheme]], abstained from the vote passing the  [[Acts of Union 1707]], killed in a [[Hamilton–Mohun duel|duel with Lord Mohun]], 1712
*[[Kenneth Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Seaforth]]; imprisoned after 1688, released in 1696 and moved to Paris, died 1701
*[[John Drummond, 1st Earl of Melfort]]; went into exile with James in 1688, died in France 1714
*[[George Douglas, 1st Earl of Dumbarton]]; went into exile with James in 1688, died in France 1692
*[[Alexander Stuart, 5th Earl of Moray]]; lost office after 1688, died at home 1701

== Composition ==
[[File:Knight of the Order of the Thistle.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|[[Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex]] in the robes of a Knight of the Order of the Thistle]]
The [[Kings of Scots]], later the [[Kings of Great Britain]] and of the United Kingdom, have served as sovereigns of the Order.<ref name=1687Gazette /><ref>1687 Warrant, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), p2 states ''revive the said Order, of which his Majesty is the undoubted and rightful Sovereign''</ref> When James VII revived the order, the statutes stated that the order would continue the ancient number of Knights, which was described in the preceding warrant as "the Sovereign and twelve Knights-Brethren in allusion to the [[Jesus|Blessed Saviour]] and his [[Twelve Apostles]]".<ref name=1687Gazette /><ref>1687 Warrant and 1687 Statutes, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1987) pp. 1–3</ref> In 1827, [[George IV]] increased the number to sixteen members.<ref>Warrant of 8 May 1827, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978)</ref> Women (other than [[Queens regnant]]) were originally excluded from the Order;<ref>Members of the order had to be Knights Bachelor before appointment (1703 Statutes, article 14, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), p. 17); only men could be created as such.</ref> [[George VI]] created his wife Queen [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Elizabeth]] a Lady of the Thistle in 1937 by a special statute,<ref>Additional statute, 12 June 1937, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), p. 60</ref> and in 1987 [[Elizabeth II]] allowed the regular admission of women to both the Order of the Thistle and the Order of the Garter.<ref name="royal"/>

From time to time, individuals may be admitted to the order by special statutes. Such members are known as "Extra Knights" or "Extra Ladies" and do not count towards the sixteen-member limit.<ref>Many such statutes are quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), all of which follow a fixed formula.</ref> Members of the British royal family are normally admitted through this procedure; the first to be so admitted was [[Albert, Prince Consort|Prince Albert]].<ref>Additional statute 17 January 1842, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), p. 33. The first royal knight (other than a monarch) was a younger son of [[George III]], Prince William Henry (later [[William IV]]), however he was admitted as one of the twelve ordinary knights (Nicolas, p. 51).</ref> King [[Olav V of Norway]], the first foreigner to be admitted to the order, was also admitted by special statute in 1962.<ref>Additional statute of 18 October 1962, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), p. 63</ref>

The sovereign has historically had the power to choose knights of the order. From the eighteenth century onwards, the sovereign made his or her choices upon the advice of the government. [[George VI]] felt that the orders of the Garter and the Thistle had been used only for political patronage, rather than to reward actual merit. Therefore, with the agreement of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] ([[Clement Attlee]]) and the [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Leader of the Opposition]] ([[Winston Churchill]]) in 1946, both orders returned to the personal gift of the sovereign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page4878.asp|title=The Monarchy Today: Queen and Public: Honours: The Order of the Garter|publisher=The Royal Household|access-date=18 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090127162846/http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page4878.asp|archive-date=27 January 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Knight of the Thistle robe, Holyrood Palace.JPG|thumb|upright=0.75|Vestments of a Knight of the Thistle]]
Knights and Ladies of the Thistle may also be admitted to the Order of the Garter. Formerly, many, but not all, Knights elevated to the senior order would resign from the Order of the Thistle.<ref>Nicolas, p. 33, says that the Duke of Hamilton was given special permission by Queen Anne, hitherto unprecedented, to belong to both the orders of the Thistle and Garter.</ref> The first to resign from the Order of the Thistle was [[John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll]] in 1710;<ref>Nicolas, p. 32</ref> the last to take such an action was [[Thomas Dundas, 2nd Earl of Zetland]] in 1872.<ref>''The Times'', 30 November 1872, p. 9</ref> 

Knights and Ladies of the Thistle may also be [[Revocation|deprived]] of their knighthoods. The only individual to have suffered such a fate was [[John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar]] who lost both the knighthood and the earldom after participating in the [[Jacobite Rising of 1715]].<ref>Nicolas, p. 35. Unlike the other British orders, the statutes of the Order of the Thistle do not specify a procedure for the removal of a Knight.</ref>

The order has five officers: the [[Chancellor of the Order of the Thistle|Chancellor]], the Secretary, the [[Dean of the Thistle|Dean]], [[Lord Lyon King of Arms]], and the [[Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod]]. The Dean is normally a [[Clergy|cleric]] of the [[Church of Scotland]]. This office was not part of the original establishment, but was created in 1763 and joined to the office of [[Dean of the Chapel Royal]].<ref>Warrant of 7 January 1763, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), pp. 28–29</ref> The two offices were separated in 1969.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=44902|page=7525|date=22 July 1969}}</ref> The office of Chancellor is mentioned and given custody of the [[Seal (emblem)|seal]] of the order in the 1687 statutes, but no-one was appointed to the position until 1913.<ref>Statute of 8 October 1913, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), p. 49</ref> The office has subsequently been held by one of the knights, though not necessarily the most senior. The Usher of the Order is the Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod (unlike his Garter equivalent, the Gentleman Usher of the [[Black Rod]], he does not have another function assisting the [[House of Lords]]).<ref>1703 Statutes, article 13, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), p. 17, refer to the office only as the Usher, and do not specify the colour of his baton of office; however by the time of a statute of 17 July 1717 he is referred to as Green Rod.</ref> The Lord Lyon King of Arms, head of the [[Scottish heraldry|Scottish heraldic]] establishment, whose office predates his association with the order, serves as King of Arms of the Order.<ref>1703 Statutes, article 11, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), p. 17 does not assign any duties to Lord Lyon, but merely prescribes his vestments and insignia.</ref>

== Symbolism ==

According to [[legend]], an invading [[Norsemen|Norse]] army was attempting to sneak up at night upon a Scottish army's encampment. During this operation, one barefoot Norseman had the misfortune to step upon a [[thistle]], causing him to cry out in pain, thus alerting Scots to the presence of the Norse invaders. Some sources suggest the specific occasion was the 1263 [[Battle of Largs]], which marked the beginning of the departure of King [[Haakon IV]] (Haakon the Elder) of [[Kingdom of Norway (872–1397)|Norway]] who, having control of the [[Northern Isles]] and [[Hebrides]], had harried the coast of the [[Kingdom of Scotland]] for some years.<ref>{{cite web |last=Webmaster |first=John Duncan |location=UK |url=http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/thistle/thistle.html |title=Scots History Online |publisher=Scots History Online |date=4 April 2009 |access-date=14 January 2013}}</ref>

== Habit and insignia ==
[[File:De Heilige Andreas en het andreaskruis.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|[[St Andrew]] with the saltire in the badge of the Order of the Thistle]]
[[File:Ster van de Orde van de Distel.jpg|thumb|right|The star of the Order of the Thistle]]
For the Order's great occasions, such as its annual service each June or July, as well for [[coronation of the British monarch|coronations]], the Knights and Ladies wear an elaborate costume:<ref>For an early illustration, see: Hélyot, P. (1719) 'Histoire des ordres monastiques, religieux et militaires, et des congregations séculières de l'un et de l'autre sexe, qui ont été établis jusqu'à présent' Paris, Vol. VIII, p. 389.</ref>
* The ''[[Mantle (royal garment)|mantle]]'' is a green robe worn over their suits or military uniforms. The mantle is lined with white [[taffeta]]; it is tied with green and gold tassels. On the left shoulder of the mantle, the star of the order (see below) is depicted.<ref name="vestments">1703 Statutes, article 2, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), pp. 15–16</ref>
* The ''hat'' is made of black velvet and is plumed with white feathers with a black egret's or heron's top in the middle.<ref name="vestments"/>
* The ''[[Collar (order)|collar]]'' is made of gold and depicts thistles and sprigs of [[rue]]. It is worn over the mantle.<ref name="vestments"/>
* The ''St Andrew'', also called the ''badge-appendant'', is worn suspended from the collar. It comprises a gold enamelled depiction of St Andrew, wearing a green gown and purple coat, holding a white [[saltire]].<ref name="vestments"/> Gold rays of a [[Halo (religious iconography)|glory]] are shown emanating from St Andrew's head.<ref>Statute of 17 February 1714/15, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), p. 20</ref>

Aside from these special occasions, however, much simpler [[insignia]] are used whenever a member of the order attends an event at which decorations are worn:
* The ''star'' of the order consists of a silver St Andrew's [[saltire]], with clusters of rays between the arms thereof. In the centre is depicted a green circle bearing the motto of the order in gold [[majuscules]]; within the circle, there is depicted a thistle on a gold field. It is worn pinned to the left breast.<ref>1703 Statutes, article 5, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), pp. 15–16</ref> (Since the Order of the Thistle is the second most senior chivalric order in the UK, a member will wear its star above that of other orders to which he or she belongs, except that of the Order of the Garter; up to four orders' stars may be worn.)<ref name="wear">{{cite web|title=Order of Wear|url=http://www.honours.gov.uk/honours/wear.aspx|publisher=Ceremonial Secretariat, Cabinet Office|date=2006-11-13|access-date=20 February 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070128200052/http://www.honours.gov.uk/honours/wear.aspx|archive-date=28 January 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* The ''broad [[riband]]'' is a dark green sash worn across the body, from the left shoulder to the right hip.<ref>1703 Statutes, article 3, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), p. 15. In the 1687 statutes the riband was purple-blue; the colour was changed by Queen Anne when she refounded the Order.</ref>
* At the right hip of the riband, the ''badge'' of the order is attached. The badge depicts St Andrew in the same form as the ''badge-appendant'', surrounded by the order's motto.<ref>1703 Statutes, article 3, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), p. 15 refers to this item of insignia as the ''medal''.</ref>

However, on certain [[collar day]]s designated by the sovereign,<ref>1703 Statutes, article 7, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), p. 16</ref> members attending formal events may wear the order's collar over their military uniform, formal wear, or other costume. They will then substitute{{Clarify|date=September 2022}} the broad riband of another order to which they belong (if any), since the Order of the Thistle is represented by the collar.<ref>{{cite web|title=Royal Insight: Mailbox|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page2013.asp|publisher=The Royal Household|date=February 2007|access-date=20 February 2007}}</ref>

Upon the death of a Knight or Lady, the insignia must be returned to the [[Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood]]. The badge and star are returned personally to the sovereign by the nearest relative of the deceased.<ref>Debrett's Peerage, p. 82</ref>

Officers of the order also wear green robes.<ref>1703 Statutes, article 11 (Secretary), article 12 (Lord Lyon), article 13 (Usher); Special statute of 10 July 1886 (Dean), Statute of 8 October 1913 (Chancellor), all quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), pp. 15–16, 42 and 49–50</ref> The Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod also bears, as the title suggests, a green [[Staff of office|rod]].<ref>1703 Statutes, article 13, quoted in ''Statutes'' (1978), pp. 15–16, says only that he carries his "baton of office"</ref>

== Chapel ==
{{Further|Thistle Chapel}}
When James VII created the modern order in 1687, he directed that the [[Holyrood Abbey|Abbey Church]] at the [[Palace of Holyroodhouse]] be converted to a Chapel for the Order of the Thistle, perhaps copying the idea from the Order of the Garter (whose chapel is located in [[Windsor Castle]]). James VII, however, was deposed by 1688; the Chapel, meanwhile, had been destroyed during riots. The order did not have a Chapel until 1911, when one was added onto [[St Giles Cathedral|St Giles High Kirk]] in [[Edinburgh]].<ref>Burnett and Hodgson, pp. 6–7. The 1703 statutes however continue to designate this as the chapel of the Order</ref> Each year, the sovereign resides at the Palace of Holyroodhouse for a week in June or July; every two years during the visit, a service for the order is held.<ref name="RF-Thistle"/> Any new knights or ladies are installed at annual services.<ref name="royal"/>

Each member of the order, including the sovereign, is allotted a [[Choir stall|stall]] in the chapel, above which his or her [[heraldic device]]s are displayed. Perched on the pinnacle of a knight's stall is his helm, decorated with mantling and topped by his crest. If he is a [[peerage|peer]], the [[coronet]] appropriate to his rank is placed beneath the helm.<ref>Paul, pp. 32–33</ref> Under the laws of heraldry, women, other than monarchs, do not normally bear helms or crests;<ref>Innes, p35</ref> instead, the coronet alone is used (if she is a peeress or princess).<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Journal of the Heraldry Society of Scotland|url=http://www.geocities.com/noelcox/coronets.htm|author=Cox, N.|year=1999|title=The Coronets of Members of the Royal Family and of the Peerage (''The Double Tressure'')|issue=22|pages=8–13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011121113136/http://www.geocities.com/noelcox/coronets.htm|archive-date=2001-11-21}}</ref> Lady [[Marion Fraser]] had a helm and crest included when she was granted arms; these were displayed above her stall in the same manner as for knights.<ref>Burnett and Hodgson, p208</ref> Unlike other British orders, the [[Armory (heraldry)|armorial]] banners of Knights and Ladies of the Thistle are not hung in the chapel, but instead in an adjacent part of St Giles High Kirk.<ref>Innes, p. 42</ref> The Thistle Chapel does, however, bear the arms of members living and deceased on stall plates. These enamelled plates are affixed to the back of the stall and display its occupant's name, arms, and date of admission into the order.<ref>Burnett and Hodgson, pp. 7–8, and illustrations on pp. 54 ff. Only stall plates for Knights and Ladies appointed after 1911 give the name and date of appointment.</ref>

Upon the death of a Knight, his helm, [[mantling]], crest (or coronet or crown) and sword are taken down. The stall plates, however, are not removed; rather, they remain permanently affixed to the back of the stall, so that the stalls of the chapel are festooned with a colourful record of the order's knights and ladies since 1911.<ref>Burnett and Hodgson</ref> The entryway just outside the doors of the chapel has the names of the order's knights from before 1911 inscribed into the walls giving a complete record of the members of the order.

== Precedence and privileges ==
Knights and Ladies of the Thistle are assigned positions in the [[order of precedence in Scotland|order of precedence]], ranking above all others of knightly rank except the Order of the Garter, and above [[Baronet|baronets]]. Wives, sons, daughters and daughters-in-law of Knights of the Thistle also feature on the order of precedence; relatives of Ladies of the Thistle, however, are not assigned any special precedence. (Generally, individuals can derive precedence from their fathers or husbands, but not from their mothers or wives.)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.burkes-peerage.net/Sites/Scotland/SitePages/page31a.asp |title=The Scale of General Precedence in Scotland |access-date=2007-02-24 |publisher=Burke's Peerage |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070204102534/http://www.burkes-peerage.net/Sites/Scotland/SitePages/page31a.asp |archive-date = 4 February 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Knights of the Thistle prefix "[[Sir]]", and Ladies prefix "[[Lady]]", to their forenames. Wives of Knights may prefix "Lady" to their surnames, but no equivalent privilege exists for husbands of Ladies. Such forms are not used by peers and princes, except when the names of the former are written out in their fullest forms.<ref name="DCA">{{cite web|url=http://www.dca.gov.uk/dept/titles.htm|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20070306162822/http://www.dca.gov.uk/dept/titles.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-03-06|title=Forms of Address for use orally and in correspondence|author=The Crown Office|publisher=Ministry of Justice|date=July 2003|access-date=21 December 2007}}</ref>

Knights and Ladies use the [[post-nominal letters]] "KT" and "LT" respectively.<ref name="royal" /> When an individual is entitled to use multiple post-nominal letters, "KT" or "LT" appears before all others, except "Bt" or "Btss" ([[Baronet]] or [[Baronet]]ess), "VC" ([[Victoria Cross]]), "GC" ([[George Cross]]) and "KG" or "LG" (Knight or Lady Companion of the Garter).<ref name="wear" />

Knights and Ladies may encircle their arms with the [[Circlet (heraldry)|circlet]] (a green circle bearing the order's motto) and the collar of the order; the former is shown either outside or on top of the latter. The badge is depicted suspended from the collar.<ref>Innes, p. 47. The circlet does not appear to be commonly used. Neither the collar nor the circlet are used on the stall plates; Burnett and Hodgson on the occasions when the insignia of the order are mentioned in a grant or matriculation of arms in Burnett and Hodgson (e.g. pp. 134, 138, 174, 180, 198) it is only the collar which is used.</ref> The Royal Arms depict the collar and motto of the Order of the Thistle only in Scotland; they show the circlet and motto of the Garter in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page5014.asp|title=The Monarchy Today: Queen and Public: Symbols: Coats of Arms|publisher=The Royal Household|access-date=26 February 2007}}</ref>

Knights and Ladies are also entitled to receive heraldic [[supporter]]s. This high privilege is shared only by members of the Royal Family, peers, Knights and Ladies Companion of the Garter, and Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the junior orders of chivalry and [[Scottish clan chief|clan chiefs]].<ref>Woodcock and Robinson, p. 93</ref>

== Current members and officers ==

=== Sovereign ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; background:white; border:#01796f solid;"
!Name
!'''Year of appointment'''
!'''Present age'''
|-
|King [[Charles III]] (''ex officio'')
|1977 as The Duke of Rothesay; Sovereign since 2022
|{{age|1948|11|14}}
|}

=== Extra Knights and Ladies ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; background:white; border:#01796f solid;"
!Name
!'''Year of appointment'''
!'''Present age'''
!Arms
|-
|[[Anne, Princess Royal]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KG|KT|GCVO|GCStJ|QSO|GCL|CMM|CD|ADC}}
|2000
|{{age|1950|8|15}}
|[[File:Coat of Arms of Anne, the Princess Royal (Scotland).svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[William, Prince of Wales|Prince William, Duke of Rothesay]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KG|KT|GCB|PC|ADC(P)}}
|2012 as The Earl of Strathearn; Duke of Rothesay since 2022
|{{age|1982|06|21}}
|[[File:Coat of Arms of the Duke of Rothesay.svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Queen Camilla]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|LG|LT|ONZ|GCVOf|GBE|CSM|CD|PC}}
|2023
|{{age|1947|7|17}}
|[[File:Coat of Arms of Queen Camilla (Scotland).svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|-
|[[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KG|KT|GCVO|CD|ADC}}
|2024<ref name="LG64354">{{London Gazette
| issue = 64354
| date = 26 March 2024
| page = 6066
}}</ref>
|{{age|1964|3|10}}
|[[File:Coat of Arms of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (Scotland).svg|frameless|50x50px]]
|}

=== Knights and Ladies ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; background:white; border:#01796f solid;"
!Member number{{#tag:ref|The number shown in brackets is the individual's place in the wider order of appointment since the Order's inception.|group=N|name=Order}}
!Name
!Known for
!Year of appointment
!Present age
!Arms
|-
|1-(200)
|[[Andrew Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KT|CD|JP|DL}}
|[[Lord Lieutenant of Fife]]
|1981
|{{age|1924|2|17}}
|[[File:Coats of Arms of the Earl of Elgin.svg|frameless|57x57px]]
|-
|2-(213)
|[[James Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KT|PC|KC|FRSE}}
|[[Lord Chancellor]]
|1997
|{{age|1927|7|2}}
|[[File:Baron Mackay of Clashfern Coat of Arms with KT.png|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|3-(214)
|[[David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KT|GCMG|FRSE}}
|[[Governor of Hong Kong]]
|2000
|{{age|1935|2|14}}
| 
|-
|4-(217)
|[[David Steel|David Steel, Lord Steel of Aikwood]]  {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KT|KBE|PC}} 
|[[Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament]]
| rowspan="2" |2004
|{{age|1938|3|31}}
|[[File:The Lord Steel of Aikwood arms with KT.png|frameless|68x68px]]
|-
|5-(218)
|[[George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KT|GCMG|PC|FRSA|FRSE}} 
|[[Secretary General of NATO]]
|{{age|1946|4|12}}
| 
|-
|6-(219)
|[[William Cullen, Baron Cullen of Whitekirk]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KT|PC|KC|FRSE|FREng}}
|[[Lord President of the Court of Session]] and Lord Justice General
|2007
|{{age|1935|11|18}}
|[[File:Coat of Arms of William Cullen, Baron Cullen of Whitekirk.svg|frameless|60x60px]]
|-
|7-(221)
|[[David Hope, Baron Hope of Craighead]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KT|PC|KC|FRSE}}
|[[Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom]]
| rowspan="2" |2009
|{{age|1938|6|27}}
|[[File:Arms of Baron Hope of Craighead with KT.png|frameless|68x68px]]
|-
|8-(222)
|[[Narendra Patel, Baron Patel]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KT|FMedSci|FRSE}}
|Chancellor of the [[University of Dundee]]
|{{age|1938|5|11}}
|
|-
|9-(224)
|[[Robert Smith, Baron Smith of Kelvin]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KT|CH|FRSGS}}
|[[Board of Governors of the BBC|Governor]] of the [[British Broadcasting Corporation]]
|2014
|{{age|1944|8|8}}
|
|-
|10-(225)
|[[Richard Scott, 10th Duke of Buccleuch]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KT|KBE|CVO|DL|FSA|FRSE|FRSGS}} 
|[[Lord Lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale]]
|2017
|{{age|1954|2|14}}
|[[File:Coat of arms of the Duke of Buccleuch & Queensberry as a KT.png|frameless|76x76px]]
|-
|11-(226)
|Sir [[Ian Wood (businessman)|Ian Wood]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KT|GBE}}
|Businessman and philanthropist
|2018
|{{age|1942|7|21}}
|
|-
|12-(227)
|Lady [[Elish Angiolini]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|LT|DBE|KC|FRSA|FRSE}}
|[[Lord Advocate]], Principal of [[St Hugh's College, Oxford]]
| rowspan="2" |2022
|{{age|1960|6|24}}
|
|-
|13-(228)
|Sir [[George Reid (Scottish politician)|George Reid]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KT|FRSE}} 
|[[Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament]]
|{{age|1939|6|4}}
|
|-
|14-(229)
|[[Sue Black, Baroness Black of Strome]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|LT|DBE|FRS|FRSE|FRAI|FRSB}}
|President of the [[Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland]]
| rowspan="2" |2024
|{{age|1961|5|7}}
|
|-
|15-(230)
|[[Helena Kennedy, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|LT|KC|FRSA|HonFRSE}}
|Chair of the [[British Council]]
|{{age|1950|5|12}}
|
|-
|16-
|''Vacant''
|
|
|
|}

=== Officers ===
*[[Dean of the Thistle|Dean]]: [[David Fergusson (theologian)|David Fergusson]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|OBE|FRSE|FBA}} (2019)
*[[Chancellor of the Order of the Thistle|Chancellor]]: [[Richard Scott, 10th Duke of Buccleuch]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KT|KBE|CVO|DL|FSA|FRSE|FRSGS}} (2024)<ref name="LG64354" />
*[[King of Arms]]: Canon [[Joseph Morrow (Lord Lyon)|Joseph Morrow]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|CVO|CBE|KC|DL|FRSE}}, [[Lord Lyon King of Arms]] (''ex officio'', 2014)
*Secretary: [[Elizabeth Roads]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|LVO|OStJ}} (2014)
*Usher: Rear Admiral Christopher Layman {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|CB|DSO|LVO}}, [[Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod]] (''ex officio'', 1997)

== See also ==
[[File:Crests_of_Knights_of_the_Thistle.jpg|thumb|Swords, helms and crests of Knights of the Thistle above their stalls in the Thistle Chapel. Lady [[Marion Fraser]]'s helm and crest are second from the left]]
[[File:Stall_plates_of_Knights_of_the_Thistle.jpg|thumb|Stall plates of Knights of the Thistle]]
[[File:Royal banners St Giles Edinburgh.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Royal Banners hanging in [[St Giles High Kirk]]]]
* [[List of knights and ladies of the Thistle]] (1687–present)
* [[Thistle Chapel]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=N}}

== References ==
[[File:Banners of Knights of the Thistle January 2009.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Banners of Knights of the Thistle, hanging in St Giles High Kirk]]
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Sources ==

=== Printed ===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Burnett|first=C.J.|author2=Hodgson, L.|title=Stall Plates of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle in the Chapel of the Order within St Giles' Cathedral, The High Kirk of Edinburgh|location=Edinburgh|publisher=[[Heraldry Society of Scotland]]|year=2001|isbn=978-0-9525258-3-7}}
* {{cite book |title=Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage|year=1995 |location=London |publisher=Debrett's Peerage Ltd}}
* {{cite book |last=Galloway |first= Peter |title=The Order of the Thistle |year=2009 |publisher=Spink & Son Ltd |isbn=978-1-902040-92-9 }}
* {{cite book |last=Innes of Learney |first= T. |author-link=Thomas Innes of Learney |title=Scots heraldry; a practical handbook on the historical principles and modern application of the art and science|year=1956 |location=Edinburgh |publisher=Oliver and Boyd|edition=2nd}}
* {{cite journal|last=McGill|first=Lyndsay|title=Identification of an early Order of the Thistle badge|journal=The Journal of the Orders and Medals Research Society|publisher=Orders & Medals Research Society Journal. Vol 59, No 4. Dec 2020|year=2020|issn=1474-3353}}
* {{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Freemasonry|last=Mackey|first=A.G. |author2=Haywood, H.L.|year=1946|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|isbn=978-0-7661-4719-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Nicolas |first=N. H. |author-link=Nicholas Harris Nicolas|title=History of the orders of knighthood of the British empire, of the order of the Guelphs of Hanover; and of the medals, clasps, and crosses, conferred for naval and military service, Vol iii |url=https://archive.org/details/historyoforderso03nico |year=1842 |location=London }}
* {{cite book |last=Paul |first= J.B. |author-link=James Balfour Paul |title=The knights of the Order of the Thistle: a historical sketch by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, and a descriptive sketch of their chapel by J. Warrack|year=1911 |location=Edinburgh }}
* {{cite book |author=Order of the Thistle |title=Statutes of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle: revived by His Majesty King James II of England and VII of Scotland and again revived by Her Majesty Queen Anne |year=1978 |location=Edinburgh}}
* {{cite book |last=Woodcock |first= T. |author-link=Thomas Woodcock (officer of arms) |author2=Robinson, J.M. |title=The Oxford Guide to Heraldry|year=1988 |location=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-211658-1 }}
{{Refend}}

===Online===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Honours/OrderoftheThistle.aspx |title=The Monarchy Today: Queen and Public: Honours: The Order of the Thistle |publisher=The official website of the British Monarchy |access-date=23 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414021132/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Honours/OrderoftheThistle.aspx |archive-date=14 April 2010 }}
* {{cite web|title=Royal Insight: Mailbox|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page2013.asp|publisher=The Royal Household|date=February 2007|access-date=20 February 2007}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.burkes-peerage.net/Sites/Scotland/SitePages/page31a.asp |title=The Scale of General Precedence in Scotland |access-date=24 February 2007 |publisher=Burke's Peerage | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070204102534/http://www.burkes-peerage.net/Sites/Scotland/SitePages/page31a.asp| archive-date = 4 February 2007}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons and category}}
*[https://www.royal.uk/the-order-of-the-thistle The Order of the Thistle] – Royal Household website
*[https://honours.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/about/orders-and-medals/#thistle Order of the Thistle] – UK Cabinet Office
*[https://www.centralchancery.org.uk/orders-of-chivalry/additional-orders-of-chivalry/ Additional Orders] – Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood

{{Featured article}}

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Order Of The Thistle}}
[[Category:Order of the Thistle| ]]
[[Category:1687 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1687]]
[[Category:Scottish awards]]
[[Category:James II of England]]