Order of the Garter: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:27, 9 December 2024

The Order of the Garter is the most senior and the oldest British order of chivalry, founded by King Edward III in 1348. It is considered one of the most prestigious honors in the United Kingdom and is dedicated to the image and arms of Saint George, England's patron saint.

History

The Order of the Garter was established by King Edward III in 1348, inspired by the legendary King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The order was founded to honor those who had shown exceptional service to the kingdom, particularly in military matters. The order's emblem, a garter, is said to have originated from a story involving the "Countess of Salisbury" and a garter that fell to the floor during a dance, which King Edward picked up and returned to her, uttering the phrase "Honi soit qui mal y pense" ("Shame on him who thinks evil of it").

Structure

The Order of the Garter consists of the Monarch of the United Kingdom, who serves as the Sovereign of the Order, and a maximum of 24 Knights or Ladies Companion. Membership is granted at the discretion of the monarch and is often bestowed upon members of the royal family, foreign monarchs, and other distinguished individuals.

Officers

The order has several officers, including:

Insignia

Members of the Order of the Garter wear distinctive regalia, including a dark blue velvet mantle, a hat with a plume of white ostrich and black heron feathers, and the garter itself, which is worn on ceremonial occasions. The garter is a dark blue ribbon with the order's motto in gold.

Ceremony

The annual Garter Day service is held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, where new members are installed. The ceremony is a grand affair, attended by the monarch and other members of the order, and includes a procession and a service.

Also see

Template:Orders of chivalry

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-[[File:Arms_of_the_Most_Noble_Order_of_the_Garter.svg|thumb|Arms_of_the_Most_Noble_Order_of_the_Garter]] [[file:Order_of_the_Garter_UK_ribbon.svg|right|thumb|Order_of_the_Garter_UK_ribbon]] [[file:KG_badge.jpg|right|thumb|KG_badge]] [[file:Portrait_of_Henry,_Duke_of_Lancaster_-_William_Bruges's_Garter_Book_(c.1440-1450),_f.8_-_BL_Stowe_MS_594_(cropped).jpg|thumb|Portrait_of_Henry,_Duke_of_Lancaster_-_William_Bruges's_Garter_Book_(c.1440-1450),_f.8_-_BL_Stowe_MS_594_(cropped)]] [[file:Edward_III_of_England_(Order_of_the_Garter).jpg|thumb|Edward_III_of_England_(Order_of_the_Garter)]] [[file:Statutes_of_the_Order_of_the_Garter_(Alexander_III_of_Russia).jpg|thumb|Statutes_of_the_Order_of_the_Garter_(Alexander_III_of_Russia)]] [[file:Knights_Companion_of_the_Garter.JPG|thumb|Knights_Companion_of_the_Garter]] {{short description|Order of chivalry in England}}
+[[File:Order of the Garter UK ribbon.svg|thumb]] [[File:KG badge.jpg|thumb]] [[File:Portrait of Henry, Duke of Lancaster - William Bruges's Garter Book (c.1440-1450), f.8 - BL Stowe MS 594 (cropped).jpg|thumb]] [[File:Statutes of the Order of the Garter (Alexander III of Russia).jpg|thumb]] {{Infobox order
-{{Infobox order
+| name = Order of the Garter
-| title = Order of the Garter
+| image = [[File:Order of the Garter UK ribbon.png|100px]]
-| image = Garter Badge.svg
+| caption = Ribbon of the Order of the Garter
-| caption = Badge of the Order of the Garter
+| awarded_by = [[The Monarch of the United Kingdom]]
-| awarded_by = [[Monarch of the United Kingdom]]
 | type = [[Order of chivalry]]
-| motto = ''[[Honi soit qui mal y pense]]''
+| motto = ''Honi soit qui mal y pense''
 | established = 1348
-| founder = [[Edward III of England]]
+| founder = [[King Edward III]]
-| eligibility = [[Monarch of the United Kingdom]], [[Prince of Wales]], and 24 [[Knights and Ladies Companion]]
+| chancellor = [[The Duke of Abercorn]]
-| status = Currently constituted
-| head_title = Sovereign
-| head = [[Charles III]]
-| chancellor = [[James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn]]
 | grades = Knight/Lady Companion
-| former_grades =
+| former_grades = Stranger Knight/Lady Companion
-| date =
+| total = 24 Knights/Ladies Companion
-| first_induction =
-| last_induction =
-| total =
 | higher = None
 | lower = [[Order of the Thistle]]
-| related =
-| individual =
-| caption2 =
 }}
-The '''Order of the Garter''' is an [[order of chivalry]] founded by [[Edward III of England]] in 1348. It is the most senior order of knighthood in the [[British honours system]], outranked only by the [[Victoria Cross]] and the [[George Cross]]. The order's emblem is a garter with the motto ''[[Honi soit qui mal y pense]]'' (Middle French: "Shame on him who thinks evil of it").
+The '''Order of the Garter''' is the most senior and the oldest British order of chivalry, founded by [[King Edward III]] in 1348. It is considered one of the most prestigious honors in the United Kingdom and is dedicated to the image and arms of [[Saint George]], England's patron saint.
 == History ==
-The Order of the Garter was established in 1348 by [[Edward III of England]] as a revival of the [[Round Table]] and the [[Arthurian legend]]. The order was inspired by the [[legend of King Arthur]] and the [[Knights of the Round Table]]. The original members included Edward III himself and 25 knights.
+The Order of the Garter was established by King Edward III in 1348, inspired by the legendary [[King Arthur]] and the [[Knights of the Round Table]]. The order was founded to honor those who had shown exceptional service to the kingdom, particularly in military matters. The order's emblem, a garter, is said to have originated from a story involving the "Countess of Salisbury" and a garter that fell to the floor during a dance, which King Edward picked up and returned to her, uttering the phrase "Honi soit qui mal y pense" ("Shame on him who thinks evil of it").
-== Membership ==
+== Structure ==
-Membership in the Order of the Garter is limited to the [[Monarch of the United Kingdom]], the [[Prince of Wales]], and 24 [[Knights and Ladies Companion]]. The order also includes supernumerary members, such as foreign monarchs and other distinguished individuals. New appointments are announced on [[St George's Day]] (23 April).
+The Order of the Garter consists of the [[Monarch of the United Kingdom]], who serves as the Sovereign of the Order, and a maximum of 24 Knights or Ladies Companion. Membership is granted at the discretion of the monarch and is often bestowed upon members of the royal family, foreign monarchs, and other distinguished individuals.
+=== Officers ===
+The order has several officers, including:
+* The [[Prelate of the Order of the Garter|Prelate]]
+* The [[Chancellor of the Order of the Garter|Chancellor]]
+* The [[Garter Principal King of Arms]]
+* The [[Registrar of the Order of the Garter|Registrar]]
+* The [[Usher of the Order of the Garter|Usher]]
 == Insignia ==
-The insignia of the Order of the Garter includes the garter itself, which is worn on ceremonial occasions. The garter is a dark blue ribbon edged with gold, bearing the order's motto. Members also wear a star, a collar, and a badge.
+Members of the Order of the Garter wear distinctive regalia, including a dark blue velvet mantle, a hat with a plume of white ostrich and black heron feathers, and the garter itself, which is worn on ceremonial occasions. The garter is a dark blue ribbon with the order's motto in gold.
-== Ceremonies ==
+== Ceremony ==
-The principal ceremony of the Order of the Garter is the annual [[Garter Day]] service, held at [[St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle]]. During this service, new members are invested with the insignia of the order. The ceremony is followed by a procession of the knights and ladies in their ceremonial robes.
+The annual Garter Day service is held at [[St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle]], where new members are installed. The ceremony is a grand affair, attended by the monarch and other members of the order, and includes a procession and a service.
-== Related Pages ==
+== Also see ==
-* [[Edward III of England]]
+* [[Order of the Thistle]]
-* [[Order of chivalry]]
+* [[Order of the Bath]]
-* [[British honours system]]
+* [[Order of St Michael and St George]]
-* [[St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle]]
+* [[Order of the British Empire]]
-* [[Knights of the Round Table]]
+* [[Chivalric orders]]
-* [[Arthurian legend]]
-* [[Victoria Cross]]
+{{Orders of chivalry}}
-* [[George Cross]]
-* [[St George's Day]]
 [[Category:Orders of chivalry]]
 [[Category:British honours system]]
 [[Category:1348 establishments in England]]
-[[Category:Edward III of England]]
-{{Orders of chivalry}}
-{{UK-honour-stub}}