The Most Noble Order of the Garter

• Date of Institution: 1348
• Ranks: One
  • Knight (or Lady) of the Garter – K.G. (or L.G.)
• Motto: Honi soit qui mal y pense;
• Insignia:
  • Garter: Blue velvet with the motto in gold;
  • Riband: Blue (worn left shoulder to right hip);
  • Badge: This Order has two different badges. The badge worn from the collar is called the “George” and shows St George on horseback slaying the dragon. The badge worn from the riband is the “Lesser George” and is an oval band bearing the motto inside which is a representation of St George slaying the dragon, all in gold.
  • Star: Red cross of St George surrounded by Garter and motto;
  • Collar: 24 Tudor roses in red enamel within Garters (bearing the motto in gold letters) in blue enamel, and 24 double (interlaced) knots – supports the George
  • Mantle: Blue velvet lined with white silk; cordon of blue silk and gold thread with tassels of blue silk and gold attached thereto; on the left side is embroidered a representation of the badge viz a silver escutcheon charged with a red cross and encircled with the garter and motto;
  • Hood: Crimson velvet;
  • Hat: Black velvet lined with white satin; plume of white ostrich feathers and a tuft of black heron feathers.
• Chapel: St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle
• Officers: Prelate; Chancellor; Register; Garter Principal King of Arms; Usher of the Black Rod; Secretary
• Size of Order: Maximum of 25 knights companion including the Prince of Wales but excluding any other Royal Princes (either British and foreign).

• Comments: Women have been eligible for the Order since 1987.

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• References
  • Link to the Royal Family’s web site
  • Begent (n.d.)
  • Begent (1991)
  • Chesshyre (1998)
  • Begent and Chesshyre (1999)

• Pictures
  • The Prince of Wales in the uniform of a Rear-Admiral and wearing the broad riband of a Knight of the Garter.
  • Four royal colonels in uniform each wearing the broad riband – (left to right) the Prince of Wales (Welsh Guards), the Duke of Edinburgh (Grenadier Guards), the Duke of Kent (Scots Guards) and the Princess Royal (Blues and Royals).
  • The Princess Royal in the Garter mantle.
  • The Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment, wearing the broad riband of a Knight of the Garter.

  • The Princess Royal in the uniform of the Blues and Royals wearing the Garter broad riband.