Order of the Garter Facts for Kids

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

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

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

Membership in the Order is strictly limited and includes the monarch, the Prince of Wales, not more than 24 companion members, and various other members. The monarch alone can grant membership. He or she is known as the Sovereign of the Garter, and the Prince of Wales is known as a Knight Companion of the Garter.

Knight's of the Order use the post-nominal letters (KG) and Lady's of the Order (LG).

Images for kids

Symbol of the Order of the Garter embroidered onto the left shoulder of the blue velvet mantle of a Knight
Henry of Grosmont, Earl of Lancaster (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 made c.1430 by William Bruges (1375–1450), first Garter King of Arms
Statutes of the Order of the Garter, this copy having once belonged to Emperor Alexander III of Russia
Emperor Taishō in the robes of the Order of the Garter, as a consequence of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902
Henry Pelham-Clinton KG, 2nd Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyme. Portrait by William Hoare in the National Portrait Gallery, London
Officers of the Order of the Garter (left to right): Secretary (barely visible), Black Rod, Garter Principal King of Arms, Register, Prelate, Chancellor
Military Knights of Windsor in the procession to the Garter Service
Mantle and hat of the Order
The garter of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria
The insignia of a knight of the Order of the Garter
Top: A Garter "Star"; middle: A "Great George" (St George on horseback slaying the dragon) pendant from the Collar; bottom: the Garter
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge wearing Garter riband and star
Banners in St George's Chapel of members of the Order of the Garter
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.
Garter Banner of Alexander Baring, 6th Baron Ashburton, now in Winchester Cathedral
Garter Banner of Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos, now in St John the Baptist Church, Hagley
Garter Banner of Lord Wilson of Rievaulx, now at Jesus College Chapel, Oxford
Garter Banner of Henry Manners, 8th Duke of Rutland, now at Belvoir Castle
Garter stall plate of George, 5th Earl Cadogan
The arms of John, Duke of Marlborough, are encircled by both the Garter and the collar.
The arms of John Casimir of the Palatinate-Simmern, encircled by the Garter

Order of the Garter facts for kids

Images for kids

See also