Order of the Garter facts for kids
The Most Noble Order of the Garter is a very old and special group of knights and ladies in the United Kingdom. It was started by King Edward III in 1348. This Order is the most important group of knights in the British honours system. Only the Victoria Cross and the George Cross are considered more important awards. The Order of the Garter is dedicated to Saint George, who is England's patron saint.
The King or Queen of the UK chooses who can join this Order. They usually pick people who have done great things for the country, helped the Royal Family, or served the Monarch in a special way. The Order has a limited number of members: the King or Queen, the Prince of Wales, and up to 24 other living members called Companions. There are also "Supernumerary" members, like other members of the British royal family and kings and queens from other countries.
The symbol of the Order is a garter (a band worn around the leg) with a special saying on it: Honi soit qui mal y pense. This is an old French saying that means 'Shame on him who thinks evil of it'. Members wear this garter during special ceremonies.
Quick facts for kids Most Noble Order of the Garter |
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Badge of the Order of the Garter:
The attributed arms of Saint George circumscribed by the Garter |
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| Awarded by the Monarch of the United Kingdom |
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| Type | Dynastic order |
| Established | 1348 |
| Motto | Honi soit qui mal y pense (Anglo-Norman for 'Shame on him who thinks evil of it') |
| Criteria | at His Majesty's pleasure |
| Status | Currently constituted |
| Founder | Edward III |
| Sovereign | Charles III |
| Chancellor | The Duke of Abercorn |
| Prelate | The Bishop of Winchester (ex officio) |
| Classes |
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| Statistics | |
| First induction | 1348 |
| Total inductees |
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| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | George Cross |
| Next (lower) | Order of the Thistle |
 Ribbon of the Order of the Garter |
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Contents
History of the Garter Order
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King Edward III started the Order of the Garter around the time he claimed the throne of France. The Order was officially announced in 1348. However, some records suggest it might have begun a bit earlier, in 1344. The King's records show that the special Garter clothes were first given out in late 1348.
The Order was probably inspired by a similar group in Spain called the Order of the Band, which started around 1330.
First Knights of the Garter
When the Order began, it included King Edward III and 25 other knights. These knights are known as the "Founder Knights." Their names are listed in a special order in St George's Chapel.
Here are the names of the first 25 Founder Knights:
- King Edward III (1312–77)
- Edward, the Black Prince, Prince of Wales (1330–76)
- Henry of Grosmont, 4th Earl of Lancaster (c. 1310–61)
- Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick (1313-69)
- 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, 2nd Baron Lisle (1318–55)
- Bartholomew, 2nd Baron Burghersh (c. 1329-69)
- John, 1st Baron Beauchamp (d. 1360)
- John, 2nd Baron Mohun (c. 1320–76)
- Sir Hugh de Courtenay (1327-1349)
- Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent (1314–60)
- John, 1st Baron Grey de Rotherfield (1300–59)
- Sir Richard Fitz-Simon (1295-1348/49)
- Sir Miles Stapleton (c. 1320-64)
- Sir Thomas Wale (1303-52)
- Sir Hugh Wrottesley (d. 1381)
- Sir Nele Loring (1320-86)
- Sir John Chandos (c. 1320-69)
- Sir James Audley (c. 1318-69)
- Sir Otho Holand (c. 1316-59)
- Sir Henry Eam (d. before 1360)
- Sir Sanchet d'Abrichecourt (c. 1330-59)
- Sir Walter Paveley (1319-75)
All these knights are shown in special pictures in the Bruges Garter Book, which was made around 1431.
Stories About the Order's Start
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There are many stories about how the Order of the Garter began. One popular legend says that King Richard I (also known as Richard the Lionheart) was inspired during the Crusades in the 12th century. He supposedly tied garters around his knights' legs, and they won a battle. King Edward III then remembered this story when he created the Order.
Another story, which is more likely, says that the motto refers to King Edward's claim to the French throne. The Order of the Garter was created to help him with this claim. The garter itself might have come from straps used to hold armor. It could also have been chosen to represent a strong "band" or "bond" of knights supporting Edward's goals.
Ladies of the Garter
Soon after the Order was founded, women were also included as "Ladies of the Garter." However, King Henry VII stopped this practice in 1488. His mother, Margaret Beaufort, was the last Lady of the Garter for a long time.
Later, only female rulers were part of the Order. Then, King Edward VII made his wife, Queen Alexandra, a Lady of the Garter. Other Kings also made their wives Ladies of the Garter. But for many years, other women were not made Companions, unless they were foreign queens.
In 1987, Queen Elizabeth II changed the rules. This made it possible for women to become "Ladies Companion of the Garter" again. In 2022, Valerie, Baroness Amos, became the first black lady companion member of the Order.
Who Can Join the Order?
Membership in the Order is very limited. It includes the Monarch, the Prince of Wales, and no more than 24 other members called "Companions." The Monarch alone decides who gets to join. The King or Queen is known as the Sovereign of the Garter, and the Prince of Wales is a Royal Knight Companion.
Male members are called "Knights Companion," and female members are "Ladies Companion." In the past, members would suggest new candidates, but since 1953, the Monarch chooses new members without any suggestions from others.
Since 1946, the Monarch has personally chosen the Knights and Ladies Companion of the Garter. This means that politicians do not influence these choices. New appointments are usually announced on Saint George's Day (April 23).
Special Members: Supernumerary Knights and Ladies
The Order also has "supernumerary" members. These members do not count towards the limit of 24 companions. Many of these are "Royal Knights and Ladies of the Garter," who are members of the British royal family. King George III created these special titles in 1786. He wanted his many sons to be able to join without taking up spots from non-royal members.
Foreign kings and queens can also become supernumerary members. They are called "Stranger Knights and Ladies of the Garter." This was first done in 1813 for Emperor Alexander I of Russia.
Removing Members from the Order
The Monarch can remove members from the Order if they have acted against the Crown. In the past, there was a special ceremony for this. The heralds (officers who deal with coats of arms) would go to St George's Chapel. They would remove the former Knight's banner, crest, helmet, and sword, throwing them into the chapel's choir. Then, they would kick them out of the chapel and into the castle ditch. The last time this formal ceremony happened was in 1716.
During the First World War, several foreign monarchs and princes from enemy countries, like Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, were removed from the Order in 1915. The banner of Emperor Hirohito of Japan was removed during World War II. However, his knighthood and banner were given back by Elizabeth II in 1971 when he visited the UK.
Officers of the Order
The Order has six officers who help run it:
- The Prelate is always the Bishop of Winchester.
- The Chancellor is now one of the Order's members.
- The Register has been the Dean of Windsor since 1558.
- The Garter Principal King of Arms is the main officer for heraldry (coats of arms) in England. He makes sure the members' coats of arms and banners are displayed in the chapel.
- The Usher is also known as the Usher of the Black Rod.
- The Secretary helps the Garter Principal King of Arms.
These officers have special robes and badges for ceremonies.
Military Knights of Windsor
When the Order of the Garter was founded, 26 "poor knights" were also appointed. They were linked to the Order and its chapel. These knights were military veterans who had little money. They were supposed to pray daily for the Knights Companion. In return, they received a salary and a place to live in Windsor Castle.
Today, these knights are called the Military Knights of Windsor. They are no longer necessarily poor, but they are still retired military officers. They take part in the Order's processions and chapel services, but they are not considered full members of the Order.
Special Clothes and Symbols
What Members Wear
For special events like the annual Garter Day, members wear very fancy clothes and symbols:
- The mantle is a long robe made of dark blue velvet, lined with white silk. The Monarch's mantle and those of the Prince of Wales and Royal Knights and Ladies have long trains. A special shield with St George's Cross and the Garter is sewn onto the left shoulder.
- The hat is a black velvet cap with white ostrich and black heron feathers.
- The collar is worn around the neck over the mantle. It is made of gold and has gold knots mixed with medallions showing a rose inside the Garter.
- The Great George hangs from the collar. It is a colorful figure of St George on horseback fighting a dragon.
- The Garter is worn around the left calf by knights and around the left arm by ladies. It is a dark-blue velvet strap with the motto in gold letters.
Everyday Symbols
On other occasions, members wear simpler symbols:
- The collar can be worn over military uniform or formal clothes on certain days.
- The star is pinned to the left side of the chest. It's a silver badge with eight points, showing St George's Cross inside the Garter.
- The riband is a wide blue sash worn over the left shoulder to the right hip. Its color is "kingfisher blue."
- The badge is a smaller, flatter gold version of the Great George, also showing St George fighting the dragon. It's worn hanging from the riband.
When a member dies, their Lesser George badge and breast star are returned to the Monarch.
The Chapel of the Order
St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle is the main church for the Order of the Garter. Special services for the Order are held there.
While they are alive, all members of the Order can display their special banners and coats of arms in St George's Chapel. After a knight or lady dies, their banners and crests are removed from the chapel. However, small brass plates called "Garter stall plates" stay in the chapel forever as memorials.
Joining the Order
Every June, on Garter Day, members of the Order meet at Windsor Castle. If new Knights or Ladies are joining, a special ceremony called an "investiture" happens in the Throne Room. All available members attend, wearing their ceremonial clothes. During this ceremony, the new members take an oath. Senior members help the Monarch place the garter and other symbols on the new Knight or Lady.
After the ceremony, there's a special lunch. Then, all the knights, ladies, and officers walk in a procession through the castle to St George's Chapel for a worship service. This is where the new members are formally installed.
The formal installation ceremony at St George's Chapel stopped in 1805 but was brought back in 1948 for the Order's 600th anniversary.
Special Benefits
Members of the Order of the Garter have a very high rank in the order of precedence. This means they come before almost everyone else with a knightly title. The wives, sons, daughters, and daughters-in-law of Knights Companion also get a higher rank.
Knights Companion use "Sir" before their first name, and Ladies Companion use "Lady". For example, Sir John or Lady Mary. Wives of Knights Companion can use "Lady" before their husband's last name.
Members also use special letters after their names: "KG" for Knights Companion and "LG" for Ladies Companion. These letters come before almost all other honors.
In their heraldic achievements (their coats of arms), members can draw the Garter around their shield. Knights and Ladies Companion are also allowed to have "supporters" (figures on either side of their shield) in their coat of arms. This is a special privilege given to very few people.
Images for kids
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Garter banner of Alexander Baring, 6th Baron Ashburton, now in Winchester Cathedral
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Garter banner of Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos, now in St John the Baptist Church, Hagley
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Garter banner of Lord Wilson of Rievaulx, now at Jesus College Chapel, Oxford
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Garter banner of Henry Manners, 8th Duke of Rutland, now at Belvoir Castle
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Arms of Philip, Prince of Asturias at his investiture, encircled by the Garter (in 1554)
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Garter stall plate of George, 5th Earl Cadogan
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The arms of John, Duke of Marlborough, are encircled by both the Garter and the collar.
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The arms of John Casimir of the Palatinate-Simmern, encircled by the Garter
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See also
In Spanish: Orden de la Jarretera para niños
- List of current knights and ladies of the Garter
- List of knights and ladies of the Garter
