Spare a thought for the Lifeguards in their heavy metal breast plates, and the guardsmen in the bearskins, lining the route. Behind are Princess Alice,Countess of Athlone, and the Duchess of KentĪ note about the weather. Left to right: The Princess Royal, Princess Margaret Rose, Princess Elizabeth, (later Queen Elizabeth II), The Duchess of Gloucester. Also absent was The Duke of Windsor, the former Edward VIII, who had abdicated the throne just seven months earlier. Time magazine reported that they were wearing pink and that The Duke of Connaught, at age 87, was not able to attend the service, but watched the procession from a car. Below we reproduce a photograph of the two young princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, walking down to the Chapel on June 14 of that year. The marks on the photo, upper centre, show where Annie and her daughter watched the procession!Īfter 1914 there was no Garter Procession or service for 23 years until George VI reinstated the ceremony in 1937. This card was sent by Annie White to her friend or relation, Evaline, and mentions Ted, presumably Annie's husband, and Clara, presumably her daughter. Even in the 1950s and 60s, it was essential to start queuing quite early in the morning, perhaps as early as 8.00am, in order to secure a good viewing position in the Lower Ward, even though the procession to St George's Chapel was not due to pass until the early afternoon. Towards the end of the 20th century thousands of spectators lined the route, totally filling all the lawn areas, yet in those days the crowd was hardly more than than 2-3 deep. The interesting feature is that so few members of the public were present. In this year three Garter Knights were created, Christian X, King of Denmark (1870-1947), William (Lygon), 7th Earl Beauchamp, Lord President of the Council and Albert I, King of the Belgians (1875-1934). In 2002 we came across this photograph of the royal party returning to the Upper Ward following the Garter Service of 1914. Thomas Henry Bingham, The Lord Bingham of Cornhill, PC. The Right Honourable Lord Morris of Aberavon 2003 The Right Honourable Lord Butler of Brockwell 2003 The Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover 1992 HRH The Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg 1972 The new Knights will be invested in a private ceremony in Windsor Castle and then process to St George's Chapel for the Garter Service on Monday 16th June 2008. Today's announcement brings the number of Companion Knights to the maximum number of 24. Appointments to the Order of the Garter are therefore in the same category as the Order of the Thistle, the Order of Merit and the Royal Victorian Order which are also in The Queen's gift. The appointment of the Knights and Ladies of the Garter is in The Queen's gift (i.e. The Duke of York and The Earl of Wessex were both created Knights in 2006. The Duke of Edinburgh was created a Knight in 1947 by King George VI, The Prince of Wales in 1958, The Duke of Kent in 1985, The Princess Royal in 1994, The Duke of Gloucester in 1997 and Princess Alexandra in 2003. Members of the Royal family are additional to the established number of 24 Companions. Sir Thomas Dunne has been Lord-Lieutenant of Hereford since 1977 and Chairman of the Lord Lieutenants Association. Lord Luce was Lord Chamberlain from 2000 to 2006. The Queen also appointed Lord Luce, GCVO, DL and Sir Thomas Dunne, KCVO, to be Garter Knights. Prince William becomes the 1000th Knight in the Register. In 200, t he Queen appointed Prince William as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. Garter Knights and Ladies of the Garter in recent yearsĪnnouncements of the creation of new Garter Knights always takes place on St George's Day, 23rd April. The Sovereign's Escort - The Household Cavalry The Yeoman of the Guard in Procession to St George's Chapel The Queen passes by in the Garter Procession of 1980 Return to the State Apartments in an open Ascot Landau There follows pictures taken as Garter Knights process to St George's Chapel through the Lower Ward at Windsor Castle in 19.Īfter the Garter Service, Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales Members of the Most Noble Order of the Garter are permitted to add KG after their name, or LG, Lady of the Garter. The Most Noble Order of the Garter was founded by Edward III in 1348 and is the most senior British Order of Chivalry and as such quite possibly the oldest order in the world.

Royal order garter