List of current knights and ladies of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter is a British order of chivalry. It is the world's oldest national order of knighthood in continuous existence and the pinnacle of the British honours system (after the Victoria Cross and George Cross). Its membership is extremely limited, consisting of the Sovereign, the Prince of Wales—both being members ex officio and gaining membership upon acceding to one of the titles if not already held—and not more than 24 full members known as Companions. Male members are known as Knights Companion, whilst female members are known as Ladies Companion. The Order can also include supernumerary members (members of the British royal family and foreign monarchs), known as "Royal" and "Stranger" Knights and Ladies (Companion), respectively. The Sovereign alone grants membership to the Order, meaning that ministerial advice is not sought.
Sovereign
editName | Year of appointment | Present age | Banner |
---|---|---|---|
The King (ex officio) | 1958 as The Prince of Wales; Sovereign since 2022 | 76 |
Royal Knights and Ladies (Companion)
editName | Year of appointment | Present age | Banner | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Duke of Kent KG, GCMG, GCVO, CD, ADC | 1985 | 89 | ||
The Princess Royal KG, KT, GCVO, GCStJ, QSO, GCL, CMM, CD, ADC | 1994 | 74 | Royal Knight Companion[1] | |
The Duke of Gloucester KG, GCVO, GCStJ, SSI | 1997 | 80 | ||
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy KG, GCVO, CD | 2003 | 87 | Royal Knight Companion[1] | |
The Duke of York KG, GCVO, CD | 2006 | 64 | ||
The Duke of Edinburgh KG, KT, GCVO, CD, ADC | 2006 as The Earl of Wessex; The Duke of Edinburgh since 2023 | 60 | ||
The Prince of Wales KG, KT, GCB, PC, ADC (ex officio) | 2008 as Prince William of Wales; The Prince of Wales since 2022 | 42 | 1000th Knight of the Garter | |
The Queen LG, LT, ONZ, GCVO, GBE, CSM, CD, PC | January 2022 as The Duchess of Cornwall; The Queen since September 2022 | 77 | Royal Lady | |
The Duchess of Gloucester LG, GCVO, DStJ, CD | 2024 | 78 | Royal Lady Companion |
Stranger Knights and Ladies Companion
editName | Year of appointment | Present age | Banner | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark LG | 1979 as Queen; abdicated 2024 | 84 | Recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain | |
The King of Sweden KG | 1983 | 78 | Recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain; also Honorary Admiral in the Royal Navy | |
King Juan Carlos I of Spain KG | 1988 as King; abdicated 2014 | 86 | Recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain | |
Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands LG, GCVO | 1989 as Queen; abdicated 2013 | 86 | Recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain | |
Emperor Akihito of Japan KG, GCVO | 1998 as Emperor; abdicated 2019 | 90 | ||
The King of Norway KG, GCVO | 2001 | 87 | Recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain; also Honorary Colonel in the Royal Marines and Honorary General in the British Army | |
The King of Spain KG, GCVO | 2017 | 56 | ||
The King of the Netherlands KG | 2018 | 57 | ||
The Emperor of Japan KG | 2024 | 64 |
Knights and Ladies Companion
editOfficers
edit- Prelate: Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Winchester (ex officio, 2023)
- Chancellor: The Baroness Manningham-Buller LG, DCB (2024)
- Register:[2] Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Dean of Windsor (ex officio, 2023)
- King of Arms: David White OStJ, Garter Principal King of Arms (ex officio, 2021)
- Secretary: Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave (2024)
- Usher: Sarah Clarke CVO, OBE, Lady Usher of the Black Rod (ex officio, 2018)
See also
edit- List of knights and ladies of the Garter (a list of all the members of the Order since its inception)
- Coats of arms of the current members of the Garter
Notes
edit- ^ The number shown in brackets is the individual's place in the wider order of appointment since the Order's inception.
- ^ Vacant following the death of The Lord Boyce on 6 November 2022.
- ^ Vacant following the death of Sir David Brewer on 28 May 2023.
- ^ Vacant following the death of The Lord Morris of Aberavon on 5 June 2023.
References
edit- ^ a b Addressing the Royal Family - Debrett's at the Wayback Machine (archived 17 February 2017)
- ^ "The Register of the Order of the Garter". The Companion – magazine for the College of St George. No. 21. The Dean and Canons of Windsor. 13 June 2015. p. 12. Retrieved 23 April 2021 – via issuu.com.