The Most Noble Order of the Garter is the highest order of chivalry in England and is awarded by the Sovereign.
The selection process begins with the Sovereign, who selects up to 24 Companions each year. These include members of the Royal Family, foreign Monarchs and occasionally other distinguished individuals.
In choosing a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the Sovereign takes into account not only the individual’s contributions to public service and the nation, but also their moral character and fulfilment of certain criteria.
These include having held a regional or national political office of significant stature, having cultivated international diplomatic relations, having made outstanding contributions to the nation’s culture and society, or even having displayed exemplary gallantry.
Prior to the announcement of appointments, it is customary for the Sovereign to consult the government and once proposed Companions have been approved by the government, the Sovereign formally appoints each Companion.
The Sovereign does not have to consult any authority but typically does so to ensure the proposals are appropriate for the Order.
Who decides Order of the Garter?
The Order of the Garter is the highest order of knighthood in the United Kingdom and its ties run deep in the country’s history and culture. The order is bestowed by Her Majesty The Queen, who is its Sovereign and North Dowager.
The Queen’s decision to bestow the Order of the Garter is made each year in the form of a Royal Warrant.
The Royal Warrant is then passed to the Garter Principal King of Arms to issue the letters patent to the new Knights of the Garter. The Sovereign, who is the only one who can accord the Order of the Garter, makes her decision at the end of March and before the Garter Day, which falls on the Monday after the Royal Ascot Race Meeting.
The Sovereign selects the new companions to The Order of the Garter and they are formally administered by the Chancery.
The Sovereign takes advice from Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Lord Chamberlain and various advisors. The Queen also takes into consideration any candidates that were suggested by the Most Noble Order of the Garter and the knights of the Order of the Garter.
However, it is ultimately the Queen’s decision to decide who will be bestowed with the honour and be accepted as a Knight of the Order of the Garter.
Does Prince Harry have the Order of the Garter?
Yes, Prince Harry is a member of the Order of the Garter, the highest Order of Chivalry in England. He officially became a member on 15 April 2006 and his appointment was announced to the public two days later.
The Order of the Garter is limited to only 24 members, who have to be British subjects, of which the sovereign is the Sovereign of the Order. Prince Harry is the 1000th Knight of the Garter in the order’s 700-year existence, and the first royal to wear this insignia since his uncle, the Earl of Wessex, in 1988.
The Order is also represented in the annual Garter Procession, during which members of the Order process in their velvet mantles and plumed hats from St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle to the hall for a service in their honour.
Can the Order of the Garter be removed?
Yes, the Order of the Garter can technically be removed although it does not happen often. Typically, the Order of the Garter, which was founded in 1348, is considered a lifelong honour which cannot be taken away, as the motto of the Order is ‘Honi soit qui mal y pense’ meaning, ‘Shame upon him who thinks evil of it’.
However, there have been occasions where the Order has been removed from a member due to misconduct. In 1645, King Charles I stripped three members of the Order, who had abused the King’s trust. The decision to remove the Order, however, is left to the discretion of the Monarch and it is a rare occurrence.
Why is Prince Harry not allowed to wear military uniform?
Prince Harry is not allowed to wear any military uniform because he stepped down from his position as a senior member of the Royal Family in March 2020. The decision was taken to enable him and his wife, Meghan Markle, to pursue an independent life away from the spotlight and to allow the couple to make their own financial decisions.
The Queen, Harry’s grandmother, made the decision to revoke his honorary military appointments and he is now no longer allowed to wear any military uniform. This is in line with the Royal Family policy of not allowing anyone who is no longer a full-time working royal to wear military uniform.
Prince Harry served as an officer in the British Army for over ten years, completing two tours of Afghanistan. Despite resigning from his royal duties, Harry still strongly believes in the importance of his service and he continues to advocate for the military, veterans and their families.
In 2021, Harry will launch the Invictus Games, which is an international event to recognize and celebrate the courage and achievements of those serving and ex-service members.
Will Harry inherit anything from the Queen?
No, Harry will not be directly inheriting any of the Queen’s possessions or wealth. According to Buckingham Palace, the British royal family does not have a tradition of leaving inheritances to direct descendants.
As head of the monarchy, the Queen maintains a strict protocol which defines that all of her possessions and wealth go to The Crown upon her death. This also applies to her husband, Prince Philip, as British monarchs are not allowed to leave any of their possessions to their matrimonial partners or their children.
As such, Harry will not inherit anything directly upon his grandmother’s death.
Why can Harry wear uniform to Queens funeral?
Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral was held on April 17th, 2021, and it was a beautiful, private ceremony for her family. The attendees included members of her immediate family, including her son Prince Charles as well as other members of the British Royal Family.
Prince Harry was among the attendees, and as he is a member of the Royal Family, he was allowed to wear the Official Mourning Dress, which included a dark navy military-style suit with a bandolier, ribbon and medals.
This is the same dress uniform he wore when he served in the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, and is the uniform that the Royal Family wear to funerals and other solemn occasions. The dress code for the Queen’s funeral was voluntary and individuals could choose to wear either the Official Mourning Dress or low-key, dark clothing.
Prince Harry wore the Official Mourning Dress to honour the memory of his beloved grandmother, as clothing is an important part of expressing respect in British culture.
What orders does Prince Harry have?
Prince Harry, also known as the Duke of Sussex, is a member of the British royal family. As such, he holds several important titles and honors, including two orders of knighthood. These two orders are the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the highest order of chivalry, and the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the oldest order of chivalry in the United Kingdom.
In addition to these two orders, Prince Harry holds four other orders of knighthood. These include the Royal Victorian Order, which is awarded by the sovereign; the British Empire Order, which is awarded to Overseas Territories citizens; the Order of the Bath, which is awarded to senior military personnel; and the Order of the British Empire, which is awarded for public service.
Prince Harry is also a patron or a member of a number of other charitable organizations. These include Sentebale, a charity he founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to support children and young people affected by HIV and AIDS; the Walk of Britain; and the Invictus Games, a sporting event for wounded, injured, or ill servicemen and women.
Will Harry become a Knight of the Garter?
It is unlikely that Harry will become a Knight of the Garter. The Garter is the highest and oldest order of knighthood in the United Kingdom, and membership is by invitation only. The membership is usually composed of members of the British Royal family and foreign monarchs, and appointments are made at the personal discretion of the monarch.
Although it is possible for members of the public to be honoured with knighthood, such an honour is usually reserved for those with an exemplary record of public service. Given that Harry is not a monarch, it is unlikely that he will be appointed to the order of the Garter in the near future.
How many Knight companions are there?
There are seven Knights Companion of the Order of the British Empire, each of whom serves as a personal aide-de-camp to Her Majesty The Queen. They are selected from a pool of retired military officers and distinguished civilians, who have rendered outstanding service to the country.
These individuals voluntarily and freely offer their service to the Sovereign and country. The seven Knights Companion are Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE, Sir Edmund Epstein KCB OBE, Sir Mark Lyall Grant KCB, Sir John Major KG CH, Sir David Brewer KG and Sir Michael Whitby KCB OBE.
How many members are there in the Order of the Garter?
The Order of the Garter is the highest order of chivalry in the United Kingdom and the oldest British Order of Chivalry, established in 1348. It is a co-founder of the United Nations, and is considered the most prestigious British Order of Chivalry.
The Order of the Garter is composed of the Sovereign, the Prince of Wales and no more than 24 members called Companions. There are currently 25 members of the Order of the Garter.
At the heart of the Order of the Garter is the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the senior-most document of the Order. It is therefore of great significance, historically, culturally and spiritually.
In addition to the Order’s Companions, there is the Chancellor of the Order, along with several officers, such as the Secretary, the Registrar, and the Usher of the Green Rod, who together serve to support the Sovereign in the execution of his or her responsibilities.
The Order of the Garter is known as ‘the fairest order of knighthood of all’, and includes a series of elaborate ceremonies and receptions, held at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, throughout the year.
How many Knights of the Garter are alive?
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry in England, and one of the oldest orders of chivalry in the world. The Order is limited to the Sovereign, the Prince of Wales, and no more than 24 companions, who must remain “of strict honour and integrity” before being invested.
As of 2021, there are currently 19 living Garter Knights. Margaret Thatcher was the most recent addition, having been appointed in 1990. Queen Elizabeth II bestowed five new appointments in 2020: HRH The Prince of Wales, HRH The Duke of Cambridge, HRH The Duke of Sussex, and The Rt Hon Sir Timothy Laurence along with The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover, HRH The Duke of Kent, who was the only member to be invested in a ceremony at Windsor Castle in October 2020.
HRH The Duke of Cambridge was appointed “in recognition of his public and charitable service” on St. George’s Day 2021.
Who are the current knights and Ladies of the Garter?
The current knights and Ladies of the Garter are appointed by the Queen of England and must be British citizens with a proven record of service to the country. The knights of the garter are appointed for having held public office, for contributions in the arts and sciences, for contributions in public or national life, or for service.
It is an honor that is respected across the Commonwealth and has its roots in medieval chivalry.
The current knights and Ladies of the Garter include:
The Prince of Wales
The Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Cambridge
The Duke of York
The Earl of Wessex
The Duke of Kent
The Duke of Gloucester
The Duke of Kent
The Duke of Gloucester
The Duke of Kent
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
The Duke of Roxburghe
Baron Grantham
Baroness Shackleton of Belgravia
The Baroness Manningham-Buller
The Baroness Lockwood
The Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale
The Baroness Harris of Richmond
The Baroness Heyhoe-Flint
The Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne
The Baroness Scotland of Asthal
The Baroness Gideon
Sir Timothy Colman
Sir John Morris of Aberavon
Sir John Major
Sir Richard Luce
Sir Gerald James
Sir John Kerr
The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr. Michael B. Curry
Sir Stuart Blair Peach
Sir Victor Rothschild
Sir Edmund Hillary
Lady Thatcher
Lady Olga Maitland
Lady Mary Peters
Lady Ryder of Warsaw
Lady Duncan-Sandys
Lady Kennedy of the Shaws
Lady Walmsley and
Lady Thatcher of Kesteven.
Who has been stripped of their knighthood?
In Britain, many individuals have lost their titles or had them stripped from them due to a variety of reasons. Often this is as a result of convictions of criminal offenses or offenses against the government, such as treason.
Other reasons could be conduct unbecoming of a knightly title, or bringing disrepute on themselves and the honor of being a knight.
Notable people who have been stripped of their knighthood over the years include former British Prime Minister Anthony Eden, who was stripped of his Knight of the Garter following the Suez Crisis in 1956, Russian spy George Blake, who was stripped of his Order of the British Empire in 1961, and Hollywood actor Hugh Grant, who had his C.B.E.
(Commander of the Order of the British Empire) revoked in 2000 as a result of almost being convicted of assault. Robert Mugabe, the former president of Zimbabwe, had his honorary knighthood revoked in 2008 in reaction to his human rights abuses against the people of Zimbabwe.
In more recent years, even Prince Andrew of York had his knighthood taken away from him in November of 2019 after a scandal involving his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
While there have been many individuals that have been stripped of their knighthood, there are also those who have had their knighthood voluntarily returned. This includes Churchill College founder James Watson, who returned his Order of Merit in 2019 in an open letter in light of his public comments on race equating intelligence.
Is a knight Companion a Sir?
The title of “Sir” is generally associated with the Orders of Chivalry and is awarded to someone who has been knighted by a monarch as part of a recognition of their service to their country, community, or faith.
However, not all knights are awarded the title of “Sir” or are referred to as “Sir” after they have been knighted.
A Knight Companion is a member of one of the Orders of Chivalry created in the United Kingdom during the medieval period. They are usually appointed by the Monarch to the Order of their choice and are usually awarded for their service to the Crown and/or for their dedication to public service.
Knights Companions do not always receive the title of ‘Sir’ when they are appointed. In some instances, a title is bestowed upon them such as ‘KCB’ (Knight Commander of the British Empire) or ‘KBE’ (Knight Bachelor of the British Empire), but this is not always the case.
Therefore, while some knight companions may be awarded the title of ‘Sir’, the majority will not. Those who are not awarded the title of ‘Sir’ are referred to in the same way as any other knight – as ‘Knight Companion’ or ‘Knight Bachelor’.