The Order of the Garter is the oldest chivalric order in Britain, founded in 1348. It includes the British Sovereign, the Prince of Wales, and 24 others. Membership is granted by the sovereign, and members wear certain garments and have the right to use the Order’s insignia. The Order’s name comes from an ornamental garter, and its members’ swords, shields, and crests are returned to the Crown after their death.
The most noble Order of the Garter is the most senior order of chivalry in Great Britain. The Scottish equivalent is the Most Ancient and Noble Order of the Thistle, while the Irish equivalent was the Most Illustrious Order of St. Patrick, until Ireland became a free state. Membership in the Order of the Garter is a great honor and stems from centuries of tradition which dictate the vestments members of the Order may wear, their position in the table of precedence and what honors they may receive.
The Order of the Garter was founded in 1348 by King Edward III. At any one time, members include the British Sovereign, the Prince of Wales, and 24 others, known as knights and ladies-in-waiting. When a member dies, the monarch selects a replacement, ensuring that only 24 members are alive at any one time. Some others, such as foreign royalty, may be made “supernumerary members,” honoring them without fully inducting them into the order.
The insignia of the Order is an ornamental garter, printed with Honi soit quil mal y pense, an old French phrase meaning “shame on those who think badly”. This organization’s name may evoke a pretty lady’s leg, but it is likely related to a medieval device used to fasten pieces of armor tightly together. Several fanciful stories have circulated about the origin of the name; despite featuring beautiful court ladies and romantic notions, these stories are almost certainly myths.
Among British orders of chivalry, the Order of the Garter is somewhat unique in that admission to the order is only granted by the sovereign. In other orders, the sovereign accepts government advice, forging a political link, and while this practice was briefly in vogue for the Order of the Garter, it was eventually abandoned. Therefore, an invitation to join the order is a personal gift from the ruler of England.
Members of the Order of the Garter are entitled to wear certain garments, including pins and ribbons which indicate their membership of the Order. They are also authorized to use the Order’s insignia in their coats of arms and maintain stalls in St George’s Chapel with their arms and enamelled plaques, for the purpose of the Garter Ceremony, held each June. The members’ individual swords, shields and crests are removed after their death and returned to the Crown, while the nameplates remain, creating a colorful record of the Order’s history.
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