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| Order of the Garter June 2022 |
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| all 4 photos @Marlene A. Eilers Koenig |
HRH The Duchess of Gloucester set a new precedent for royal wives as she was appointed Royal Lady Companion to the Order of Garter. She is the first royal wife appointed to the Order since 1488 who is not the Consort, wife of the heir to the throne, or a princess of the Blood Royal.
In 1488, Henry VII appointed his mother Margaret Beaufort as a Lady of Garter. She was the last woman to receive the Garter until 1901 when King Edward VII named his wife, Queen Alexandra, Royal Lady Companion. King George V and King George VI named as their consorts to the Order. George VI went one step further in 1947 when he appointed his elder daughter, Princess Elizabeth, to the Order. Elizabeth's fiance, Prince Philip, was also named to the Order. He was the first spouse of the heir to receive the Garter in 1488.
Queen Elizabeth II opened the Most Noble Order of the Garter to non-royal women. In 1990, Lavinia Duchess of Norfolk was named as Lady Companion. Princess Anne was appointed in 1994. She was the first British princess in modern times who was not the heir to the throne to be honored.
The late Queen's first cousin, Princess Alexandra was appointed in 2003, a year after the death of Elizabeth II's sister, Princess Margaret, who did not receive the Order.
The Duchess of Cornwall was appointed to the Order in 2022. She is the first wife of the heir to the throne to receive the Order. The precedent for the spouse of the heir to receive the Order was set by King George VI when he named Prince Philip as a Royal Knight Companion.
In June the Danish-born Duchess of Gloucester will walk with her husband, HRH The Duke of Gloucester, from Windsor Castle to St. George's Chapel.
The Order of the Garter
His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to appoint four new Companions to the Order of the Garter. The Companions are:
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester, GCVO, DStJ, CD, to be a Royal Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
Air Chief Marshal the Lord Peach, GBE, KCB, DL, to be a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
The Right Honourable the Lord Kakkar, KBE, to be a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
The Lord Lloyd-Webber to be a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain. Each year, it is celebrated with a procession and service in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
The appointment of the Knights and Ladies of the Garter is in The King’s gift (i.e. without Prime Ministerial advice). 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 King’s gift.
Today's announcement brings the number of Companions to 21 (out of a maximum of 24).
This year’s Garter Service will take place this Summer at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH
His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to appoint His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, K.G., K.T., A.D.C., to be Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
Previous Great Masters have included: His Majesty The King as The Prince of Wales (1974-2022), His Royal Highness Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1942-1974) and His Royal Highness Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1901-1942).
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath was established by King George I in 1725 although it is believed to originally date back as far as the eighth century. It is awarded to members of the military or civil service for exemplary service.
THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to appoint Her Majesty The Queen to be Grand Master and First or Principal Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
Previous Grand Masters have included: His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1953-2021), Her Majesty Queen Mary (1936-1953) and His Majesty King George VI as The Prince of Wales (1917-1936).
[THE PRINCE OF WALES WAS THE FUTURE EDWARD VIII. HE SERVED AS GRAND MASTER FROM 1917 UNTIL HE BECAME KING. IN MARCH 1936, HE NAMED HIS MOTHER, QUEEN MARY AS GRAND MASTER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. SHE SERVED UNTIL HER DEATH IN MARCH 1953. QUEEN ELIZABETH NAMED THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AS GRAND MASTER IN MAY 1953.
KING GEORGE VI WAS NEVER THE GRAND MASTER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.]
The Order of the British Empire was established by King George V in 1917 to honour a broader cross section of society, both military and civilian.
THE ORDER OF THE COMPANIONS OF HONOUR
His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to appoint Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, GCVO, to be Royal Companion of The Order of the Companions of Honour.
This is a new appointment.
The Order of the Companions of Honour was founded by King George V in 1917 to recognise outstanding achievements in the Arts, Sciences, Medicine and Public Service.
The appointments are effective from 23rd April 2024.
A wonderful innovation honouring the Duchess of Gloucester with the Garter, opening that possibility for the Duchess of Edinburgh in time. Sad that the Duchess of Kent is beyond Honours. After the Princess Royal received the Thistle I thought of it for Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. A little ahead..
ReplyDeletePuzzled by the honour for the Princess of Wales, a lovely gesture but slightly odd.
Such a well-deserved honour for The Duchess of Gloucester! I so admire both Gloucesters for the support they have always quietly given The Crown.
ReplyDeleteMarlene, Is the announcement saying it is Andrew Lloyd Webber, the musical composer, who has been granted Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter? Thanks for clarifying!
ReplyDeleteChristina, Yes it is Andrew Lloyd Webber ... he is Lord Lloyd Webber. He was knighted in 1992 as Sir Andrew LW and received a Life Peerage in 1997. He wrote music for the Coronation
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