Order of the Garter

The Order of the Garter is the United Kingdom’s oldest and most senior order of chivalry. Founded by Edward III in the fourteenth century, it recognizes a small fellowship chosen by the sovereign.

Edward III: Edward III was king of England from 1327 to 1377, a central figure in the Hundred Years’ War. He founded the Garter order amid efforts to strengthen royal prestige and chivalric culture.
Sovereign of the Order of the Garter: The Sovereign of the Order of the Garter is the reigning British monarch, who heads the order and appoints its members. Royal authority defines membership and directs the order’s ceremonies.
Elizabeth II: Elizabeth II was queen of the United Kingdom from 1952 until her death in 2022. Her reign included decades of appointments and annual observances as Sovereign of the order.
Honi soit qui mal y pense: “Honi soit qui mal y pense” is a Middle French phrase meaning roughly “Shame on him who thinks evil of it.” The phrase is the order’s motto and appears on its blue garter insignia.
Hundred Years’ War: The Hundred Years’ War was a series of conflicts between England and France from 1337 to 1453. The order’s foundation belongs to the military and dynastic world of this conflict.
Companion of the Order of the Garter: A Companion of the Order of the Garter is an appointed member of the order, with membership limited to a small number. Companions form the order’s central fellowship alongside its royal and ex officio members.
Charles III: Charles III has been king of the United Kingdom since 2022. As monarch, he is the order’s current Sovereign and appointing authority.
St George: Saint George is a Christian martyr venerated as the patron saint of England. His patronage links the order’s identity to England’s national saint.
St George’s Chapel, Windsor: St George’s Chapel is a Gothic chapel within Windsor Castle, begun under Edward IV and completed in the sixteenth century. It became the order’s spiritual home and the setting for its principal annual service.
Order of the Garter insignia: The Order of the Garter insignia includes a blue garter, star, collar, and badge worn according to formal rules. Its regalia identifies members and embodies the order’s heraldic traditions.

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