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Prince William is appointed to the Order of the Garter
23rd April 2008
The Queen has appointed Prince William to be a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
The Order of the Garter is the most senior and the oldest British Order of Chivalry and was founded by Edward III in 1348.
The Order honours those who have held public office, who have contributed in a particular way to national life or who have served the Sovereign personally.
As the patron saint of the Order is St George (patron saint of soldiers and also of England), appointments are always announced on on St George’s Day (23rd April).
A spokesman for Clarence House said: “Prince William is delighted and honoured to have been appointed a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.”
Prince William becomes the 1000th Knight in the Register.
About the Order of the Garter
Members of the Royal family are additional to the established number of 24 Companions. The Duke of Edinburgh was created a Knight in 1947 by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth appointed The Prince of Wales in 1958, The Duke of Kent in 1985, The Princess Royal in 1994, The Duke of Gloucester in 1997 and Princess Alexandra in 2003.
The Duke of York and The Earl of Wessex were both created Knights in 2006.
The appointment of the Knights and Ladies of the Garter is in The Queen’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 Queen’s gift.
Every knight is required to display a banner of his arms in the Chapel, together with a helmet, crest and sword and an enamelled stallplate.
These 'achievements' are taken down on the knight's death and the insignia are returned to the Sovereign. The stallplates remain as a memorial and these now form one of the finest collections of heraldry in the world.
The insignia of the Order have developed over the centuries, starting with a garter and badge depicting St George and the Dragon. A collar was added in the 16th Century, and the star and broad riband in the 17th Century.
The Regalia of the Order consists of the Garter, the Collar and the Robes. The Garter is blue, embroidered in gold with the motto of the Order. It is worn by men below the left knee, and by ladies, above the left elbow.
The Garter Service is held at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle each year.