The Most Noble Order of the Garter is a British order of chivalry. It is the world's oldest national order of knighthood in continuous existence and the pinnacle of the British honours system (after the Victoria Cross and George Cross). Its membership is extremely limited, consisting of the Sovereign, the Prince of Wales—both being members ex officio and gaining membership upon acceding to one of the titles if not already held—and not more than 24 full members known as Companions. Male members are known as Knights Companion, whilst female members are known as Ladies Companion. The Order can also include supernumerary members (members of the British Royal Family and foreign monarchs), known as "Royal" and "Stranger" Knights and Ladies (Companion), respectively. The Sovereign alone grants membership to the Order, meaning that ministerial advice is not sought.
Name | Year of appointment | Present age | Banner |
---|---|---|---|
The King (ex officio) | 1958 as The Prince of Wales; Sovereign since 2022 | 75 |
Name | Year of appointment | Present age | Banner | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO CD ADC | 1985 | 88 | ||
The Princess Royal KG KT GCVO GCStJ QSO GCL CMM CD ADC | 1994 | 73 | Royal Knight Companion [1] | |
The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO GCStJ SSI | 1997 | 79 | ||
Princess Alexandra, The Hon Lady Ogilvy KG GCVO CD | 2003 | 87 | Royal Knight Companion [1] | |
The Duke of York KG GCVO CD | 2006 | 64 | ||
The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT GCVO CD ADC | 2006 as The Earl of Wessex; The Duke of Edinburgh since 2023 | 60 | ||
The Prince of Wales KG KT GCB PC ADC (ex officio) | 2008 as Prince William of Wales; The Prince of Wales since 2022 | 41 | 1000th Knight of the Garter | |
The Queen LG LT ONZ GCVO GBE CSM CD PC | January 2022 as The Duchess of Cornwall; The Queen since September 2022 | 76 | Royal Lady | |
The Duchess of Gloucester LG GCVO DStJ CD | 2024 | 77 | Royal Lady Companion |
Name | Year of appointment | Present age | Banner | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark LG | 1979 as Queen; abdicated 2024 | 84 | recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain | |
The King of Sweden KG | 1983 | 77 | recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain | |
King Juan Carlos I of Spain KG | 1988 as King; abdicated 2014 | 86 | recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain | |
Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands LG GCVO | 1989 as Queen; abdicated 2013 | 86 | recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain | |
Emperor Akihito of Japan KG GCVO | 1998 as Emperor; abdicated 2019 | 90 | ||
The King of Norway KG GCVO | 2001 | 87 | recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain | |
The King of Spain KG GCVO | 2017 | 56 | [2] | |
The King of the Netherlands KG | 2018 | 57 |
The Most Noble Order of the Garter is a British order of chivalry. It is the world's oldest national order of knighthood in continuous existence and the pinnacle of the British honours system (after the Victoria Cross and George Cross). Its membership is extremely limited, consisting of the Sovereign, the Prince of Wales—both being members ex officio and gaining membership upon acceding to one of the titles if not already held—and not more than 24 full members known as Companions. Male members are known as Knights Companion, whilst female members are known as Ladies Companion. The Order can also include supernumerary members (members of the British Royal Family and foreign monarchs), known as "Royal" and "Stranger" Knights and Ladies (Companion), respectively. The Sovereign alone grants membership to the Order, meaning that ministerial advice is not sought.
Name | Year of appointment | Present age | Banner |
---|---|---|---|
The King (ex officio) | 1958 as The Prince of Wales; Sovereign since 2022 | 75 |
Name | Year of appointment | Present age | Banner | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO CD ADC | 1985 | 88 | ||
The Princess Royal KG KT GCVO GCStJ QSO GCL CMM CD ADC | 1994 | 73 | Royal Knight Companion [1] | |
The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO GCStJ SSI | 1997 | 79 | ||
Princess Alexandra, The Hon Lady Ogilvy KG GCVO CD | 2003 | 87 | Royal Knight Companion [1] | |
The Duke of York KG GCVO CD | 2006 | 64 | ||
The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT GCVO CD ADC | 2006 as The Earl of Wessex; The Duke of Edinburgh since 2023 | 60 | ||
The Prince of Wales KG KT GCB PC ADC (ex officio) | 2008 as Prince William of Wales; The Prince of Wales since 2022 | 41 | 1000th Knight of the Garter | |
The Queen LG LT ONZ GCVO GBE CSM CD PC | January 2022 as The Duchess of Cornwall; The Queen since September 2022 | 76 | Royal Lady | |
The Duchess of Gloucester LG GCVO DStJ CD | 2024 | 77 | Royal Lady Companion |
Name | Year of appointment | Present age | Banner | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark LG | 1979 as Queen; abdicated 2024 | 84 | recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain | |
The King of Sweden KG | 1983 | 77 | recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain | |
King Juan Carlos I of Spain KG | 1988 as King; abdicated 2014 | 86 | recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain | |
Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands LG GCVO | 1989 as Queen; abdicated 2013 | 86 | recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain | |
Emperor Akihito of Japan KG GCVO | 1998 as Emperor; abdicated 2019 | 90 | ||
The King of Norway KG GCVO | 2001 | 87 | recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain | |
The King of Spain KG GCVO | 2017 | 56 | [2] | |
The King of the Netherlands KG | 2018 | 57 |