Beaming Kate joins royals arriving for historic Order of the Garter procession as thousands of fans line the route outside Windsor Castle – but Prince Andrew is excluded for second year in a row
- The Princess of Wales was the first Royal seen at the big Royal event today
- King Edward III set up the Order of the Garter inspired by tales of King Arthur
The historic Order of the Garter procession has begun with Kate the first to arrive at in St George’s Chapel today – with Prince Andrew absent for a second year in a row.
She was joined by Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh for the historic ceremony, which is well-known for its breathtaking pagentry.
The Order of the Garter is a 700-year-old tradition which recognises great public service.
The Duke of York’s exclusion signals King Charles’ stance towards his embattled brother – banned from many royal events since stepping back as a working royal in 2019.
Andrew, who is the third child of the late Queen Elizabeth II, is said to be embroiled in a fight over his £30million Windsor home, Royal Lodge, with his elder brother.
The home has been earmarked for the Prince and Princess of Wales, reports say, leaving Buckingham Palace aides desperate to shift Prince Andrew, despite 55 years remaining on his lease.
Last minute interventions by the now King and Prince of Wales prohibited the errant royal from participating in last year’s ceremony – although his name was already printed in the order of service alongside that of Prince Edward.
Kate dazzled in a white and black spotted dress teamed with peal earrings and ornate headpiece
Catherine, Princess of Wales and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh react as they arrive at St George’s Chapel
Catherine, Princess of Wales waves as she arrives at St George’s Chapel to attend the Most Noble Order of the Garter Ceremony in Windsor Castle
The Band of the Household Cavalry play as well-wishers look at ahead of the Order Of The Garter Service at Windsor Castle on June 19, 2023 in Windsor
The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain. Knights of the Garter are chosen personally by the Sovereign to honour those who have held public office, contributed in a particular way to national life or who have served the Sovereign personally
During the service, the Baroness Ashton of Upholland GCMG will be installed as a Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and the Lord Patten of Barnes CH will be installed as a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, which is the oldest British order of chivalry and the oldest national order of knighthood in existence, is limited to 24 Knights or Ladies Companion in addition to the King and Prince of Wales.
It also includes ‘supernumerary members’, including foreign monarchs and other royals, such as Prince Andrew.
In celebration of the first parade of the King’s reign, Queen Camilla has been made a Royal Knight of the Order of the Thistle, Scotland’s greatest order of chivalry, joining the Princess Royal and Princess of Wales, who also hold the honour.
Wellwishers gather ahead of the annual Order of the Garter Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, Berkshire
The Band of the Household Cavalry play as well-wishers look at ahead of the Order Of The Garter Service at Windsor Castle
In medieval times, King Edward III was so inspired by tales of King Arthur and the chivalry of the Knights of the Round Table that he set up his own group of honourable knights, called the Order of the Garter.
Prince Andrew is expected to be present at the investiture at Windsor Castle and at a lunch held in the Waterloo Chamber afterwards but will not be photographed with the rest of the family.
Sources told The Telegraph he had not expected a U-turn from the royals on his participation in formal events such as the Garter parade.
It is a further example of the coolness of relations between the Duke of York and his extended family, despite signs that he had been welcomed back to the royal fold.
He appeared with the rest of the family for their Sandringham church trip on Christmas Day and was also seen in Windsor on Easter Sunday.
The prince is facing renewed questions about his relationship with serial sexual abuser and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after emails emerged suggesting he ‘lied’ in his bombshell BBC interview with Emily Maitlis.
A message written by the late billionaire paedophile and released as part of a court case in the US shows he was presenting Andrew, 63, as a potential investor in 2011, despite the royal claiming to have ended all contact in 2010.
What is the Order of the Garter? How King Edward III was so inspired by tales of King Arthur he set up his own group of knights almost 700 years ago
In medieval times, King Edward III was so inspired by tales of King Arthur and the chivalry of the Knights of the Round Table that he set up his own group of honourable knights, called the Order of the Garter.
Nearly 700 years later, the Order is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain. The Knights, now both male and female, used to be limited to aristocracy, but today they are chosen from a variety of backgrounds, in recognition for their public service.
The patron saint of the Order is St George (patron saint of soldiers and also of England) and if there are vacancies in the Order, appointments are announced on St George’s Day (23 April).
The Order of the Garter is a 700-year-old tradition which recognises great public service. Membership is limited to a maximum of 24 and is usually Lords and Ladies with The Queen, left in 2018, naming members as she sees fit. An ‘extra’ group of members who do not count towards the official limit are Royal Knights, including Prince William, while Prince Charles is an automatic member as first in line to the throne
The spiritual home of the Order is St George’s Chapel, Windsor. 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.
Knights of the Garter are chosen personally by the Sovereign to honour those who have held public office, who have contributed in a particular way to national life or who have served the Sovereign personally.
As sovereign and heir, The Queen and Prince Charles are automatically given membership of the Order and are considered ‘ex officio knights’. The Prince of Wales is known as a Royal Knight Companion of the Garter.
The sovereign, known as the Sovereign of the Garter, is the only one with the power to admit new members.
The Garter is open to British and Commonwealth citizens. Notable former members include Sir Winston Churchill, Stanley Baldwin and Sir Edmund Hillary.
Field Marshall, the Lord Bramall, a former Chief of the Defence Staff, the Duke of Abercorn, the Duke of Westminster and Baroness Manningham-Buller, the former Director-General of MI5, are among the current Knights and Ladies of the Garter.
There are also two orders of ‘extra’ knights. Members of the Royal Knights and Ladies include Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince Charles, the Princess Royal and Prince William.
A second order, the Stranger Knights and Ladies, is bestowed on foreign rulers such as Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Harald V of Norway.
Although new additions are named on St. George’s Day, the 23 April, the initiation ceremony takes place in Junmantle during the traditional Garter Procession, which sees members parade through Windsor.
The annual iconic Garter Day procession, where The Queen and the Knights process in grand velvet robes, glistening insignia and plumed hats, is one of the most traditional ceremonies in the Queen’s calendar.
Every June, a grand procession of the knights takes place at Windsor Castle, accompanied by a marching band and Officers of the Order, all in grand ceremonial dress.
The day begins with The Queen formally investing any new Companions with the Order’s insignia in the Throne Room of the Castle. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh entertain the members and officers at a lunch, and then all process on foot to a service in St. George’s Chapel.
There is a short service where any new Companions are installed. The Sovereign and other members of the Order then return to the Upper Ward of the castle in carriages and cars.
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