Order of the Garter

The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an English order of chivalry with a history stretching back to mediæval times; today it is the world's oldest national order of knighthood in continuous existence and the pinnacle of the British honours system. Its membership is extremely limited, consisting of the Sovereign and not more than twenty-five full members, or Companions. Male members are known as Knights Companions, whilst female members are known as Ladies Companions (not Dames, as in most other British chivalric orders). The Order can also include certain extra members (members of the British Royal Family and foreign monarchs), known as "Supernumerary" Knights and Ladies. The Sovereign alone grants membership of the Order; the Prime Minister does not tender binding advice as to appointments, as he or she does for most other orders.

Current members and officers

• Sovereign: HM The Queen
• Knights and Ladies Companions:
• HRH The Prince of Wales KG KT GCB OM AK QSO PC ADC (1958)
• His Grace The Duke of Grafton KG DL (1976)
• The Rt Hon. The Lord Richardson of Duntisbourne KG MBE TD PC DL (1983)
• The Rt Hon. The Lord Carrington KG GCMG CH MC PC JP DL (1985)
• His Grace The Duke of Wellington KG LVO OBE MC DL (1990)
• Field Marshal The Rt Hon. The Lord Bramall KG GCB OBE MC JP (1990)
• The Rt Hon. The Viscount Ridley KG GCVO TD (1992)
• The Rt Hon. The Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover KG (1992)
• The Rt Hon. The Lord Ashburton KG KCVO DL (1994)
• The Rt Hon. The Lord Kingsdown KG PC (1994)
• The Rt Hon. Sir Ninian Stephen KG AK GCMG GCVO KBE (1994)
• The Rt Hon. The Baroness Thatcher LG OM PC FRS (1995)
• Sir Edmund Hillary KG ONZ KBE (1995)
• Sir Timothy Colman KG JP (1996)
• His Grace The Duke of Abercorn Bt KG (1999)
• Sir William Gladstone of Fasque and Balfour Bt KG DL (1999)
• Field Marshal The Rt Hon. The Lord Inge KG GCB DL (2001)
• Sir Antony Arthur Acland KG GCMG GCVO (2001)
• His Grace The Duke of Westminster KG OBE TD DL (2003)
• The Rt Hon. The Lord Butler of Brockwell KG GCB CVO PC (2003)
• The Rt Hon. The Lord Morris of Aberavon KG PC QC (2003)
• The Rt Hon. Sir John Major KG CH (2005)
• The Rt Hon. The Lord Bingham of Cornhill KG PC (2005)
• The Rt Hon. The Lady Soames LG DBE (2005)
• (one vacancy following the death of The Rt Hon. Sir Edward Heath KG MBE)
• Royal Knights and Ladies (supernumerary knights and ladies descended from George I):
• HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM GBE AC QSO PC (1947)
• HRH The Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO (1985)
• HRH The Princess Royal LG LT GCVO QSO (1994)
• HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO (1997)
• HRH Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy LG GCVO (2003)
• Stranger Knights and Ladies:
• HRH Grand Duke Jean sometime Grand Duke of Luxembourg (1972)
• HM The Queen of Denmark (1979)
• HM The King of Sweden (1983)
• HM The King of Spain (1988)
• HM The Queen of the Netherlands (1989)
• HIM The Emperor of Japan (1998)
• HM The King of Norway (2001)
• Officers:
• Prelate: The Rt Revd Michael Scott-Joynt (Lord Bishop of Winchester)
• Chancellor: The Rt Hon. The Lord Carrington KG GCMG CH MC PC DL
• Registrar: The Rt Revd David Conner (Dean of St George's Chapel, Windsor)
• King of Arms: Peter Llewellyn Gwynn-Jones Esq. CVO (Garter Principal King of Arms)
• Secretary: Patric Dickinson Esq. CVO (Richmond Herald)
• Usher: Lt-Gen. Sir Michael Willcocks KCB (Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod)