Order of the Garter

Most Noble Order of the Garter
Most Noble Order of the Garter ;
	Badge of the Order of the Garter: ; The attributed arms of Saint George circumscribed by the Garter
Awarded by ; the Monarch of the United Kingdom
Type	Dynastic order
Established	1348
Motto	Honi soit qui mal y pense; (Anglo-Norman for 'Shame on him who thinks evil of it')
Criteria	At the monarch's pleasure
Status	Currently constituted
Founder	Edward III
Sovereign	Charles III
Chancellor	The Baroness Manningham-Buller
Prelate	The Bishop of Winchester (ex officio)
Classes	Royal Knight/Lady (Companion); Stranger Knight/Lady Companion; Knight/Lady Companion; (all abbreviated as KG/LG);
Statistics
First induction	1348
Total inductees	Edward III: 62; Richard II: 29; Henry IV: 27; Henry V: 21; Henry VI: 44; Edward IV: 36; Edward V: 0; Richard III: 8; Henry VII: 37; Henry VIII: 53; Edward VI: 13; Mary I & Philip: 9; Elizabeth I: 54; James I: 29; Charles I: 21; Charles II: 47; James II: 7; Mary II & William III: 14; Anne: 14; George I: 21; George II: 32; George III: 75; George IV: 14; William IV: 14; Victoria: 132; Edward VII: 27; George V: 45; Edward VIII: 0; George VI: 31; Elizabeth II: 110; Charles III: 7; Tally: 1,032
Precedence
Next (higher)	George Cross
Next (lower)	Order of the Thistle
	; Ribbon of the Order of the Garter; ;

The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an order of chivalry founded by Edward III of England in 1348. The most senior order of knighthood in the British honours system, it is outranked in precedence only by the decorations of the Victoria Cross and the George Cross. The Order of the Garter is dedicated to the image and arms of Saint George, England's patron saint.

Appointments are at the Sovereign's sole discretion, typically made in recognition of national contribution, service to the Crown, or for distinguished personal service to the Monarch.^[2] Membership of the order is limited to the sovereign, the Prince of Wales, and no more than 24 living members, or Companions. The order also includes Supernumerary Knights and Ladies (e.g., members of the British royal family and foreign monarchs).

The order's emblem is a garter circlet with the motto Honi soit qui mal y pense (Anglo-Norman for "Shame on him who thinks evil of it") in gold script.^[3] Members of the order wear it on ceremonial occasions.

^ Cite error: The named reference SGC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "The Order of the Garter". The Royal Family. 11 November 2015. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
^ Bruges, William (1430–1440). "Stowe MS 594". William Bruges' Garter Book. Archived from the original on 9 January 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2023. Languages: Anglo-Norman

[SGC-1] Cite error: The named reference SGC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[2] "The Order of the Garter". The Royal Family. 11 November 2015. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2016.

[3] Bruges, William (1430–1440). "Stowe MS 594". William Bruges' Garter Book. Archived from the original on 9 January 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2023. Languages: Anglo-Norman

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