List of current knights and ladies of the Garter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Sovereign
| Name | Year of appointment | Present age | Banner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles III (ex officio) | 1958 as Prince of Wales; Sovereign since 2022 | 77 |  |
Royal Knights and Ladies (Companion)
| Name | Year of appointment | Present age | Banner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Edward, Duke of Kent | 1985 | 90 |  | |
| Anne, Princess Royal | 1994 | 75 |  | Royal Knight Companion[1] |
| Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester | 1997 | 81 |  | |
| Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy | 2003 | 89 |  | Royal Knight Companion[1] |
| Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh | 2006 | 62 |  | |
| William, Prince of Wales (ex officio) | 2008; Prince of Wales since 2022 | 43 |  |
1000th Knight of the Garter |
| Queen Camilla | 2022 | 78 |  | Royal Lady |
| Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester | 2024 | 79 |  | Royal Lady Companion |
Stranger Knights and Ladies Companion
| Name | Year of appointment | Present age | Banner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Margrethe II, former queen of Denmark | 1979 | 86 |  | Also recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain |
| Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden | 1983 | 80 |  | Also recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain and Honorary Admiral in the Royal Navy |
| Juan Carlos I, former king of Spain | 1988 | 88 |  | Also recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain |
| Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands | 1989 | 88 |  | Also recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain and Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order |
| Akihito, Emperor Emeritus of Japan | 1998 | 92 |  | Also Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order |
| Harald V, King of Norway | 2001 | 89 |  | Also recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain, Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Honorary General in the British Army and Honorary Colonel in the Royal Marines |
| Felipe VI, King of Spain | 2017 | 58 |  | Also Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order |
| Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands | 2018 | 59 | | |
| Naruhito, Emperor of Japan | 2024 | 66 | |
Knights and Ladies Companion
Officers
- Prelate: Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Winchester (ex officio, 2023)
- Chancellor: Eliza Manningham-Buller, Baroness Manningham-Buller LG, DCB, HonFRS, FMedSci (2024)
- Register:[2] Christopher Cocksworth, Dean of Windsor (ex officio, 2023)
- King of Arms: David White OStJ, Garter Principal King of Arms (ex officio, 2021)
- Secretary: Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave (2024)
- Usher: Lieutenant General Ed Davis CB, CBE, KStJ, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod (ex officio, 2025)
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See also
- List of knights and ladies of the Garter (a list of all the members of the Order since its inception)
Notes
- The number shown in brackets is the individual's place in the wider order of appointment since the Order's inception.
- Vacant following the death of Sir Thomas Dunne on 6 January 2025.
- Stranger Knights and Ladies do not embellish the arms they use in their countries with British decorations.