List of current knights and ladies of the Garter

Last updated

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.

Contents

Sovereign

NameYear of appointmentPresent ageBanner
Charles III (ex officio)1958 as Prince of Wales; Sovereign since 202276
Garter Banner of the British Monarch.svg

Royal Knights and Ladies (Companion)

NameYear of appointmentPresent ageBannerNotes
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent 198590
Garter Banner of the Duke of Kent.svg
Anne, Princess Royal 199475
Garter Banner of the Princess Royal.svg
Royal Knight Companion [1]
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester 199781
Garter Banner of the Duke of Gloucester.svg
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy 200388
Garter Banner of Princess Alexandra of the United Kingdom.svg
Royal Knight Companion [1]
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor 200665Andrew originally gave up the use of his membership of the Order on 17 October 2025, but officially remained a member. [2] His banner was then removed from St George's Chapel. [3] It was announced on 30 October 2025 that a formal process to remove Andrew's honours, including his membership of the Order, had been initiated by the King. [4] He will officially continue to be a member of the Order until the formal revocation of his honours.
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh 200661
Garter Banner of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh.svg
William, Prince of Wales (ex officio)2008; Prince of Wales since 202243
Garter Banner of the Prince of Wales.svg
1000th Knight of the Garter
Queen Camilla 202278
Garter Banner of Queen Camilla.svg
Royal Lady
Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester 202479
Garter Banner of Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester.svg
Royal Lady Companion

Stranger Knights and Ladies Companion

NameYear of appointmentPresent ageBannerNotes
Margrethe II, former queen of Denmark197985
Garter Banner of the Danish Monarch.svg
Also recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain
Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden198379
Garter Banner of the Swedish Monarch.svg
Also recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain and Honorary Admiral in the Royal Navy
Juan Carlos I, former king of Spain198887
Garter Banner of King Juan Carlos of Spain.svg
Also recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain
Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands 198987
Garter Banner of Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands.svg
Also recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain and Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Akihito, Emperor Emeritus of Japan199891
Garter Banner of the Japanese Emperor.svg
Also Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Harald V, King of Norway200188
Garter Banner of the Norwegian Monarch.svg
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 Spain201757
Garter Banner of the Spanish Monarch.svg
Also Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands201858
Garter Banner of Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands.svg
Naruhito, Emperor of Japan202465
Garter Banner of the Japanese Emperor.svg

Knights and Ladies Companion

Member number [N 1] NameYear of appointmentPresent ageBannerKnown for
1-(986) James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn 199991
Garter Banner of the 5th Duke of Abercorn.svg
Lord Steward and Lord-Lieutenant of Tyrone
2-(992) Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell 200387
Garter Banner of the Baron Butler Brockwell.svg
Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service
3-(994)Sir John Major 200582
Garter Banner of Sir John Major.svg
Prime Minister
4-(999) Richard Luce, Baron Luce 200889
Garter Banner of the Baron Luce.svg
Lord Chamberlain and Governor of Gibraltar
5-(1002) Nick Phillips, Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers 201187
Garter Banner of the Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers.svg
Lord Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court
6-(1004)Marshal of the Royal Air Force Jock Stirrup, Baron Stirrup201375
Garter Banner of the Baron Stirrup.svg
Chief of the Defence Staff
7-(1005) Eliza Manningham-Buller, Baroness Manningham-Buller201477
Garter Banner of the Baroness Manningham-Buller.svg
Director General of the Security Service
8-(1006) Mervyn King, Baron King of Lothbury 77
Garter Banner of Baron King of Lothbury.svg
Governor of the Bank of England
9-(1007) Charles Kay-Shuttleworth, 5th Baron Shuttleworth 201677
Garter Banner of the 5th Baron Shuttleworth.svg
Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire
10-(1010) Alan Brooke, 3rd Viscount Brookeborough 201873
Garter Banner of the 3rd Viscount Brookeborough.svg
Lord in Waiting to the monarch and Lord-Lieutenant of Fermanagh
11-(1011)Lady Mary Fagan 86
Garter Banner of Lady Mary Fagan.svg
Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire
12-(1013) Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury 201979
Garter Banner of the 7th Marquess of Salisbury.svg
Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire and Leader of the House of Lords
13-(1014) Lady Mary Peters 86
Garter Banner of Lady Mary Peters.svg
Olympic gold medallist and Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast
14-(1015) Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos 202271 United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Leader of the House of Lords and Secretary of State for International Development
15-(1016)Sir Tony Blair 72 Prime Minister
16-(1017) Catherine Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland202369 High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Leader of the House of Lords
17-(1018) Chris Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes81 Governor of Hong Kong, Chairman of the BBC Trust, and Chancellor of the University of Oxford
18-(1019)Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach, Baron Peach202469 Chief of the Defence Staff and Chair of the NATO Military Committee
19-(1020) Ajay Kakkar, Baron Kakkar 61Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission and Chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission
20-(1021) Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber77Composer and impresario of musical theatre
21Vacant [N 2]   
22Vacant [N 3]   
23Vacant [N 4]   
24Vacant [N 5]   

Officers

Armorial

Coats of arms of current Knights and Ladies of the Garter
Sovereign
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (2022).svg
Arms of Charles III
Royal Knights and Ladies (Companion)
Coat of Arms of Edward, Duke of Kent.svg Coat of Arms of Anne, the Princess Royal.svg Coat of Arms of Richard, Duke of Gloucester.svg
Arms of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent Arms of Anne, Princess Royal Arms of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
Coat of Arms of Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy.svg Coat of Arms of Andrew, Duke of York.svg Coat of Arms of Edward, Earl of Wessex.svg
Arms of Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy Arms of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor Arms of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh
Coat of arms of the Prince of Wales.svg Coat of arms of Queen Camilla.svg Coat of Arms of Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester (Order of the Garter).svg
Arms of William, Prince of Wales Arms of Queen Camilla Arms of Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester
Stranger Knights and Ladies Companion
Coat of Arms of the Monarch of Denmark (Member of the Garter Variant).svg Coat of arms of Swedish Monarch (Member of the Garter variant).svg Coat of Arms of Juan Carlos I of Spain (Member of the Garter Variant).svg
Arms of Margrethe II, former queen of Denmark [a] Arms of Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden [a] Arms of Juan Carlos I, former king of Spain [a]
Coat of Arms of Beatrix of the Netherlands (Dame of the Garter Variant).svg Coat of Arms of Japanese Emperor (Knight of the Garter Variant).svg Coat of Arms of the Monarch of Norway (Member of Garter Variant).svg
Arms of Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands [a] Arms of Akihito, former emperor of Japan [a] Arms of Harald V, King of Norway [a]
Coat of Arms of Felipe VI of Spain (Member of the Garter Variant).svg Coat of Arms of the Monarch of the Netherlands as a Stranger Member of the Order of the Garter.svg Coat of Arms of Japanese Emperor (Knight of the Garter Variant).svg
Arms of Felipe VI King of Spain [a] Arms of Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands [a] Arms of Naruhito, Emperor of Japan
Knights and Ladies Companion
Arms of James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn.svg Coat of Arms of Robin, Baron Butler Brockwell.svg Coat of Arms of John Major.svg
Arms of James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn Arms of Robin Butler, Baron Butler Arms of Sir John Major
Coat of Arms of Richard, Baron Luce.svg Coat of Arms of Nicholas, Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers.svg Coat of Arms of Jock, Baron Stirrup.svg
Arms of Richard Luce, Baron Luce Arms of Nick Phillips, Baron Phillips Arms of Jock Stirrup, Baron Stirrup
Coat of Arms of Eliza, Baroness Manningham-Buller.svg Coat of Arms of Mervyn, Baron King of Lothbury.svg Coat of Arms of Charles Geoffrey Nicholas, Baron Shuttleworth.svg
Arms of Eliza Manningham-Buller, Baroness Manningham-BullerArms of Mervyn King, Baron King of Lothbury Arms of Charles Kay-Shuttleworth, 5th Baron Shuttleworth
Coat of Arms of Lady Mary Fagan.svg Coat of Arms of Alan Brooke, 3rd Viscount Brookeborough.svg Coat of Arms of Lady Mary Peters.svg
Arms of Lady Mary Fagan Arms of Alan Brooke, 3rd Viscount Brookeborough Arms of Lady Mary Peters
Coat of Arms of Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury.svg Coat of Arms of Valerie Ann Amos, Baroness Amos, LG, CH, PC (cropped).png Coat of arms of Sir Tony Blair.svg
Arms of Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury Arms of Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos Arms of Sir Tony Blair
Coat of Arms of Catherine Margaret Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, LG, GCMG, PC.png Coat of Arms of Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, KG, CH, PC.svg Coat of arms of Air Chief Marshal Stuart William Peach, Baron Peach, KG, GBE, KCB, DL.png
Arms of Catherine Ashton, Baroness AshtonArms of Chris Patten, Baron PattenArms of Stuart Peach, Baron Peach
Ajay Kakkar Coat of Arms.svg Coat of arms of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber, KG.svg Order of the Garter in Heraldry.svg
Arms of Ajay Kakkar, Baron Kakkar Arms of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-WebberVacant
Order of the Garter in Heraldry.svg Order of the Garter in Heraldry.svg Order of the Garter in Heraldry.svg
VacantVacantVacant

See also

Notes

  1. The number shown in brackets is the individual's place in the wider order of appointment since the Order's inception.
  2. Vacant following the death of Michael Boyce, Baron Boyce on 6 November 2022.
  3. Vacant following the death of Sir David Brewer on 28 May 2023.
  4. Vacant following the death of John Morris, Baron Morris of Aberavon on 5 June 2023.
  5. Vacant following the death of Sir Thomas Dunne on 6 January 2025.
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Stranger Knights and Ladies do not embellish the arms they use in their countries with British decorations.

References

  1. 1 2 Addressing the Royal Family - Debrett's at the Wayback Machine (archived 17 February 2017)
  2. Rawlinson, Kevin (18 October 2025). "Why Prince Andrew is giving up his titles now – and what it means for the royal family". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  3. Armstrong, Kathryn (24 October 2025). "Prince Andrew's banner removed from chapel at Windsor Castle". BBC News . Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  4. "Prince Andrew stripped of 'prince' title and will move out of Royal Lodge". BBC News. 30 October 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  5. "The Register of the Order of the Garter". The Companion – magazine for the College of St George. No. 21. The Dean and Canons of Windsor. 13 June 2015. p. 12. Retrieved 23 April 2021 via issuu.com.