Hot on the heels of this year’s Trooping the Color, the royal family steps out for Order of the Garter. It looks like the summer calendar is in full swing.
Order Of The Garter Is The English Order Of Knighthood
The royal family considers The Order of the Garter to be the English Order of Knighthood, and it is the highest British honor. King Edward III created the order in 1348. He danced with the Countess of Salisbury at a court ball at Windsor Castle.
He saw that she had dropped her blue garter, and he immediately bent down to pick it up. When he did, the guests snickered at the implication. His Majesty was furious by his subject’s assumptions, as it could destroy the countess’s reputation.
He stood up, raised the garter in the air, and declared,
“Shame to him who thinks evil of it.”
Legend has it that the King became enamored with the countess after that.
June 17th was the 2024 Order of the Garter. It is a royal tradition, as today, the Order involves the King, who is the Sovereign of the Garter, numerous members of the royal family, and twenty-four chosen knights.
His Majesty selects The Knights of the Garter. He honors those who have held public office, helped their nation in some way, or who have served the King personally.
The patron saint of the Order is St. George, and the Chapel of the Order is St. Geroge’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The knights of the Order are required to display their achievements in the chapel. This includes a coat of arms, sword, crest, and helmet.
Every June, a gathering is held at Windsor Castle to commemorate the Order of the Garter. The Order of the Garter ceremony is held annually since 1948.
The Royal Family Will Determine Engagements On A Case-By-Case Basis
Prince William, King Charles, and Camilla participated in this year’s ceremony. They all wore velvet robes and feathered hats. Princess Anne and Prince Edward also participated in the event.
Unfortunately, Kate Middleton was not in attendance. She did come to Trooping of the Color as she is the colonel-in-chief of the Irish Guards.
Princess Catherine typically attends the Order of the Garter, as the first time she ever came for the ceremony was in 2008 as William’s girlfriend.
Kate has been recovering from her cancer treatment, and there is no date set as to when she will return to her royal duties.
Prince Andrew is not allowed to participate in royal events. However, he came for lunch afterward. Andrew is still permitted to attend family gatherings but not official royal events.
When Charles and Camilla arrived at St. George’s chapel, trumpets played in their honor. The Duke of Kent and the Duchess of Edinburgh were waiting along with everyone else in the chapel. It was quite the turnout.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has set The General Election for July 4th. The royal family’s engagements this summer are impacted by the election, but so far, it’s been full steam ahead.
The royal family will determine engagement participation on a case-by-case basis. The king gave the go-ahead for The Garter Day service.
Visit us again at Daily Soap Dish. Let us know by dropping us a line with your thoughts in our comments section below. Also, don’t forget to come back here for all the latest news on the British Royal Family and your favorite celebrities.
