Crowds back in Windsor for ancient ceremony

By recent standards, it was a low-key affair, but the spectacle of a procession of Garter Knights wearing lavish blue velvet robes, glistening insignia and plumed hats, nevertheless attracted crowds in their hundreds to Windsor yesterday.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Jun 2018, 17:52 BST
Updated 19th Jun 2018, 15:38 BST
The Queen leaves St George's Chapel, in Windsor Castle, after attending the annual Order of the Garter Service.The Queen leaves St George's Chapel, in Windsor Castle, after attending the annual Order of the Garter Service.
The Queen leaves St George's Chapel, in Windsor Castle, after attending the annual Order of the Garter Service.

The annual Knights of the Garter service, attended by the Queen, took place in the same chapel – St George’s, within Windsor Castle ­– in which Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had married a month ago.

The Garter Day procession is one of the most traditional ceremonies in the Queen’s calendar, and has its origins in the 14th century, when Edward III, inspired by Arthurian legend, set up his own group of honourable knights, which he named the Order of the Garter. It is now the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain, its members chosen personally by the Queen, as Sovereign of the Garter, without any consultation with ministers.

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Recipients are chosen because they have held public office, contributed to national life or served the sovereign personally.

Yesterday’s crowds saw a coterie of Royals, including all four of the Queen’s children, the Dukes of Kent and Gloucester, and Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy.

Other members of the order include the former prime minister Sir John Major, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, a past president of the Supreme Court, and Admiral Lord Boyce, a former head of the UK’s armed forces.

A number of other British and foreign royals are additional knights of the order, including the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince William. Philip, who has effectively retired from official public duties, did not attend.

Related topics:John MajorQueen