The royal family gathered at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on Monday to celebrate Garter Day. The event was led by King Charles, who was accompanied by his wife, Queen Camilla, and other members of the royal family, including the Princess Royal, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
The royals walked in procession to the Chapel, and after the service, departed by carriages for their return journey to the Castle.
During the service, the Baroness Ashton of Upholland GCMG was installed as a Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, and the Lord Patten of Barnes CH was be installed as a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
The Garter service is a significant event for the royal family, and the Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain. It was established by King Edward III nearly 700 years ago and includes The King, who is Sovereign of the Garter, the Queen, several members of the Royal Family, and 18 Knights or Ladies chosen in recognition of their work.
Knights of the Garter are chosen personally by the Sovereign to honour those who have held public office, who have contributed in a particular way to national life or who have served the Sovereign personally.
The Attendees
The Princess of Wales, 41, and the Duchess of Edinburgh, 58, were pictured chatting and laughing animatedly as they arrived at the service. Kate Middleton looked stunning in a bespoke polka dot dress by Alessandra Rich featuring a high neckline, long sleeves and a cinched-in waist. She completed her look with a statement Philip Treacy hat and Princess Diana’s Collingwood Pearl Drop Earrings. Sophie, meanwhile, looked lovely in a floral A-line dress by Emilia Wickstead adorned with bright, magenta flowers. The Duchess teamed her stunning garment with a pink Jane Taylor headpiece, a clutch bag and pointed heels.
Prince William made history when he was appointed in 2008 as he became the 1,000th Knight of the Garter. Last year, Camilla made her debut at the ceremony as a Royal Lady of the Order of the Garter.
Prince Andrew, who is a Knight of the Garter, attended the lunch but not the ceremony, as he stepped down as a working member of the royal family in November 2019 following his controversial TV interview with BBC Newsnight. In January 2022, the late Queen Elizabeth II stripped Andrew of his honorary military roles.
The late Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin, Princess Alexandra, 86, did not attend Monday’s service “for her comfort”.
Monday also marked a special day for Prince Edward and Sophie, who marked their 24th wedding anniversary. The pair tied the knot at St George’s Chapel in June 1999.
The Duke of Kent, Princess Anne, the Duke of Gloucester, Princess Alexandra and the Duke of Edinburgh are members of the Garter. King Felipe of Spain and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands were both installed as members of the Order at the Garter Day Service in 2019.
The Garter Day service is a significant event for the royal family, and it was led by King Charles at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. The ceremony included the installation of new members of the Order of the Garter. The event was attended by several members of the royal family, including the Princess Royal, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Kate Middleton and Sophie were among the attendees who looked stunning in their outfits. Prince Andrew did not attend the ceremony, and Princess Alexandra did not attend “for her comfort.”
Leave a Reply