Garter Day is a centuries old tradition, that has returned to Windsor Castle for the first time in three years, today, Monday June 13.
The order is the senior and oldest British Order of Chivalry, and it was founded by Edward III in 1348. The order was established at the time to commemorate an incident in which Edward was dancing, when one of his partner’s blue garters dropped to the floor.
Garter Day consists of the annual Order of the Garter ceremony, where the Queen and Knights process in grand velvet robes, with glistening insignia and plumed hats, as well as gold and jewels.
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are shown in an official photo at Windsor Castle ahead of the Order of the Garter procession and service, on June 13, 2022. In past years, the queen would participate in the procession; this year, the first Garter ceremony since 2019, she attended only the private investiture and lunch, due to her mobility issues.
The day sees Queen Elizabeth II lead a procession at Windsor Castle ahead of her Knights.
The grand procession of the knights takes place at Windsor Castle, and is accompanied by a marching band and Officers of the Order, all kitted out in grand ceremonial dress.
Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla walk in the procession to St. George’s Chapel to attend the Most Noble Order of the Garter service, on June 13, 2022. The Order of the Garter, established by Edward III nearly 700 years ago, has a limited number of members, most of them royals, and membership is controlled by Queen Elizabeth II.Â
Prince William and his wife, Duchess Kate of Cambridge, attended the Order of the Garter service on June 13, 2022. The prince was the second-ranking royal who, as a member of the Order of the Garter, walked in the procession of other members and new members to St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair and former leader of the British House of Lords Baroness Amos walked in the procession to St George’s Chapel to attend the Most Noble Order of the Garter ceremony at Windsor Castle on June 13, 2022. Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and the queen’s youngest son, and his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, attended the Order of the Garter service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on June 13, 2022. Like his siblings, Prince Edward is a member of Britain’s oldest and most prestigious order of chivalry.Â
Princess Anne the Princess Royal, only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and a member of the Order of the Garter, arrives for the service at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on June 13, 2022.Â
The service has been honoured every year for 70 years, since.
