THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY THE PRESS SECRETARY TO THE QUEEN

The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint His Royal Highness The Duke of York, KCVO, to be a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

The Queen has also been graciously pleased to appoint His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex, KCVO, to be a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

Notes for Editors:

As Members of the Royal family, the appointments of The Duke of York and The Earl of Wessex are additional to the established number of 24 Knights Companions.

The Duke of Edinburgh was created a Royal Knight in 1947, The Prince of Wales in 1958, The Duke of Kent in 1985, The Princess Royal in 1994, The Duke of Gloucester in 1997 and Princess Alexandra was appointed a Lady Companion in 2003.

The appointments of Knights and Ladies of the Garter is in The Queen's Gift (i.e. without Prime Ministerial advice). Appointments to the Garter are therefore in the same category as the Order of the Thistle, the Order of Merit and the Royal Victorian Order, which are also in The Queen's gift.