The Monarchy Today > Ceremony and symbol > Ceremonies

The Queen in her Garter robes
© Press Association

GARTER SERVICE

Each year in June a procession and service take place at Windsor Castle for the Order of the Garter.

This is the senior and oldest British Order of Chivalry, founded by Edward III in 1348.

New appointments to the Order of the Garter are usually announced on St George's Day, 23 April, but the chivalric and installation ceremonies take place in June, on the Monday of Royal Ascot week, known as Garter Day.

If there are new Companions of the Order of the Garter, The Queen formally invests them with the insignia at a Chapter of the Order in the Throne Room of Windsor Castle.

Afterwards The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh entertain the members and officers of the Order at a lunch in the Waterloo Chamber.

After lunch the knights process on foot to a service in St George's Chapel, wearing their blue velvet robes and black velvet hats with white plumes.

The processional route is through the Upper, Middle and Lower Wards of the castle to St George's Chapel.

The colourful procession is led by the Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle and the Military Knights of Windsor.

On reaching the chapel there is a short service, at the beginning of which the new Companions (if any) are installed.


	The Queen in her Garter robes © Press Association GARTER SERVICE Each year in June a procession and service take place at Windsor Castle for the Order of the Garter. This is the senior and oldest British Order of Chivalry, founded by Edward III in 1348. New appointments to the Order of the Garter are usually announced on St George's Day, 23 April, but the chivalric and installation ceremonies take place in June, on the Monday of Royal Ascot week, known as Garter Day. If there are new Companions of the Order of the Garter, The Queen formally invests them with the insignia at a Chapter of the Order in the Throne Room of Windsor Castle. Afterwards The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh entertain the members and officers of the Order at a lunch in the Waterloo Chamber. After lunch the knights process on foot to a service in St George's Chapel, wearing their blue velvet robes and black velvet hats with white plumes. The processional route is through the Upper, Middle and Lower Wards of the castle to St George's Chapel. The colourful procession is led by the Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle and the Military Knights of Windsor. On reaching the chapel there is a short service, at the beginning of which the new Companions (if any) are installed.
	The 2008 Garter service will take place on 16 June. A limited number of tickets is available for members of the public to watch the procession to St. George's Chapel from inside the precincts of Windsor Castle. Applications must be sent between 1 January and 1 March each year to The Superintendent, Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1NJ. On emerging from the Great West Door of the Chapel, the Sovereign and the other members of the Order return in carriages and cars to the Upper Ward of the castle. The Queen attends the service along with other members of the Royal Family in the Order, including The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal, The Duke of York, The Earl of Wessex, The Duke of Gloucester, The Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra. The Garter ceremonial dates from 1948, when formal installation was revived by King George VI for the first time since 1805. Order of the Garter Profile of the UK's highest order of chivalry Windsor Castle The Queen's Berkshire residence SUGGESTED LINKS UK Honours System St. George's Chapel, Windsor