Knights of the Garter

Most Noble Order of the Garter
Arms of the Order of the Garter: A cross of St George, circumscribed by the Garter
Awarded by Sovereign of the United Kingdom
Type	Dynastic order
Established	1348
Motto	Middle French: Honi soit qui mal y pense (Shame on him who thinks evil of it)
Awarded for	At the monarch's pleasure
Status	Currently constituted
Founder	Edward III of England
Sovereign	Queen Elizabeth II
Chancellor	James, Duke of Abercorn
Grades	Knight/Lady Royal Knight/Lady Stranger Knight/Lady
Statistics
First induction	1348
Last induction	2016
Total inductees	1,008
Precedence
Next (higher)	Eldest sons of Barons
Next (lower)	Order of the Thistle
Riband of the Order of the Garter

The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry and the third most prestigious honour (inferior only to the Victoria Cross and George Cross) in England and the United Kingdom. It is dedicated to the image and arms of Saint George, England's patron saint.

Appointments are awarded at the Sovereign's pleasure as a personal gift on recipients from the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms. Membership of the Order is limited to the Sovereign, the Prince of Wales, and no more than 24 members, or Companions. The order also includes knights and ladies (e.g. members of the British Royal Family and foreign monarchs).

New appointments to the Order of the Garter are always announced on St George's Day (23 April), as Saint George is the order's patron saint.

The order's emblem is a with the motto Honi soit qui mal y pense (Middle French: "shame on him who thinks evil of it") in gold lettering. Members of the order wear it on ceremonial occasions.

King Edward III founded the Order of the Garter around the time of his claim to the French throne. The year is usually presumed to be 1348; however, the Complete Peerage, under "The Founders of the Order of the Garter", states the order was first instituted on 23 April 1344, listing each founding member as knighted in 1344. The list includes Sir Sanchet D'Abrichecourt, who died on 20 October 1345. Other dates from 1344 to 1351 have also been proposed. The King's wardrobe account shows Garter habits first issued in the autumn of 1348. Also, its original statutes required that each member of the Order already be a knight (what would now be referred to as a knight bachelor) and some of the initial members listed were only knighted that year.