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The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an English order of chivalry. It is the world's oldest national order of knighthood in continuous existence and the pinnacle of the British honours system. Its membership is extremely limited, consisting of the Sovereign, the Prince of Wales — both being members ex officio and gaining membership upon acceding to one of the titles — and not more than twenty-four full members, or Companions. Male members are known as Knights Companion, whilst female members are known as Ladies Companion. The Order can also include certain extra members (members of the British Royal Family and foreign monarchs), known as Supernumerary Knights and Ladies. The Sovereign alone grants membership to the Order.

Members ex officio

• HM The Queen (1947) (Sovereign since 1952)
• HRH The Prince of Wales KG KT GCB OM AK QSO CD SOM GCL PC ADC (1958)

Knights and Ladies Companion

1. His Grace The 11th Duke of Grafton KG DL (1976)
2. The Rt Hon. The Lord Carrington KG GCMG CH MC PC JP DL (1985)
3. His Grace The 8th Duke of Wellington KG LVO OBE MC DL (1990)
4. Field Marshal The Rt Hon. The Lord Bramall KG GCB OBE MC JP (1990)
5. The Rt Hon. The 4th Viscount Ridley KG GCVO TD (1992)
6. The Rt Hon. The Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover KG (1992)
7. The Rt Hon. The Lord Ashburton KG KCVO DL (1994)
8. The Rt Hon. The Lord Kingsdown KG PC (1994)
9. The Rt Hon. Sir Ninian Stephen KG AK GCMG GCVO KBE (1994)
10. The Rt Hon. The Baroness Thatcher LG OM PC FRS (1995)
11. Sir Timothy Colman KG JP (1996)
12. His Grace The 5th Duke of Abercorn KG (1999)
13. Sir William Gladstone of Fasque and Balfour, Bt. KG DL (1999)
14. Field Marshal The Rt Hon. The Lord Inge KG GCB DL (2001)
15. Sir Antony Acland KG GCMG GCVO (2001)
16. His Grace The 6th Duke of Westminster KG CB OBE TD DL (2003)
17. The Rt Hon. The Lord Butler of Brockwell KG GCB CVO PC (2003)
18. The Rt Hon. The Lord Morris of Aberavon KG PC QC (2003)
19. The Rt Hon. Sir John Major KG CH PC (2005)
20. The Rt Hon. The Lord Bingham of Cornhill KG PC (2005)
21. The Rt Hon. The Lady Soames LG DBE (2005)
22. The Rt Hon. The Lord Luce KG GCVO PC (2008)
23. Sir Thomas Dunne KG KCVO (2008)
24. Vacant

Royal Knights and Ladies

1. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM GBE AC QSO CD PC (1947)
2. HRH The Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO (1985)
3. HRH The Princess Royal LG LT GCVO QSO GCL CD (1994)
4. HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO (1996)
5. HRH Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy LG GCVO CD (2003)
6. HRH The Duke of York KG KCVO ADC(P) (2006)
7. HRH The Earl of Wessex KG KCVO SOM ADC(P) (2006)
8. HRH Prince William of Wales KG (2008)

Stranger Knights and Ladies

1. HRH The Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg (1972)
2. HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (1979)
3. HM King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (1983)
4. HM King Juan Carlos I of Spain (1983)
5. HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (1989)
6. HIM The Emperor Akihito of Japan (2006)
7. HM King Harald V of Norway (2001)

Officers

• Prelate: The Rt Rev. Michael Scott-Joynt (The Lord Bishop of Winchester)
• Chancellor: The Rt Hon. The Lord Carrington KG GCMG CH MC PC DL
• Registrar: The Hon and Rev. Sir David Conner KCVO - (Dean of St George's Chapel, Windsor)
• Garter Principal King of Arms: Sir Peter Llewellyn Gwynn-Jones KCVO
• Secretary: Patric Laurence Dickinson Esq. LVO (Richmond Herald of Arms in Ordinary)
• Usher: Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Viggers KCB CMG MBE DL (Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod)

See also

• List of Knights and Ladies of the Garter (a list of all the members of the Order since its inception)