The British royals present, as tradition dictates, wore ornate ceremonial attire that included heavy blue velvet robes and red sashes, as well as hats topped with large ostrich feathers, for the procession, which many watched from the barrier with picnic lunches.
The Order of the Garter was founded in 1348 by King Edward III as his own version of the mythical King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. It is a select group, whose living members are limited to the monarch, the Prince of Wales, and no more than 24 “escort members”, the gentlemen escorts (men) and the ladies escorts (women), as well as a select number of “escort members”. supernumerary”, known as Royal Knights and Ladies of the Garter.
Sofia of Edinburgh
Kirsty Wigglesworth
This year, the legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Weberwhose works include cats, The Phantom of the Opera and Avoid, among others, has been named a Knight Companion of the Order. Invitations to the Order are granted at the discretion of the monarch. Lord KakkarEmeritus Professor of Surgery at University College London, and Air Chief Marshal Lord Peach They have also been invested as Knights of the Order this afternoon.
Two other investitures have marked history in the almost 700 years of existence of the Order: Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, has been named Royal Lady of the Garter, the first person not of royal blood and not married to the monarch or heir to receive this honor. She is married with prince richardcousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and is a full-time working royal with ties to dozens of charity groups.
The former director general of MI5, Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller, who worked at the intelligence agency for more than 30 years before her retirement in 2007, has also been named Chancellor of the order. Manningham-Buller was created a Dame Companion by Queen Elizabeth in 2014, and is the first woman to be appointed Chancellor. The role has been filled by Duke of Abercorn since 2012, which is now retired. Buckingham Palace said King Charles was “kindly pleased” to offer Manningham-Buller the role.
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