Today, two of the Queen's sons - Prince Edward and Prince Andrew - have been made Knights of the Garter. The Order of the Garter was established in 1348 by Edward III and are chosen by the Queen without advice from Government ministers. This was the first time all four of the Queen's children - Prince Charles, Prince Edward, Prince Andrew and the Princess Royal - have attended the annual Knights of the Garter service as royal knights, a position recognising their seniority in the royal family.
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The Duke of York takes part in the Order of the Garter installation service at Windsor Castle. He and brother Prince Andrew were officially invested as Knights of the Garter, Britain's highest order of chivalry.
© Getty
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The Duchess of Cornwall was one of those present for the ceremony at St George's Chapel.
© PA
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Prince Edward and Prince Charles during the Procession. The Earl of Wessex had earlier been given the Order's insignia by the Queen in a private ceremony.
© Getty
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Prince Andrew's daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, watch the proceedings. They were joined by their mother, the Duchess of York, on the invitation of Prince Andrew and the Queen.
© Michael Dunlea
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The Queen (still looking strong for her age) during the Garter procession, attended by page boys. It marked the first time all four of her children have attended the annual service.
© Michael Dunlea
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The Queen leaves Windsor after the ceremony, which traditionally takes place on the first Monday after her official birthday.
© PA
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The Princess Royal holds onto her hat as she arrives at St George's Chapel...
© PA
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...but the wind proves too much for her feather, to the amusement of the rest of the Royal Family.
© PA
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Andrew and Edward made Knights of the Garter
19th June 2006
The Duke of York and his brother the Earl of Wessex were made Knights of the Garter by the Queen today.
Andrew and Edward were formally installed to the highest British order of chivalry at a service in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, Berkshire.
Today was the first time all four of the Queen's children have attended the annual Knights of the Garter service as royal knights, a position recognising their seniority in the royal family. Among those attending the service was the Duchess of York, having been invited by her ex-husband and the Queen herself.
It is understood that this was the first time she has been invited to a formal royal fixture, save for the funerals of Diana, Princess of Wales and the Queen Mother, since the break-down of her marriage to Andrew in the 1990s.
A spokeswoman for the duchess said: "She was there to support the Duke of York and her children [Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice]." A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Order of the Garter service is a significant day in the royal calendar and those receiving the award like to invite members of their family and those close to them."
Before today's service, Edward and Andrew were privately given the order's insignia by the Queen, making them Royal Knights Companion. They then joined other Royal Knights and Ladies, and Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter in a procession from the state apartments to the chapel.
Among the non-royal members of the Order attending today were the former prime ministers, John Major and Margaret Thatcher, who was accompanied by her daughter Carol.
The Order of the Garter was established by Edward III in 1348. Its knights are chosen by the Queen without advice from government ministers.
Knights of the Garter are made to honour individuals who have held public office, who have contributed to national life or who have served the Sovereign personally. Andrew and Edward now join their father the Duke of Edinburgh, brother the Prince of Wales and sister the Princess Royal in the Order.
The annual Garter service takes place on the Monday following the Queen's official birthday.
dailymail.co.uk
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The Duke of York takes part in the Order of the Garter installation service at Windsor Castle. He and brother Prince Andrew were officially invested as Knights of the Garter, Britain's highest order of chivalry.
© Getty
----------------------------------
The Duchess of Cornwall was one of those present for the ceremony at St George's Chapel.
© PA
----------------------------------------
Prince Edward and Prince Charles during the Procession. The Earl of Wessex had earlier been given the Order's insignia by the Queen in a private ceremony.
© Getty
---------------------------------------
Prince Andrew's daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, watch the proceedings. They were joined by their mother, the Duchess of York, on the invitation of Prince Andrew and the Queen.
© Michael Dunlea
-----------------------------------------
The Queen (still looking strong for her age) during the Garter procession, attended by page boys. It marked the first time all four of her children have attended the annual service.
© Michael Dunlea
--------------------------------------------
The Queen leaves Windsor after the ceremony, which traditionally takes place on the first Monday after her official birthday.
© PA
------------------------------------------
The Princess Royal holds onto her hat as she arrives at St George's Chapel...
© PA
------------------------------------------
...but the wind proves too much for her feather, to the amusement of the rest of the Royal Family.
© PA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andrew and Edward made Knights of the Garter
19th June 2006
The Duke of York and his brother the Earl of Wessex were made Knights of the Garter by the Queen today.
Andrew and Edward were formally installed to the highest British order of chivalry at a service in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, Berkshire.
Today was the first time all four of the Queen's children have attended the annual Knights of the Garter service as royal knights, a position recognising their seniority in the royal family. Among those attending the service was the Duchess of York, having been invited by her ex-husband and the Queen herself.
It is understood that this was the first time she has been invited to a formal royal fixture, save for the funerals of Diana, Princess of Wales and the Queen Mother, since the break-down of her marriage to Andrew in the 1990s.
A spokeswoman for the duchess said: "She was there to support the Duke of York and her children [Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice]." A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Order of the Garter service is a significant day in the royal calendar and those receiving the award like to invite members of their family and those close to them."
Before today's service, Edward and Andrew were privately given the order's insignia by the Queen, making them Royal Knights Companion. They then joined other Royal Knights and Ladies, and Knights Companion of the Order of the Garter in a procession from the state apartments to the chapel.
Among the non-royal members of the Order attending today were the former prime ministers, John Major and Margaret Thatcher, who was accompanied by her daughter Carol.
The Order of the Garter was established by Edward III in 1348. Its knights are chosen by the Queen without advice from government ministers.
Knights of the Garter are made to honour individuals who have held public office, who have contributed to national life or who have served the Sovereign personally. Andrew and Edward now join their father the Duke of Edinburgh, brother the Prince of Wales and sister the Princess Royal in the Order.
The annual Garter service takes place on the Monday following the Queen's official birthday.
dailymail.co.uk
