The insignia of the Order has gradually developed over the centuries, starting with a garter and badge depicting St George and the Dragon. A collar was added in the sixteenth century with the star and broad ribbon being added in the seventeenth century.

Each newly appointed Knight, or more recentlylady of the Order is assigned a stall in St George's Chapel Windsor from which their Banner displaying their coat of arms is hung.

Beneath the banner is a Knights helm (helmet) on which is placed the carved and painted representation of the Knights Crown or Crest.....The Crests were thought to have originally been worn on top of the Knights helm (helmet) during pageants and tournaments in the fourteenth century and used as a form of identification.

Some of the totem animals are more familiar to Texans

For almost two centuries each year, usually at St George's - tide in April the Sovereign and Knights of the Garter met at Windsor Castle for a Festival whichlasted for three days. They gathered in Chapter, feasted in St George's Hall and occupied their stalls in St George's Chapel for Matins, the Eucharist, Evensong and Requiem for departed Knights.

From 1674 onwards until 1805 services were held less frequently and during the remainder of the 19th century the life of the Order was restricted to Chapter meetings for investitures and elections normally held in London.

In 1948 His late Majesty King George V1 commanded the Knights of the Garter to once again assemble at Windsor Castle for a Chapter meeting, to Process through the Castle and to have a Service at St George's Chapel. Since that time a Garter Day of this type has been regularly held each June.

The procession taken by the Garter Knights from the Upper ward to the Royal Chapel is a public witness to the long tradition of the Sovereign and the leaders of the nation giving their allegiance and thanksgiving to God for creating, renewing and sustaining the World.

The Queen's Free Chapel of St George in Windsor Castle more commonly known as St George's Chapel was founded in 1475 by King Edward 1V as the chapel for the Order of the Garter and was eventually completed by King Henry V111 50 years later. St George's Chapel shares the distinction along with Westminster Abbey of being not only one of the most revered hallowed Royal shrines of the British Monarchy, but also one of the most beautiful buildings of its kind in the world, the Chapel belongs to the College of St George which is a self governing community of priests andlaymen.

Each Knight of the Garter is allotted a stall (seat) in St George's Chapel Windsor Castle and above it is placed the medieval symbols of chivalry, his banner which was often carried in battle bearing his coat of arms, these arms were also often worn as a tabard over his armour which helped to identify him. On top of the stall is the knights helm (or helmet) on this is placed his crest or in the case of foreign sovereigns the crest is replaced with a crown, which again is used as a form of recognition.

source: http://www.heraldicsculptor.com/Garters.html

Parliament St., London

Duke of Marlborough's Coat of Arms

British Passport

Order of the Thistle

The Order of the Garter is the highest English Order of Chivalry and is one of the most important of all such Orders throughout the world. It is however not the oldest. That is said to be The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of theThistle which goes back (it is alleged) to Alexander III of Scotland in 1249. *

C Wilford Scott Giles M.A. writes:

*The Most Ancient and Noble Order of the Thistle is 200 years older than The Most Ancient and Noble Order of the Garter.

Members dress in a magnificent green mantle with majestic heraldic badges, and the Order has a Green Rod (equivalent to Black Rod) which is carried in procession to St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.

James VII of Scotland and II of England reintroduced the Order in 1687 to reward his Catholic supporters. Strangely - even today - the members of the Order are always Catholics

http://www.churchill-society-london.org.uk/garter.html

THE MOST ANCIENT AND MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE THISTLE

Post-nominal letters: KT

Motto: Nemo me impunelacessit (No one provokes me with impunity)

Insignia of the Order of the Thistle (from top to bottom): Badge, Star, Collar and Badge

The insignia are:

(i) the STAR, consisting of a St Andrew's cross of silver embroidery with rays emanating between the points of the cross; in the centre upon a field of gold, a Thistle of green heightened with gold, and surrounded by a circle of green, having thereon the motto in letters of gold, Nemo me impunelacessit . (It is worn affixed to the left breast.)

(ii) The COLLAR of gold consists of thistles intermingled with sprigs of rue, pendant from the centre the St. Andrew of gold enamelled, with the gown green and the surcoat purple, bearing before him the cross enamelled white, and having round the image rays of gold going out from it in the form of a glory.

(iii) The MANTLE is of green velvet bound with taffeta and tied with cords and tassels of green and gold; on the left shoulder is a representation of the Star of the Order.

(iv) The BADGE (of gold enamelled) has on one side the image of St. Andrew with the cross before, enamelled as above described or cut in stone, and on the back enamelled a Thistle, gold and green, the flower reddish, with the before-mentioned motto round it, the Thistle on an enamelled green ground. (It is worn attached to a dark green ribbon passing over the left shoulder and resting on the right hip.)

(v) The HAT is of black velvet, ornamented with white osprey plumes.

http://www.debretts.co.uk/etiquette/order_of_the_thistle.html

Gawain and the Green Knight: The Orders of the Garter and the Thistle

The Oldest and Highest British Order of Chivalry

The origin of the symbol of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, a blue 'garter' with the motto Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense will probably never be known for certain as the earliest records of the order were destroyed by fire, ....

As the garter was a small strap used as a device to attach pieces of armour, it might have been thought appropriate to use the garter as a symbol of binding together in common brotherhood.

The patron saint of the Order of the Garter is St George and as he is the patron saint of soldiers and also of England, the spiritual home of the order has therefore always been St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

The holders of this Order as a Knights Companion, entitles the recipient the right to use the title "Sir" before their Christian names as well as being entitled to add the letters "K.G." or in the case of a lady Companion "L.G." after their surnames or title.

Each newly appointed Knight, or more recentlylady of the Order is assigned a stall in St George's Chapel Windsor from which their Banner displaying their coat of arms is hung.

Some of the totem animals are more familiar to Texans

In 1948 His late Majesty King George V1 commanded the Knights of the Garter to once again assemble at Windsor Castle for a Chapter meeting, to Process through the Castle and to have a Service at St George's Chapel. Since that time a Garter Day of this type has been regularly held each June.

The procession taken by the Garter Knights from the Upper ward to the Royal Chapel is a public witness to the long tradition of the Sovereign and the leaders of the nation giving their allegiance and thanksgiving to God for creating, renewing and sustaining the World.

Order of the Thistle