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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, however the story goes that at a Ball possibly held at Calais, Joan Countess of Salisbury dropped her garter and King Edward seeing her embarrassment picked it up and bound it about his own leg saying in French, Evil, (or shamed) be he that that thinks evil of it' this is almost certainly a later fiction. This fable appears to have originated in France and was, perhaps, invented to try and bring discredit on the Order. There is a natural unwillingness to believe that the World's foremost Order of Chivalry had so frivolous a beginning.

It is thought more likely that 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.  Whilst the motto probably refers to the leading political topic of the 1340's, Edward's claim to the throne of France. 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.

 

 

HM the Queen during the Order of the Garter Procession outside St George's Chapel Windsor Castle

 

 

The Order of the Garter Star

King George III's diamond Star made in around 1800, is worn on the left breast, it had a 13-stone ruby cross centre 

set amongst diamonds in gold, encircled by the Garter in blue enamel.

 

The Order of the Garter , its History and Ceremony : -

Knights of the Garter :-

Windsor Castle :-

St George's Chapel Windsor :-

The Procession and Service at St George's Chapel :-

Ladies of the Order :-

The Garter Knights Crowns, Crests, Coronets and Banners :- 

 

The Order of the Garter, Its History and Ceremony

 

The Most Noble Order of the Garter is one of the oldest and most important of all such Orders throughout the world, with the concept of like minded brotherhood dedicated to service and chivalry, these core principals having survived intact and are as relevant today as at its conception over 650 years ago. With almost a thousand appointments of royalty, soldiers, statesmen, favourites, magnates, and a few traitors having been made since 1348. 

It was during the 11th and 12th centuries within the warrior-classes the idea of the medieval notion of chivalry and knighthood first developed. The Crusades in the Middle East had released these men from the previous constraints of feudalism. They could now express their new-found identity by the creation of religious and military orders of chivalry. The earliest orders of knighthood were amongst groups of like-minded men who being drawn from a particular social class were therefore bound together in a common purpose.

The foundation of the Order of the Garter by King Edward 111 in the early fourteenth century, brought together in close companionship the Sovereign and twenty-five of the most outstanding military leaders of the country at that time as a means of marking and securing alliances; it also established a new fellowship in religious worship ' to the honour of Almighty God, the glorious Virgin Saint Mary and Saint George the Martyr'.

Since foreign monarchs have been appointed to the Order from the fifteen century, one of the earliest such appointments was the Duke of Urbino by Edward IV in 1474. Such appointments were and are occasionally made to non-Christian rulers ( for example, the Shah of Persia in 1902 ), which prompted some debate over the possibility of removing Christian imagery ( the cross of St George ) from the Order when it is given to non-Christian recipients; in the end however the design remained unchanged.

 

The Garter

Prince Albert's Garter was made in 1840 and was worn by the Knights beneath the left knee and by the Ladies above the Elbow. The  Garter's motto 'Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense' is set in diamonds on dark-blue velvet, and the buckle is set with one small and seven large brilliants.  

Knights of the Garter

It was thought that King Edward III inspired by the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, originally intended the Order of the Garter to consist of twenty four knights however during 1249/50 it consisted of himself as Sovereign together with twenty five Knights Companion, one of whom was the Prince of Wales , the black Prince . These 'founder knights' were military men, skilled in battle and tournaments, few of these knights were much over the age of 30 and four were under the age of 20. The other founder-knights had all served in the French campaigns of the time, including the battle of Crécy and three were foreigners who had previously sworn allegiance to the English king, making twenty six knights in all.  it was intended by Edward III to be reserved as the highest reward for loyalty and for military merit. 

These Knights included some who owed allegiance to King Edward not as King of England, but as Lord of Gascony . These Companions were known as Stranger Knights a distinction from subjects of the English Crown. Such was the prestige of the Order that during the next hundred years Foreign monarchs in the Order are admitted and known as 'Stranger Knights' and are in addition to the number allowed by statute.

 

The Regalia

 

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. Although the collar could not be decorated with precious stones (the statutes forbid it), the other insignia could be decorated according to taste and affordability.

 

Each newly appointed Knight, or more recently Lady 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. In the case of Stranger Knights who are Sovereign, Princes or Princesses, instead of a carved Crest their carved and gilded representation of the State Crown is placed upon the Knights helm. For Ladies Companion, who, as women by the rules of English Heraldry  have no right to a Crest, a Coronet of rank, if they are a peeress, is placed upon the helm.

 

For over fifteen years Ian G Brennan has been producing all the carved, painted and gilded Crowns, Coronets and Crests that have been placed in St George's Chapel Windsor for the latest Knights and Ladies of the Order of the Garter, carved from lime wood which Ian then paints and gilds, each Crown or Crest is between 15 - 25 inches high.

 

Ian is supplied with pictures of the appropriate Royal arms to be used as an accurate source to replicate the design. Where appropriate the Crowns and Coronets are then produced with the gilded rims of the Crowns individually set with carved and painted jewels and the golden arches placed above the crimson caps, fitted with rows of white or silver carved pearls.

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. Each Crest Ian produces is placed upon a wreath, which he also carves from lime wood to represent a circle of two twisted ropes of silk, each of a different colour. The original purpose of the wreath was to disguise the join between the helm and the Crest. Up until the seventieth century all the wreaths in St George's Chapel were still made from actual twisted cloth, however since that time they have all been carved from wood.

A small selection of over sixty, Crowns, Coronets and Crests that have been carved and painted by Ian G Brennan, before they were placed in St George's Chapel Windsor and Henry V11 Chapel in Westminster Abbey for the Knights of the Most Noble Order of the Garter and Most Honourable Order of the Bath.  

 top row  -  Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk - HM King Juan Carlos1 of Spain - Baroness Margaret Thatches - Lady's and Knights of the Order of the Garter

   bottom row  -      Lord Beetham  -  Sir Frank Cooper - Sir Henry Leach  -  Knights of the Order of the Bath.

 

 

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 which lasted 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 number of Knights Companion remained at twenty six until the reign of George III when additional or Supernumerary  appointments were made. Firstly from 1786 all the sons of the Sovereign were declared to be eligible to be appointed in addition to the twenty six ( George had nine sons ) From 1805 the Prince of Wales upon his creation immediately become a member of the Order of the Garter. In 1813 all Stranger Knights were appointed as Supernumerary.

From the Eighteenth century to 1946, appointments to the Order of the Garter were made on advice from the government. Today the Order has returned to its original function as a mark of royal favour ;  Knights of the Garter are chosen personally by the Sovereign to honour those who have held public office, who have served the Sovereign personally or who have contributed in a particular way to national life. Although for much of its history, the Garter was limited to the aristocracy, today the Garter knights are from a variety of backgrounds.

Since the first Knight of the Garter Edward, Prince of Wales ( the Black Prince ) was installed by King Edward 111 in around 1348, there have been 990 Garter Knights , the most recent being HM King Harold V of Norway.  There have been many famous Knights of the Garter installed during the HM the Queen's  present 50 year reign. Since 5th December 1953 the Queen who is the Thirtieth Sovereign has installed over eighty Knights into the Order which have included many of the most prominent figures in recent years from British public life, including former war time leader Sir Winston Spencer Churchill, as well as many foreign Royals. 

These also include other former British Prime Ministers, Heath, Wilson and Callaghan who all became Knights of the Garter, Baroness Thatcher was installed as a Lady Companion and HRH the Prince of Wales and HRH Prince Philip are Royal Knights. Juan Carlos, King of Spain, Carl Gustaf, King of Sweden and more recently King Harald V of Norway became extra Knights Companions, as is His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akahito of Japan, who was made a Garter Knight in 1998.

On the 18th of June 2001 the two Garter Knights installed by Her Majesty the Queen in St George's Chapel were Sir Anthony Acland, KG  and Field Marshal Lord Inge, KG.  On the 16th of June 2002 the only Knight to be installed during HM The Queens Golden Jubilee Year was HM King Harald V of Norway KG. 

Ian's carved and gilded Crown prepared for King Harald V was placed upon a Knights helmet above the Kings stall in St George's Chapel, shortly before he was  installed as a Garter Knight at Windsor Castle in 2002.

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Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle, is the largest inhabited stronghold in the world and is furnished with works of art from the Royal Collection.  This historic fortress is situated alongside the River Thames in Berkshire in Southern England and stands proudly on its wooded chalk ridges which has been the home to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and earlier sovereigns of England since the days of the Norman Conquest over 900 years ago. It first existed as a Norman stronghold built of earth and timber by the forces of William the Conqueror to control the country after his invasion in 1066.

King William who reigned from 1066 to 1087, was the first Norman King of England after he defeated Harold Godwinson (King Harold II ) at the famous Battle of Hastings in 1066, where Harold was killed after being hit in the eye by an arrow. William was subsequently crowned King of England on Christmas Day. Windsor Castle formed one of a ring of garrisons built to command the area around London, this particular site being of strategic importance not only because it dominated the Thames, then the main freight route into the interior but also because the castle was only one day’s march from the Tower of London. 

 

The Royal Standard flying above the Round Tower at Windsor Castle, flown wherever the Sovereign is present

 

The only disruption to royal ownership for 900 years was in 1642 when the English Civil war broke out and King Charles I fled to York. Consequently having made no attempt to defend his stronghold at Windsor the castle fell into the hands of Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentary forces. These forces then proceeded to steal treasures and plate from St George's Chapel. The dean and cannons then not only had to endure the indignity of being evicted from their houses but also of knowing the nave of the chapel was now being used as a stable for the horses of the parliamentary forces.

The castle itself was then used as a prison for Royalist prisoners, including the now captured Charles I who was held at the castle before his trial for High Treason and subsequent execution outside London's Banqueting Hall at Whitehall.. King Charles1 body was bought back to the castle on the 8 February 1649 and was buried inside St George's Chapel in silence, as the Parliamentary authorities would not allow the use of the funeral services as prescribed by the Book of Common Prayer. The location of the king's tomb which remaining unknown for over 150 years was subsequently found underneath the floor of the Quire, this vault also contained the remains of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour.

During the next 11 years England was governed by Oliver Cromwell, the ' Lord Protector', after the death of Cromwell, the castle eventually returned as a royal residence when King Charles 11 ascended to the throne.

 

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St George's Chapel Windsor                                                                        

The Queen's Free Chapel of St George in Windsor Castle more commonly known as St George's Chapel was founded in 1475 and it is a most revered royal shrine.  The Chapel is a "Royal Peculiar", so it therefore falls under the direct authority of the Queen, rather than any of the normal Church of England structures. St George's Chapel is also the final resting place of Ten Royal Sovereigns including Charles I, Henry VIII and King George VI..

The Chapel was also the venue where the royal wedding took place between HRH Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones,  the Earl and Countess of Wessex and more recently the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother

St George's Chapel Windsor Castle and Spectators awaiting the procession of the Knights of the Garter

 

Dominating the lower ward of Windsor Castle for over 500 hundred years St George's Chapel one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical buildings in England, is the home of the College of St George and the Order of the Garter. It is the last in a succession of chapels in the castle , of which the earliest was built in the late 11th century for the needs of the garrison, king and court.  In 1240 King Henry 111 ordered a chapel to be built in the lower ward, close to his new apartments. It was dedicated to St Edward the Confessor and stood on the present Albert Memorial Chapel.

As part of the original establishment of the College of St George, twenty six 'Poor Knights' were required to pray daily for the Sovereign and the Knights of the Garter during life and also for their souls after death. In return they received maintenance and lodgings in Windsor Castle .  During the early years of the nineteenth century these Poor Knights who were all retired army officers, objected to being termed 'poor' and petitioned the Sovereign William IV to be allowed to wear the uniform of Unattached Officers a uniform and to change their name. In 1834 the name was subsequently changed to Military Knights and the members no longer had to wear their red cloaks but instead were allowed to wear their new uniforms with its plumed and cocked hat which is still worn today.

(Click on images below to enlarge)

Views inside St George's Chapel

A variety of Crowns, Crests and Coronets carved by Ian inside St George's Chapel for the Knights of the Garter

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.

The Sovereign's Stall

The helm has mantling hanging either side of it which is symbolic of the cloth that would have help protected the knight in his armour from the rain or sun. There is also the half drawn sword which represents the fact that in theory every Knight of the Garter has his hand on his sword ready to defend the Sovereign at any time. These 'achievements ' are taken down on the Knights death and the insignia returned to the Sovereign. When a Knight Companion dies his Banner, Crest, Helm and Sword are taken down, the stall is roped-off and a laurel wreath bearing his name is placed in it. The Knights stall is not used again until his Banner is offered to the Altar. This ceremony which is reminiscent of medieval practices takes place some time after the Knights funeral which is attended by members of his family, Knights Companion and Officers of the Order. The Banner is brought in procession by the Military Knights during Evensong and is then received by the Dean and placed upon the Altar. Prayers are said for the Deceased Knight Companion and the Order.

The Knights brightly coloured brass enamel stall-plate showing the knights full coat of arms, title and the date of appointment to the Order is affixed to the back of the stall soon after the instillation service and will remains there in perpetuity. At present there are almost 800 Garter Knights stall plates in St George's Chapel the earliest surviving plate is that of Ralph, Lord Basset of Drayton who was elected to the Order in 1368. He was one of the leaders of the English army which, led by the Black Prince defeated the French at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. The stall-plates in St Georges Chapel provide one of the best examples of the history of heraldic designs during the past six centuries.

Various stall-plates

Such is the prestige of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, when Sir Winston Churchill died in 1965 his Garter Crest depicting a 'Lion holding a staff' was taken down from above his stall in St George's Chapel Windsor Castle, the crest was then mounted on a stave and carried with great ceremony throughout Sir Winston's State Funeral procession. His coffin placed upon a gun carriage and draped with the Union Flag, Sir Winston’s insignia as a Knight of the Garter, his collar, garter and star gleamed in lone splendour upon a black velvet cushion placed upon the coffin of the gun carriage which was pulled by a Gun's crew of naval ratings, for the State Funeral service which was held at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

Sir Winston Churchill's Crest

Although a number of Garter knights have been 'degraded' over the years for the crimes of heresy or cowardice, one of the main reasons that a Knight is removed from the Order during his lifetime is for Treason against the Sovereign. In ancient times this would often mean being beheaded. Between 1387 and 1716 twenty Knights were removed, six of whom were subsequently reinstated. Most degradations occurred because a Knight fought on the wrong side and then lost!  Two of the most famous of these disgraced Knights during this period was " Warwick the Kingmaker" Richard Nevill, Earl of Warwick who was appointed in 1460 but was later killed at the battle of Barnet in 1471 and later in the 16th century Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Suffolk incurred the displeasure of Henry V111 and was executed on Tower Hill at the Tower of London. 

Ladies of the Order

During the Middle Ages ladies were associated with the Order although they did not enjoy full membership. One of the last medieval ladies to be honoured was the mother of Henry VII and grandmother of Henry VIII,  Lady Margaret Beaufort. After her death in 1509 the Order remained exclusively male, except for reigning queens as Sovereign of the Order. This situation remained until 1901 when Queen Alexandra was made a Lady of the Order by Edward VII . 

In 1987 Her Majesty the Queen decided that ladies should be eligible for admission as Companions of the Order, with the same rank and privileges as Knights Companions. The first Lady Companion to be appointed was Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk in 1990, followed in 1995 by the former British Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher. . 

Lady companions are now included in the establishment and have the same rights, duties and privileges as Knights Companions. Their style and titles is shown as 'LG' after their names, as opposed to the 'KG' used by Knights Companions. Ladies do not display helmets, mantles and swords but only their carved Crowns and Coronets are placed in position above their stalls, The exception is HM the Queen who as Sovereign of the Order, displays the helmet, mantle, crest and sword.

Her Majesty Queen Beatrice of the Netherlands joins HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, her own mother Princess Juliana and Queen Margarethe of Denmark as the contemporary Ladies of the Order and HM The Queen's daughter HRH Princess Ann, The Princess Royal who was the first Princess since the Middle Ages to be awarded such a high honour. In 2003 the Queen's first cousin, Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra was the most recently installed Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

HRH The Princess Royal and Ian discussing his latest commission

 

 

Working on HRH the Princess Royals carved Coronet

The Procession and Service at St George's Chapel Windsor

Every June, the Knights of the Garter gather at Windsor Castle, where the new Knights take the oath and are invested with the insignia of the Order, which consists of the Garter, Star, Riband, Collar and Mantle. This investiture of the new knights takes place in one of the oldest parts of the castle, the 12th century Garter Throne Room.  After lunch in the Waterloo Chamber the Knights process through the castle precincts to a service in St George's Chapel.

The Queen, as Sovereign of the Order of The Garter, attends the Garter service along with other members of the Royal family who are in the Order, including HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, HRH the Prince of Wales,  HRH the Princess Royal, HRH The Duke of Kent and HRH the Duke of Gloucester.

(Click on image below to enlarge)

During the Queens Jubilee Year in June 2002 the crowned heads of Europe gathered at Windsor Castle for the grand spectacle of the Garter Ceremony and a dinner in the Waterloo Chambers to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.  King Juan Carlos of Spain, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Queen Margrethe of Denmark and Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg all Knights or Ladies of the Garter, took part in the annual procession down the hill to St George's Chapel. They were joined by the Royal Family which included the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, and the Princess Royal and at the Galilee Porch of the chapel waiting for the procession to arrive were Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg, Prince Henrik of Denmark, Queen Sophia of Spain, Queen Sonja of Norway and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

On Garter Day, Windsor Castle is closed to all visitors other than those invited to attend the Garter Service or to watch the Procession of the Garter Knights to St George's Chapel. Before the Garter Procession itself begins, dismounted squadrons of the Household Cavalry start marching down the hill from the State Apartments and begin taking up their positions as route liners along the ceremonial route. Two military bands then also take up their positions, these bands play both during and after the procession.

(Click on the image below to enlarge)

The procession itself is led by the Governor of the Windsor Castle Sir Richard Johns wearing his blue full dress uniform of an Air Chief Marshal, with the red ribbon of the Order of the Bath. Followed closely by the Military Knights of Windsor dressed in their red uniform, who are retired officers living in the Castle and attend matins every Sunday on behalf of Knights of the Garter. The officers of Arms who are the purseuivants and heralds then follow wearing their black knee-breaches and colourful tabards bearing the Royal Arms, their role on the day being to marshal the procession.  

Then the most newly created Knights of the Garter walk down at the front with the more senior Knights at the end, these Knights wear the dark blue velvet robes adorned with the cross of St George, surrounded by the Garter motto: "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" on the left breast . These robes of blue velvet mantle and red velvet hood worn on the right shoulder, black velvet hat and white Ostrich plumes. These robes are also open on the right side to give freedom to the sword-bearing right arm. 

The Knights are then followed by the members of the Royal Family which include the Princess Royal and the Prince of Wales with the officers of the Order following behind wearing their scarlet and blue robes these includes the Secretary of the Garter, who is responsible for the organisation of all the various aspects of the ceremony, the Register who is the Dean of Windsor, Garter King of Arms, the Chancellor, Lord Carrington who is a Knight of the Garter himself and the Prelate, the Bishop of Winchester, who reads the lesson and gives the blessing during the service in St George's Chapel.  

This group of people are then followed in the procession by the Sovereign, who walks with the Duke of Edinburgh. The Queen's train is carried by two pages who in turn are flanked by the Field officer in Brigade Waiting who is a Guards officer, and either a Life Guard or a Blues and Royal officer. The procession down to St George's Chapel finishes with a detachment of the Yeoman of the Guard, walking in fours wearing their fine Tudor uniforms.

The Garter procession arrives at the Great West Door to enter St George's Chapel, the Choristers (boys) and Lay Clerks (men) who form the Chapel Choir, along with the Minor Cannons and the Cannons of Windsor are already lined up in the Nave ready to lead the Procession through the Nave into the Quire. 

At the instillation ceremony in 2002, after the Procession entered the Quire, everyone went to his or her appointed seat, The Queen however remained by her stall and the newly appointed Knight remained in the Quire. After the National Anthem was played. Lord Carrington, the Chancellor of the Order called out the name of the new knight in response to the Queen's bidding :  "It is our pleasure that the companion newly invested be installed."    King Harald was then conducted to his stall.  The service of Thanksgiving then followed, during this the choir proceeded to sing a Te Deum - which is a traditional hymn of praise to God, which was followed by prayers for the Order and the Sovereign. 

This service of Instillation was relayed from St George's Chapel by loudspeakers to those waiting outside. During the Service, horse drawn Landaus and various cars were driven down the procession route to convey The Queen, Foreign Sovereigns, members of the Royal family and the Knights and Ladies of the Garter, their spouses and the Officers of Arms are also driven back up the hill at the end of the service.

The Procession to St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle

HM the Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh during the Annual Order of the Garter Procession outside St George's Chapel

 

(Click any of the above images to enlarge)

Margaret, Baroness Thatcher and Sir Edmond Hillary

HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh leaving the Garter Service

 

After the service the military band and route lines prepare to leave

 

The Garter Knights, Crowns Crests and Coronets

The Crest is totally unique to the individual knight. In the case of Sovereigns, the crests is replaced by a carved Crown. These Crowns, Crests and Coronets are just an example of the variety of three-dimensional heraldry, which are traditionally carved from lime wood prior to being painted and gilded. Crests were originally worn on the Knights helmet as, when they were in full battle with their visors down the mantles, or short cloaks which bore their Symbols were frequently torn-off, crests were introduced as a form of recognition.

 

 

The Crest of Sir Edmund Hillary (Kiwi holding an Ice Axe), Duke of Devonshire (Snake Crest)

 

 

Top Row :

The carved and gilded Crowns and Coronets, Princess Royal/ King Juan Carlos of Spain / Duchess of Norfolk

 

 

The woodcarving of the Chrysanthemum Crest commissioned for Emperor Akahito of Japan

20 inches high (51cm)

 

The completed Crest for the Emperor of Japan in position alongside Ian's most recent commission the Crown for HM King Harald of Norway.

 

 

The carved Crest for HRH The Duke of Gloucester

 

HRH the Duke of Gloucester's Crest now in position alongside the Coronet and Crest for the HRH the Princess Royal and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, alongside the Sovereign, HM the Queen's Crest in St George's Chapel Windsor Castle.

(further examples of  Ian's Garter Crests can be found on the Garter Crest Pages )

A selection of Royal and Garter Knights Banners

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