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The carved and painted Crowns, Coronets and Crests of the Royal Knights, Extra Knights and Ladies and the Knights and Lady Companions of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

A carved coronet and three Knights crests for a Lady and Knights of the Garter in sculptor Ian G Brennan's studio awaiting delivery and instillation in St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

Please click image to enlarge

Crowns, Coronets and Crests for the Royal Knights, Extra Knights and Ladies, Knights and more recently, Lady Companions of the Most Noble Order of the Garter have been placed above the Knights stalls ( seats) in St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle for almost six Centuries. The latest Ladies and Knights of the Garter are officially announced on 23 April; St George's Day from Buckingham Palace.

For almost twenty years all these carved, painted and gilded Crowns, Coronets and Crests for these Knights and Ladies of the Order of the Garter have been produced by sculptor Ian G Brennan and are shown within these pages. They are mostly carved from lime wood which Ian then paints and gilds and are between 12 - 28 inches high.

Each Royal Crown, Coronet or Knights Crest usually take Ian around two to three weeks to carve before he is ready to start the painting and gilding. The Royal Crowns and Coronets are carved with gilded rims set with gilded jewels and pearls, or when appropriate the jewels and pearls are coloured like jewels. The golden arches Ian makes for many of the different Sovereigns Crowns, are fitted with rows of large white or silver carved wooden pearls which are placed above either open Crowns or upon carved crimson caps.

St George's Chapel Windsor Castle

A Selection of Knights of the Garter Crests carved by Ian G Brennan placed upon the Knights Helmets in St George's Chapel Windsor.

Please click image to enlarge

The Knights Crests were originally worn on top of the Knights helm (helmet) during pageants and tournaments in the fourteenth century and used as a form of identification. Fighting at tournaments were also a good way of training for battle. Each Crest Ian produces which is placed upon a wreath 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 been carved mostly from lime wood.

H.R.H the Princess Royal, G.C.V.O. F.R.S

Lady of the Order of the Garter

H.R.H The Duke of Gloucester, K.G, G.C.V.O

H.M Beatrix, Queen of the Netherlands

H.M Juan Carlos I, King of Spain

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akahito of Japan

The Lord Kingsdown, K.G, P.C

Sir William Gladstone KG

Sir Edward Heath KG, M.B.E

The Lord Sainsbury, K.G

Lord Leverhulme KG

The Lord Ashburton K.G, K. K.C.V.O

Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk

L.G. C.B.E

Margaret, Baroness Thatcher

LG, O.M, F.R.S, P.C

Sir Ninian Stephen, K.G, P.C

Sir Edmund Hillary, K.G, O.N.Z, K.B.E

Sir Timothy Colman K.G

The Duke of Devonshire, K.G, M.C .P.C

The Duke of Wellington

KG, L.V.O, O.B.E, M.C

The Viscount Ridley

K.G, G.C.V.O, T.D

Field Marshal Lord Bramall

K.G, G.C.B, O.B.E, M.C.

The Duke of Abercorn, K.G

Field Marshal Lord Inge, KG

HRH The Princess Alexandra. LG

Sir Antony Acland, KG

The Crown for King Harald V, KG of Norway

The Duke of Westminster, KG

The Right Honourable Lord Butler

of Brockwell, KG

The Right Honourable Lord Morris

of Aberavon, KG

The three latest Garter Knights Crests, at the early roughed out stages of the carving

( lime wood 24 inches high approx )

The Crests now in position above the Knights Stalls (Seats) in St George's Chapel Windsor Castle.

Margaret, Baroness Thatcher (coronet) - Sir Timothy Colman K.G (wings) - Sir Edward Heath KG (swan)

The Lord Butler of Brockwell, K.G (badger) and Field Marshal Lord Bramall (Lion)

On the 13 June 2005 the latest Lady and Knights of the Garter were installed in St George's Chapel Windsor. Sir John Major the former British Conservative Prime Minister and Lord Bingham of Cornhill who is a former lord chief justice. HM The Queen also installed Lady Soames who is the daughter of Sir Winston Churchill. Her appointment as a Lady of the Garter is the first non-royal, father daughter appointment in the orders 650-year history.

Shown below are drawings of the two latest Knights of the Garter Crests currently being carved and painted by sculptor Ian G Brennan, along with the Coronet Ian has recently completed for Lady Soames. Sir John Majors Crest design will be added to this page shortly. All three carvings once completed will be placed above the Lady and Knights Stalls in St George's Chapel Windsor.

Lady Soames LG

Lord Bingham of Corhill KG

Sir John Major KG

St George's Chapel Windsor Castle

The Crest's of Sir Edmund Hillary, the Duke of Devonshire, the Duke of Gloucester and Sir William Gladstone, at various stages of the woodcarving prior to painting and gilding before finally being placed in St George's Chapel Windsor Castle.

On occasions Ian is also asked to replace damaged or missing carving on some of the older historic Crowns and Crests. Below are a selection of these Garter Crests and Royal Crowns originally made during the middle of the last century, recently restored by Ian.

Horatio. Earl Kitchener

Frederick 1X, King of Denmark

Gastaf VI Adolf, King of Sweden

Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia

POSITION OF THE GARTER CRESTS IN THE CHOIR IN ST GEORGE'S CHAPEL DURING 2004

ORGAN SCREEN

South Side North Side

HIGH ALTAR

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