The Duchess of Cornwall will make a royal debut as she is installed as a Royal Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. Her appointment was announced at the end of 2021.
The Most Noble Order of the Garter was established in 1348 by Edward III. Appointments to it are only made at the discretion of Her Majesty The Queen.
The Duchess will receive the Order during the Garter Day event at Windsor Castle. Traditionally, The Queen has led other knights in a procession as the service takes place at St George’s Chapel on the grounds of Windsor. Her Majesty is the Sovereign of the Order of the Garter while the Prince of Wales is a Royal Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter. It is unknown whether The Queen will be able to make the service. In the last few months, the palace has only confirmed Her Majesty’s attendance at events shortly beforehand.
Knights and Ladies Companion of the Order are restricted to 24 appointments. The Duchess will join other members of the Royal Family who have received the prestigious Order including the Duke of Kent, The Princess Royal, the Duke of Gloucester, and Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy. The Duke of York is also a member as is the Earl of Wessex.
The Duke of Cambridge became the 1,000th Knight of the Garter when he was appointed in 2008.
Stranger Knights and Ladies Companion, or Extra Knights and Ladies Companion can include royals from across the world in an honourary capacity. In 2018, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands was appointed. A year prior, King Felipe VI of Spain was given the honour. It was Queen Margrethe II of Denmark in 1979 who would become the first appointee of The Queen’s reign.
