DTN News: The British Monarchy ~ Procession And Service For The Order Of The Garter

DTN News: The British Monarchy ~ Procession And Service For The Order Of The Garter *Source: Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) WINDSOR CASTLE, U.K. - June 15, 2009: Each year in June a procession and service take place at Windsor Castle for the Order of the Garter. This year's service takes place on Monday 15 June. The Order is the senior and oldest British Order of Chivalry, founded by Edward III in 1348. A view of the procession to attend the Order of The Garter Service in Windsor, England, Monday, June 15, 2009. The annual service is held in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The Order of the Garter is the most senior and the oldest British Order of Chivalry and was founded by Edward III in 1348. The Order, consisting of the King and twenty-five knights, was intended by Edward III to be reserved as the highest reward for loyalty and for military merit. New appointments to the Order of the Garter are usually announced on St. George's Day (23 April) but the chivalric and installation ceremonies take place in June, on the Monday of Royal Ascot week, known as Garter Day. If there are new Companions of the Order of the Garter, The Queen formally invests them with the insignia at a Chapter of the Order in the Throne Room of Windsor Castle.Afterwards The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh entertain the members and officers of the Order at a lunch in the Waterloo Chamber. After lunch the Knights process on foot to a service in St. George's Chapel, wearing their blue velvet robes, known as mantels, and black velvet hats with white plumes. The processional route is through the Upper, Middle and Lower Wards of the castle to St. George's Chapel. The colourful procession is led by the Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle and the Military Knights of Windsor. On reaching the chapel there is a short service, at the beginning of which the new Companions (if any) are installed. On emerging from the Great West Door of the Chapel, the Sovereign and the other members of the Order return in carriages and cars to the Upper Ward of the castle.The Queen attends the service along with other members of the Royal Family in the Order, including The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, Prince William, The Duke of York, The Earl of Wessex, The Princess Royal, The Duke of Gloucester, The Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra. The Garter ceremonial dates from 1948, when formal installation was revived by King George VI for the first time since 1805. Find out more about the Order of the GarterView a list of members of the Order of the GarterA limited number of tickets is available for members of the public to watch the procession to St. George's Chapel from inside the precincts of Windsor Castle.