The Queen is Sovereign of all the British Orders of Chivalry, each of which is directly associated with a chapel where its members have their stalls. Such chapels exist within several major churches including St Paul’s and Westminster Abbey in London and St Giles’ in Edinburgh. St George’s, Windsor is associated with two such chivalric orders.

The Royal Family and the Order of the Garter

The Queen is Sovereign of the Order of the Garter, and each June she presides over the annual Ceremony of the Order. This comprises a luncheon in the Waterloo Chamber followed by an afternoon service in the chapel. The investiture of any new Knights takes place in the Garter Throne Room before the luncheon and they are formally installed within their place in the choir during the chapel service.

The Queen was declared a Lady of the Garter on 11 November 1947, a few days before her wedding to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. She succeeded her father as Sovereign on 6 February 1952.

The other Royal Knights and Ladies in the present reign have been:

HM Queen Mary, declared 3 June 1910, died 24 March 1953.
HRH The Duke of Windsor, nominated 10 June 1911, died 28 May 1972.
HRH The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, 31 March 1921, died 10 June 1974.
HM Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother) 14 December 1936, died 30 March 2002.
HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, 19 November 1947.
HRH The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, 26 July 1958 (invested and installed 1968).
HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, 9 October 1985.
HRH The Princess Anne (The Princess Royal) 23 April 1994. (Some say 13 June 1994).
HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, 23 April 1997.
HRH Princess Alexandra, The Hon Lady Ogilvy, 23 April 2003

The Royal Family and the Royal Victorian Order

The Royal Victorian Order, which was founded by Queen Victoria on 21 April 1896 as a way of rewarding outstanding personal service.

The Chapel of the Order is the Savoy Chapel in London, which is small. Therefore The Queen decided to hold a service of the Order every four years at St George's Chapel with a reception afterwards for holders of the order and medals. Such services have been held in 1978, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2003.

The following members of the Royal Family hold the Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) today:

HM The Queen, Sovereign since 6 February 1952
HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, 1 January 1948
HRH The Duke of Kent, 25 December 1960
HRH Princess Alexandra, The Hon Lady Ogilvy, 25 December 1960
HRH The Duke of Gloucester, 1 January 1974
HRH The Princess Royal, 15 August 1974
HRH The Duchess of Kent, 9 June 1977
HRH The Duchess of Gloucester, 23 June 1989
HRH Prince Michael of Kent, 2 June 2003

Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO): -

Rt Hon Sir Angus Ogilvy, 31 December 1988
HRH The Duke of York, 2 June 2003
HRH The Earl of Wessex, 2 June 2003