12
Brighton Belles went to Windsor
Castle to see the Procession of the
Most Noble Order of the Garter. We
arrived at 11:30 and could not
believe the enormous queue; the
gates did not open until 12 noon.
Rain was forecast but it was
actually a beautiful sunny day. We
enjoyed our picnic and the
friendliness of all the people
around us. So many of them paid us
compliments on how lovely we all
looked. Many ladies wanted to join a
chapter and it good to be an
ambassador for the British Red
Hatters.
This
is the senior and oldest British
Order of Chivalry, founded by Edward
III in 1348.
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 and
black velvet hats with white plumes.
The
colourful procession is led by the
Constable and Governor of Windsor
Castle and the Military Knights of
Windsor.
