Edward III founded the Order of the Garter in 1348, making it Britain’s oldest surviving order of chivalry.
The order was created during the Hundred Years’ War, when Edward was pursuing claims to the French throne. Its original membership was limited to the king, a prince of Wales, and 24 companion knights. The number 24 was linked to the companions of the Round Table in Arthurian tradition.
The order’s principal ceremony takes place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Its patron saint is Saint George, and its official name is the Most Noble Order of the Garter. Members traditionally wear blue robes, a collar, and the distinctive garter during major ceremonies.
A famous legend says the order began when a lady’s garter fell during a dance and Edward placed it on his own leg. The story is probably later embellishment. The order’s documented foundation belongs to Edward III’s reign, and its motto is “Honi soit qui mal y pense,” usually translated as “Shame on him who thinks evil of it.”