Garter, Order of the, is the highest and oldest order of knighthood in the United Kingdom. It was founded around 1348 by King Edward III of England. The emblem of the order is a sword belt in the form of a dark blue garter edged in gold, on which are printed the French words Honi soit qui mal y pense. In English, the words mean Dishonored be he who thinks evil of it. No one knows for certain how this phrase originated. On ceremonial occasions, the garter was worn on the left leg below the knee. On ceremonial occasions today, the item most commonly worn as an emblem of the order is a dark-blue velvet mantle (loose cloak).
The Order of the Garter first admitted only 25 members besides the king. In 1831, the order was reorganized, and its membership was increased to include the Prince of Wales, descendants of King George I, and some foreign rulers. The English monarch is always Sovereign of the Order. Women became eligible for membership in the order in 1987. The order has several patron saints, but Saint George was considered its special patron, and the order is sometimes spoken of as “The Order of St. George.”
