Order of the Garter 2003-2019: Ceremonies and Information

[NGalitzine]

There is precedence. Beatrix became a Stranger Knight in 1989 during her mothers life time and Juliana was also a Stranger Knight of the Garter. Perhaps WA will receive the GCVO first though.
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[BrazilianEmpire]

Yes, I noticed the Dutch Queens precedence after posting. Time will tell.

[EIIR]

The Queen is going to have to give the KG to Tony Blair sometime, much as the thought of it gives me a slight sick feeling in my tummy. He won 3 elections in a row and was PM for 10 years, which makes him the most successful Labour politician ever by a long way. He also played a very significant role in the Northern Ireland peace process and was the principal architect of the Good Friday Agreement. If nothing else, that probably makes him deserving of the KG.

HM has to know that having given the last 2 Conservative PMs (before Cameron) the KG, she's going to have to give at least one of the Labour PMs the same honour. I know it's a personal choice for HM, but she's surely aware of the way a failure to do so will likely be interpreted.

[Iluvbertie]

It is also possible that Blair will refuse it - being a Labour man through and through could easily see him stay true to that belief.

[Iluvbertie]

Originally Posted by cepe

Its an Honour - not an appointment and not a "Knighthood".

It is a 'knighthood' - the highest order of knights. The holders are all called 'Sir' or 'Dame' if they don't hold a higher title, and they are dubbed as part of their investiture.

[EIIR]

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

It is also possible that Blair will refuse it - being a Labour man through and through could easily see him stay true to that belief.

I'm afraid I've seen too many so-called socialist 'man of the people' politicians trip over themselves for knighthoods or peerages to believe that. Case in point - John "Two Jags" Prescott who said he would never join the House of Lords and was opposed to it in principle, who now sits in that House as Baron Prescott of Kingston-Upon-Hull.

If there's an honour coming his way, Tony Blair will be there with bells on.

[Molly2101]

Originally Posted by cepe

...I wouls love Sophie to be a member...

Sophie will never get the Order of the Garter as wives of the Sovereign's son's never get it. Camilla will get it when Charles becomes King. The Duchess of Gloucester or the Duchess of Kent have never received it but their husbands do. Sophie will only ever have her GCVO and Royal Family Orders of Elizabeth and likely Charles too at some point.

I imagine Tony Blair will get the KG at some point in his life and as EIIR said, he'll be there in a heartbeat!

[An Ard Ri]

With today being the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement (April 10th,1998) maybe Mr.Blair will be honoured sooner rather than later?

[BrazilianEmpire]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

With today being the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement (April 10th,1998) maybe Mr.Blair will be honoured sooner rather than later?

New appointments to the Order of the Garter are always announced on St George's Day, 23 April.

That's 13 days from now. But I doubt we'll have a new Knight so soon. Maybe next year.

[cepe]

There were 2 vacancies before the death of Baroness Thatcher

[Iluvbertie]

Originally Posted by EIIR

...If there's an honour coming his way, Tony Blair will be there with bells on.

You are probably correct but I stand by my assertion that he could refuse it.

[cepe]

I am no fan of either of these 2 people but I always believed that John Prescott accepted his Barony for his wife Pauline (?) Firstly, because he played away, which is not a good thing and secondly, she deserved a reward for being married to such a ****.

What Tony Blair needs to apologise to his wife for I'm not sure, but frankly although I dont like the woman, she is a talented lawyer, more intelligent than he is and perhaps will get her own reward (which she could turn down) rather than piggyback his.

[NGalitzine]

For all her high principles dear Cherie did not turn down her CBE so I doubt she would refuse a higher honour and I doubt Tony would refuse a KG although he might turn down a life peerage. I can see Brown not getting a KG since he was never elected PM but possibly he would accept a life peerage.

[cepe]

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

It is a 'knighthood' - the highest order of knights. The holders are all called 'Sir' or 'Dame' if they don't hold a higher title, and they are dubbed as part of their investiture.

Sorry - didn't explain myself v well. Knighthoods are available to worthy people and we hand out quite a few but the Order of the Garter - the Monarch's choice and the highest honour available is something more. And all the current members already had titles

3 Dukes
1 Viscount
6 Knights
2 Baroness's
8 Lords
2 Lords who are Field Marshalls
1 Lord who is an Admiral

IMO it is far more than just a knighthood

[Osipi]

Its a way of recognizing people that have done above and beyond what most do in support.
Kind of like Caroline Kennedy (just realized now that she never took the name Schlossberg) as Obama's maybe choice of Ambassador to Japan.

[VictoriaB]

Originally Posted by cepe

...And all the current members already had titles.

I don't think John Major had a title before being created a Knight of the Garter did he?

[cepe]

No idea - but they all have letters after their name and even if all 6 "Sir"s rely totally on the KG, the others certainly didn't. This is special, the top banana, along with the OM.

A knighthood pales into dust in comparison - this is a real honour, bestowed by your Sovereign.

[BrazilianEmpire]

He was The Rt. Hon. John Major, CH (Order of the Companions of Honour).

[Iluvbertie]

I remember the former PM of Australia - Robert Menzies was offered both The Garter and The Thistle when knighted - took Thistle as a reflection of his Scottish roots - had nothing else. Had he accepted Garter that is all he would have had.

Regardless of any title a person has they aren't entitled to 'Sir' unless knighted and that applies to Garter recipients as well as any others.

It is a knighthood - plain and simple - the highest of the orders of knighthood but still only a knighthood and to suggest otherwise is to suggest it is more than it is.

[NGalitzine]

^^^^^
Well, if you are a Baronet you are also a Sir....Sir Denis Thatcher, Sir Mark Thatcher.