The Windsors and Europe

[Somebody]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

All foreign royals who are Knights/Ladies of the Garter are either reigning monarchs or former monarchs who have abdicated. I don't expect that rule to change under King Charles III.


The current Stranger (i.e., foreign) Knights/Ladies of the Garter are:

1. Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark (1979)
2. Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden (1983)
3. Juan Carlos, King Emeritus of Spain (1988 , former King of Spain as Juan Carlos I)
4. Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands (1989, former Queen of the Netherlands)
5. Akihito, Emperor Emeritus of Japan (1998, former Emperor of Japan)
6. Harald V, King of Norway (2001)
7. Felipe VI, King of Spain (2017)
8. Willem Alexander, King of the Netherlands (2018)

Note: Princess Beatrix, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, King Harald V and King Felipe VI were also previoulsy awarded the GCVO as heirs to their respective thrones, I believe.

So, why are the Belgians (both Albert and Philip) excluded? Their predecessor king Baudouin (as well as earlier Belgian kings) was admitted (in 1963).

Of course, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and Monaco are also excluded but they aren't majesties. Nonetheless, grand duke Jean was a knight of the Garter (but none of the other grand dukes or grand duchesses).

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by Somebody

So, why are the Belgians (both Albert and Philip) excluded?

The order is normally awarded on state visits and there has been no Belgian state visit to the UK, or no British state visit to Belgium during the reigns of King Albert II or King Philippe.


I believe all Belgian monarchs prior to Albert II were Knights of the Garter, including King Baudouin.


King Albert II received the GCVO from Queen Elizabeth II as Prince of Liège (heir presumptive) during the Queen's state visit to Belgium in 1966, I think.


As I said, Queen Elizabeth II had a policy of giving the GCVO to Princes Consort and heirs, but she did not award any decorations to Queens Consort.

[tommy100]

All 4 European Heads of State currently excluded from the Garter are those to which there has not been a state visit - the last state visit involving Luxembourg was in 1976. It seems the late Queen at least, had a rule that the Garter was only awarded during a state visit (a good way to ensure the government couldn't later say it didn't support it I guess as the Garter is granted solely by the Sovereign) and none of those European monarchies / principalities have had a state visit. The only way we would know for sure that they wouldn't get the Garter is if they visited sometime and didn't get awarded it. In both Belgium and Luxembourg's cases history suggests they would get it.

[Moonmaiden23]

Was the late King Constantine not a Knight of the Garter?

[Blog Real]

Originally Posted by Moonmaiden23

Was the late King Constantine not a Knight of the Garter?

No, King Constantine was not in the Order of the Garter.

[wbenson]

There was a period in the reign of Elizabeth II where she seemed to prefer giving the Garter on the second visit in either direction, with the Royal Victorian Chain (and, if not already possessed, the GCVO) being given the first time. But she gave the Garter to Kings Felipe and Willem-Alexander at the first opportunity, possibly because she knew at that stage in her life that she wouldn't be visiting them.

[An Ard Ri]

I wonder if Prince Albert of Monaco will ever get a British Order?