• The Order of the Garter or  (formally the Most Noble Order of the Garter) is an order of chivalry founded by King Edward III of England in 1348

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• The order's emblem is a garter with the motto Honi soit qui mal y pense (Middle French: "Shame on him who thinks ill of it")

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• Various legends account for the origin of the Order. The most popular involves the "Countess of Salisbury", whose garter is said to have slipped from her leg while she was dancing at a court ball at Calais. When the surrounding courtiers sniggered, the king picked it up and returned it to her, exclaiming, "Honi soit qui mal y pense!" ("Shame on him who thinks ill of it!"), the phrase that has become the motto of the Order

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• The first  orignal foundation, of  the Order of the Garter,  consisted of King Edward III, together with 25 Founder Knights.

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• Soon after the founding of the Order of the Garter, women were appointed "Ladies of the Garter", but were not made companions. King Henry VII of England  discontinued the practice in 1488; his mother, Margaret Beaufort, was the last Lady of the Garter before Queen Alexandra. Except for female sovereigns, the next Lady of the Garter named was Queen Alexandra, by her husband King Edward VII. King George V also made his consort, Queen Mary, a Lady of the Garter and King George VI subsequently did the same for his wife, Queen Elizabeth.