Royal Warrant - Statute of the Order of the Garter For the Appointment of Lady Companions [1987-10-01]

Elizabeth R

WHEREAS divers of Our Royal Predecessors for the time being Sovereigns of The Most Noble Order of the Garter have been pleased to admit Ladies of exalted rank or eminent Station into association with the Knights Companions of the said Most Noble Order and permitting them to wear the Habit and Ensigns of the Order and to participate in the celebrations and other solemnities of the Order

And whereas by a Statute bearing date the Fifth day of October 1954 it was commanded and enjoined that the said Order should thenceforth consist of The Sovereign and Twenty-five Knights Companions together with certain others as by the said Statute were more particularly defined

And whereas We the Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Garter are desirous of evincing in a fitting manner Our abiding sense of the virtues and worth of Ladies of eminence known to Us by making such of them as We are pleased to choose and select to be Companions of Our said Most Noble Order Now therefore in order the better to effect Our said purpose and to virtue of the power inherent in Us as Sovereign of Our said Most Noble Order We do ordain and declare that henceforth the Companions of Our said Most Noble Order shall be those of Our Subjects both Knights and Ladies as We or Our Successors are pleased to declare to be Knights Companions or Ladies Companions of Our said Most Noble Order and that in the case of a Lady she shall be admitted into the Companionship of Our said Order by the style and title of Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter being accorded in such respect the designation of "Lady" before her Christian or first name her said style and title being expressed by the post-nominal designation of "L.G." and as a Lady Companion of Our said Most Noble Order shall enjoy the like rights and privileges in regard thereto as are now or have been enjoyed hitherto by Knights Companions of Our said Order and shall be subject in like manner as is a Knight Companion to such provisions of the Statutes of Our said Most Noble Order as are appropriate and furthermore shall have a Stall in Our Royal Chapel of Saint George at Windsor assigned to her and shall have a Banner and an Achievement or Stall Plate of her Armorial Bearings erected there and shall have also full power and authority to wear the Habit and Ensigns of Our Most Noble Order and to participate in its celebrations and solemnities any Statute, Decree, Rule or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding

Given at Our Court at Balmoral under Our Royal Sign Manual and the Signet of Our said Order this First day of October One thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven, in the thirty-sixth year of Our Reign

By the Sovereign's Command

Abergavenny

Chancellor of the Most Noble Order of the Garter