The Garter Star made for the thousandth Knight Companion

What the Order is

The Order of the Garter is the most senior of the British honours, and the smallest. Its membership is the Sovereign, the Prince of Wales, a few members of the Royal Family and of foreign royal houses, and twenty-four Knights Companion. No new Knight is appointed until an existing place falls vacant.

The insignia is made up of four parts: the collar, with its appendant badge, the Greater George; the breast star; the Lesser George, worn from a ribbon; and the Garter itself. The star is the piece most frequently worn, and it is the piece we were asked to make.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II appointed Cleave & Company to produce a new Garter Star for the then His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales.

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How we made it

We built the star in sterling silver and silver gilt and set it with vitreous enamels, working to the historic pattern rather than to a new drawing, because the pattern is what makes one Knight’s star agree with another’s. It was hallmarked at the London Assay Office in 2007. We also produced the star in 9ct gold with silver and enamel.

The garter itself is dark blue velvet, carrying the Order’s motto in Old French, Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense, which translates as evil to him who evil thinks. Its buckles are silver gilt and closely engraved, with a portrait of St George at the centre of the buckle.

The Prince of Wales wears the star on full ceremonial occasions. It is not seen on Garter Day; it is worn at State Banquets, most recently at the banquet for Nigeria on 18 March 2026.