Tony Blair joins prestigious Order of the Garter along with Duchess of Cornwall
The honour is a personal choice of the Queen
Last updated 13th Jun 2022
Sir Tony Blair, the Duchess of Cornwall and Baroness Amos have been added as members of the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry.
Members of the order are chosen in recognition for their public service and are personally selected by the Queen.
Baroness Amos becomes the first black member of the order since it was founded in 1348.
The Duke of York, Prince Andrew attended the ceremony today - but did not appear in the public procession.
Who is in the Order of the Garter?
The Order includes the Queen, several senior members of the Royal Family, and twenty-four knights chosen in recognition of their work.
The order includes Marshal of the RAF, Lord Stirrup, former Prime Minister Sir John Major, former MI5 director-general Baroness Manningham-Buller and ex-governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King, Baron King of Lothbury,
The oldest member of the Knights and Ladies Companion of the Order of the Garter is 90-year-old Lord Morris, a former Labour cabinet member.
Sir Tony Blair
The former PM received his knighthood from the Queen on Friday which now makes him eligible to have joined the royal order at the event at Windsor Castle today.
Sir Tony Blair had been one of the longest-serving prime ministers during the Queen's 70-year reign.
It was announced in December that the former Labour leader was to be appointed a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter - the highest possible ranking.
A petition had been launched against Sir Tony receiving a knighthood, due to his involvement in the Iraq War.
More than 1.5 million signatures were gathered on a petition calling for the knighthood to be "rescinded", claiming he was the "least deserving person of any public honour" and that he should be "held accountable for war crimes".
Baroness Amos
Baroness Amos, a former Labour cabinet minister and UN under-secretary, becomes the first black member of the order since it was founded in 1348. She was also the first black person to become a cabinet member.
Baroness Valerie Amos is appointed Lady Companion of the Order.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
Camilla becomes one of the "royal companions", with her appointment seen as a personal sign of approval by the Queen.
During Monday's service, the Duchess of Cornwall was installed as a Royal Lady of the Order of the Garter.
The appointments to the Order of the Garter were announced at New Year, but members are formally recognised at the annual ceremony in June.
This involves a service in St George's Chapel in Windsor, music from a marching band and a procession by members of the order.
The ceremony had been cancelled during the pandemic.
The order, instituted by Edward III, originated from medieval chivalry and senior figures around a monarch.
Prince Andrew will not appear in public for the procession
Prince Andrew did not appear in public for the procession which has been said to be a "family decision". The duke's reputation has been severely tarnished by his involvement in a civil sexual assault case,
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Duke of York will attend the investiture and lunch today but will not be part of the procession or service."
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