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Most Honourable Order of the Bath
Civil Knight Grand Cross Star of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath: 'Rays of silver issuing from a centre and charged with three Imperial Crowns, one and two, within a circle gules whereon inscribed the motto of the Order in gold'[1]
Most Honourable Order of the Bath breast star of a Knight / Dame Grand Cross (Civil Division)
Awarded by

themonarch of the United Kingdom
TypeOrder of chivalry
Established18 May 1725;299 years ago(1725-05-18)
CountryUnited Kingdom
MottoTria juncta in uno('Three joined in one') (Civil Division)
Ich dien(Military Division)
Awarded forService to the Crown
StatusCurrently constituted
FounderGeorge I
SovereignCharles III
Great MasterWilliam, Prince of Wales
GradesKnight/Dame Grand Cross (GCB)
Knight/Dame Commander (KCB/DCB)
Companion (CB)
Former gradesKnight Companion (KB)
Precedence
Next (higher)Order of St Patrick
Next (lower)Order of the Star of India

Order of the Bath ribbon bar

Coat of arms of the British monarch as sovereign of the Order of the Bath.

TheMost Honourable Order of the Bath[2]is a Britishorder of chivalryfounded by KingGeorge Ion 18 May 1725.[3]Recipients of the Order are usually seniormilitaryofficers or seniorcivil servants,and the monarch awards it on the advice of His Majesty's Government.[4][5]The name derives from an elaboratemedievalceremonyfor preparing a candidate to receive hisknighthood,of which ritualbathing(as a symbol ofpurification) was an element. While not all knights went through such an elaborate ceremony, knights so created were known as "knights of the Bath".[6]

George I constituted the Knights of the Bath as a regularmilitary order.[7]He did not revive the order,[8]which did not previously exist, in the sense of a body of knights governed by a set of statutes and whose numbers were replenished when vacancies occurred.[9][10]

The Order consists of theSovereign of the United Kingdom(currentlyKing Charles III), theGreat Master(currentlyWilliam, Prince of Wales), and three Classes of members:[11]

  • Knight Grand Cross (GCB)orDame Grand Cross (GCB);
  • Knight Commander (KCB)orDame Commander (DCB); and
  • Companion (CB).

Members belong to either the Civil Division or the Military Division.[12]Knight Companion (KB), the order's only class prior to 1815, is no longer an option.[13]Commonwealthcitizens who are not subjects of the British monarch and foreign nationals may be made honorary members.[14]

The Order of the Bath is the most senior of theBritish orders of chivalry,after theOrder of the Garter,theOrder of the Thistle,and the (dormant)Order of St Patrick.[15]

History[edit]

Knights of the Bath[edit]

Mildmay Fane, 2nd Earl of Westmorland,KB, with sash,c. 1630

In theMiddle Ages,aknighthoodwas often conferred with elaborate ceremonies. These usually involved the knight-to-be taking a bath (possibly symbolic of spiritualpurification),[16]during which he was instructed in the duties of knighthood by more senior knights. He was then put to bed to dry. Clothed in a special robe, he was led with music to the chapel where he spent the night in avigil.At dawn, he madeconfessionand attendedMass,then retired to his bed to sleep until it was fully daylight. He was then brought before the King, who after instructing two senior knights to buckle thespursto the knight-elect's heels, fastened a belt around his waist, then struck him on the neck (with either a hand or asword), thus making him a knight.[17]It was thisaccoladewhich was the essential act in creating a knight, and a simpler ceremony developed, conferring knighthood merely by striking or touching the knight-to-be on the shoulder with a sword,[18]or 'dubbing' him, as is still done today. In the earlymedievalperiod, the difference seems to have been that the full ceremonies were used for men from more prominent families.[16]

From thecoronationofHenry IVin 1399, the full ceremonies were restricted to major royal occasions, such ascoronations,investitures of thePrince of Walesorroyal dukes,and royal weddings,[19]and the knights so created became known asKnights of the Bath.[16]Knights Bachelorcontinued to be created with the simpler form of ceremony. The last occasion on which Knights of the Bath were created was the coronation ofCharles IIin 1661.[20]

From at least 1625,[21]and possibly from the reign ofJames I,Knights of the Bath were using themottoTria juncta in uno(Latinfor 'Three joined in one'), and wearing as a badge three crowns within a plain gold oval.[22]These were both subsequently adopted by the Order of the Bath; a similar design of badge is still worn by members of the Civil Division. Their symbolism however is not entirely clear. The 'three joined in one' may be a reference to the kingdoms ofEngland,Scotland,and eitherFranceorIreland,which were held (orclaimed in the case of France) by English and, later, British monarchs. This would correspond to the three crowns in the badge.[23]Another explanation of the motto is that it refers to theHoly Trinity.[4]Nicolas quotes a source (although he is sceptical of it) who claims that prior to James I the motto wasTria numina juncta in uno(three powers/gods joined in one), but from the reign of James I, the wordnuminawas dropped, and the motto understood to meanTria [regna] juncta in uno(three kingdoms joined in one).[24]

Foundation of the order[edit]

The prime mover in the establishment of the Order of the Bath wasJohn Anstis,Garter King of Arms,England's highestheraldicofficer.Sir Anthony Wagner,a recent[when?]holder of the office of Garter King of Arms, wrote of Anstis's motivations:

It was Martin Leake's[25]opinion that the trouble and opposition Anstis met with in establishing himself as Garter so embittered him against theheraldsthat when at last in 1718 he succeeded, he made it his prime object to aggrandise himself and his office at their expense. It is clear at least that he set out to make himself indispensable to theEarl Marshal,which was not hard, their political principles being congruous and their friendship already established, but also toSir Robert Walpoleand theWhigministry, which can by no means have been easy, considering his known attachment to thePretenderand the circumstances under which he came into office.... The main object of Anstis's next move, the revival or institution of the Order of the Bath was probably that which it in fact secured, of ingratiating him with the all-powerfulPrime MinisterSir Robert Walpole.[26]

Sir Robert Walpole,who asPrime Ministerused the Order for political patronage

The use of honours in the early eighteenth century differed considerably from the modernhonours system,in which hundreds, if not thousands, of people each year receive honours on the basis of deserving accomplishments. The only honours available at that time were hereditary (not life)peeragesandbaronetcies,knighthoods,and the Order of the Garter (or theOrder of the Thistlefor Scots), none of which were awarded in large numbers (the Garter and the Thistle are limited to twenty-four and sixteen living members respectively). The political environment was also significantly different from today:

The Sovereign still exercised a power to be reckoned with in the eighteenth century. The Court remained the centre of the political world. The King was limited in that he had to choose Ministers who could command a majority inParliament,but the choice remained his. The leader of an administration still had to command the King's personal confidence and approval. A strong following in Parliament depended on being able to supply places, pensions, and other marks of Royal favour to the government's supporters.[27]

AdmiralLord Rodney(appointed a Knight Companion in 1780) wearing the riband and star of the Order.

The attraction of the new Order for Walpole was that it would provide a source of such favours to strengthen his political position. He made sure that most of the 36 new honorees werepeersand MPs who would provide him with useful connections.[28][29]George I having agreed to Walpole's proposal, Anstis was commissioned to draft statutes for the Order of the Bath. As noted above, he adopted the motto and badge used by the Knights of the Bath, as well as the colour of theribandandmantle,and the ceremony for creating a knight. The rest of the statutes were mostly based on those of the Order of the Garter, of which he was an officer (as Garter King of Arms).[30]The Order was founded byletters patentunder theGreat Sealdated 18 May 1725;299 years ago(1725-05-18),and the statutes issued the following week.[31][32]

The Order initially consisted of the Sovereign, a Prince of the blood Royal as Principal Knight, a Great Master, and thirty-five Knights Companion.[33]Seven officers (see below) were attached to the Order. These provided yet another opportunity for political patronage, as they were to besinecuresat the disposal of the Great Master, supported by fees from the knights. Despite the fact that the Bath was represented as a military Order, only a few military officers were among the initial appointments (seeList of knights companion of the Order of the Bath). They may be broken down into categories as follows (some are classified in more than one category):[34]

  • Members of theHouse of Commons:14
  • TheRoyal Householdor sinecures: 11
  • Diplomats: 4
  • The Walpole family, including the Prime Minister: 3
  • Naval and Army officers: 3
  • Irish peers: 2
  • Country gentlemen with Court appointments: 2
Admiral of the FleetSir George Callaghanwearing the insignia of a military Companion of the Order.

The majority of the new Knights Companions were knighted by the King, and invested with their ribands and badges on 27 May 1725.[35]Although the statutes set out the full medieval ceremony which was to be used for creating knights, this was not performed, and indeed, was possibly never intended to be, as the original statutes contained a provision[36]allowing the Great Master to dispense Knights Companion from these requirements. The original knights were dispensed from all the medieval ceremonies with the exception of the Installation, which was performed in the Order's Chapel, theHenry VII ChapelinWestminster Abbey,on 17 June. This precedent was followed until 1812, after which the Installation was also dispensed with, until its revival in the twentieth century.[37]The ceremonies however remained part of the Statutes until 1847.[38]

Although the initial appointments to the Order were largely political, from the 1770s, appointments to the Order were increasingly made fornaval,military,ordiplomaticachievements. This is partly due to the conflicts Britain was engaged in over this period.[20][39]ThePeninsular Warresulted in so many deserving candidates for the Bath, that a statute was issued allowing the appointment ofExtra Knightsin time of war, who were to be additional to the numerical limits imposed by the statutes, and whose number was not subject to any restrictions.[40]Another statute, this one issued some 80 years earlier, had also added a military note to the Order. Each knight was required, under certain circumstances, to supply and support fourmen-at-armsfor a period not exceeding 42 days in any year, to serve in any part of Great Britain.[41]This company was to be captained by the Great Master, who had to supply fourtrumpeters,and was also to appoint eight officers for this body. However, the statute was never invoked.[35]

Restructuring in 1815[edit]

In January 1815, after the end of thePeninsular War,the Prince Regent (laterGeorge IV) expanded the Order of the Bath

to the end that those Officers who have had the opportunities of signalising themselves by eminent services during the late war may share in the honours of the said Order, and that their names may be delivered down to remote posterity, accompanied by the marks of distinction which they have so nobly earned.[13]

The Order was now to consist of three classes: Knights Grand Cross, Knights Commander, and Companions. The existing Knights Companion (of which there were 60)[42]became Knight Grand Cross; this class was limited to 72 members, of which twelve could be appointed for civil or diplomatic services. The military members had to be of the rank of at leastmajor-generalorrear admiral.The Knights Commander were limited to 180, exclusive of foreign nationals holding British commissions, up to ten of whom could be appointed as honorary Knights Commander. They had to be of the rank oflieutenant-colonelorpost-captain.The number of Companions was not specified, but they had to have received amedalor beenmentioned in despatchessince the start of the war in 1803. A list of about 500 names was subsequently published.[43]Two further officers were appointed, an 'Officer of arms attendant on the Knights Commanders and Companions', and a 'Secretary appertaining to the Knights Commanders and Companions'.[13]The large increase in numbers caused some complaints that such an expansion would reduce the prestige of the Order.[4]

Victorian era[edit]

Sir Alexander Milne(1808–1896) was concurrently KCB (civil division) and GCB (military division); he is pictured wearing both sets of insignia.

In 1847,Queen Victoriaissued new statutes eliminating all references to an exclusively military Order. As well as removing the word 'Military' from the full name of the Order, this opened up the grades of Knight Commander and Companion to civil appointments, and the Military and Civil Divisions of the Order were established. New numerical limits were imposed, and the opportunity also taken to regularise the 1815 expansion of the Order.[44][45]The 1847 statutes also abolished all the medieval ritual, but they did introduce a formalInvestitureceremony, conducted by the Sovereign wearing the Mantle and insignia of the Order, attended by the Officers and as many GCBs as possible, in their Mantles.[46]

In 1850, a special statute authorised appointments of Knight Commander and Companion, in the Military Division, toCommissariatandMedical officersserving with theArmyandNavy,including those serving with theEast India Company.[47]

In 1859, a further edition of the Statutes was issued; the changes related mainly to the costs[further explanation needed]associated with the Order. Prior to this date, it had been the policy that the insignia (which were provided by the Crown) were to be returned on the death of the holder; the exception had been foreigners who had been awarded honorary membership. In addition, foreigners had usually been provided with stars made of silver and diamonds, whereas ordinary members had onlyembroideredstars. The decision was made to award silver stars to all members, and only require the return of theCollar.The Crown had also been paying the fees due to the officers of the Order for members who had been appointed for the services in the recent war. The fees were abolished, and replaced with a salary of approximately the same average value. The offices of Genealogist and Messenger were abolished, and those of Registrar and Secretary combined.[48]

Contemporary era[edit]

Air Chief MarshalSir Richard Johnsin his service dress uniform, wearing the star, riband, and badge of a military Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

In 1910, after his accession to the throne,George Vordered the revival of the Installation ceremony,[20]perhaps prompted by the first Installation ceremony of the more juniorOrder of St Michael and St George,held a few years earlier,[49]and the building of a new chapel for the Order of the Thistle in 1911.[50]The Installation ceremony took place on 22 July 1913 in theHenry VII Chapel,[51][52]and Installations have been held at regular intervals since.

Prior to the 1913 Installation, it was necessary to adapt the chapel to accommodate the larger number of members. An appeal was made to the members of the Order, and following the Installation a surplus remained. A Committee was formed from the Officers to administer the 'Bath Chapel Fund', and over time this committee has come to consider other matters than purely financial ones.[53]

Another revision of the statutes of the Order was undertaken in 1925, to consolidate the 41 additional statutes which had been issued since the 1859 revision.[54]

Women were admitted to the Order in 1971.[20]In the 1971New Year Honours,Jean Nunnbecame the first woman admitted to the order.[55]In 1975,Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester,an aunt ofElizabeth II,became the first woman to reach the highest rank, Dame Grand Cross.[20]Princess Alice (née Douglas-Montagu-Scott) was a direct descendant of the Order's first Great Master,[56]and her husband, who had died the previous year, had also held that office. The second Dame Grand Cross,Sally Davies,was appointed in the2020 New Year Honours.[57][58]

Composition[edit]

Sovereign[edit]

TheBritish Sovereignis the Sovereign of the Order of the Bath. As with all honours, except those in the Sovereign's personal gift,[59]the Sovereign makes all appointments to the Order on the advice of theGovernment.

Great Master[edit]

Prince Albert,the Prince Consort, Great Master 1843–1861. During the 19th century, Knights Grand Cross wore theirmantlesover imitations of 17th-century dress. They now wear them over contemporary attire.

The next-most senior member of the Order is the Great Master, of which there have been ten:

Originally a Prince of the Blood Royal, as the Principal Knight Companion, ranked next after the sovereign.[71]This position was joined to that of the Great Master in the statutes of 1847.[72]The Great Master and Principal Knight is now either a descendant of George I or 'some other exalted personage'; the holder of the office has custody of thesealof the order and is responsible for enforcing the statutes.[12]

Members[edit]

Sash and star of Grand Cross, civil division.

The statutes also provide for the following:[20]

  • 120 Knights or Dames Grand Cross (GCB) (of whom the Great Master is the First and Principal);
  • 355 Knights Commander (KCB) or Dames Commander (DCB); and
  • 1,925 Companions (CB).

Regular membership is limited to citizens of the United Kingdom and of other Commonwealth countries of which the British monarch is Sovereign. Appointees are usually officers of the armed forces or senior civil servants, such aspermanent secretaries.[4]

Warrant appointing Italian captain (later admiral)Ernesto Burzaglias an honorary Companion of the Order

Members appointed to the Civil Division must "by their personal services to [the] crown or by the performance of public duties have merited... royal favour."[73]Appointments to the Military Division are restricted by the minimumrankof the individual. GCBs hold the rank ofadmiralin the Royal Navy,generalin theBritish ArmyorRoyal Marines,orair chief marshalin theRoyal Air Force.[14]KCBs must at least hold the rank ofvice admiral,lieutenant generalin the Army or Marines, orair marshal.[74]CBs tend be of the rank ofrear admiral,major generalin the Army, Royal Navy or Royal Marines, orair vice marshalin the Royal Air Force, and in addition must have beenMentioned in Despatchesfor distinction in a command position in a combat situation, although the latter is no longer a requirement. Non-line officers (e.g.engineers,medics) may be appointed only for meritorious service in wartime.[75]

AdmiralSir George ZambellasKCB (military division).

Commonwealth citizens not subjects of the British monarch and foreigners may be made honorary members.[76]Queen Elizabeth II established the custom of appointing visiting (republican) heads of state honorary GCBs, for exampleGustav HeinemannandJosip Broz Tito(in 1972),[77]Ronald Reagan(in 1989),Lech Wałęsa(in 1991),[20]Censu Tabone(in 1992),Fernando Henrique Cardoso,George H. W. Bush(in 1993),[78]Nicolas Sarkozy(in 2008),[79]andSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono(in 2012), as well as Turkish PresidentAbdullah Gül,[80]Slovenian PresidentDanilo Türk,[81]Mexican PresidentFelipe Calderón,and South African PresidentJacob Zuma[82](royal heads of state are instead usually madeStranger Knights and Ladies Companionof theOrder of the Garter). Foreign generals are also often given honorary appointments to the Order, for example: MarshalFerdinand Fochand MarshalJoseph Joffreduring theFirst World War;MarshalGeorgy Zhukov,[83]King Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia,GeneralDwight D. Eisenhower,GeneralGeorge C. Marshall,GeneralDouglas MacArthur,and GeneralGeorge S. Patton Jr.during theSecond World War;[84]and GeneralNorman Schwarzkopfand GeneralColin Powellafter theGulf War.[85][86]A more controversial member of the Order wasRobert Mugabe,whose honour was stripped by the Queen, on the advice of theForeign Secretary,David Miliband,on 25 June 2008 "as a mark of revulsion at the abuse of human rights and abject disregard for the democratic process inZimbabweover which President Mugabe has presided. "[87]

Honorary members do not count towards the numerical limits in each class.[88]In addition, the statutes allow the Sovereign to exceed the limits in time of war or other exceptional circumstances.[89]

Officers[edit]

The office of Dean is held by theDean of Westminster.The King of Arms, responsible forheraldry,is known as Bath King of Arms; he is not, however, a member of theCollege of Arms,like many heralds. The Order's Usher is known as the Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod; he does not, unlike his Order of the Garter equivalent (theGentleman Usher of the Black Rod) perform any duties in theHouse of Lords.[90]

There were originally seven officers, each of whom was to receive fees from the Knights Companion both on appointment, and annually thereafter. The office of Messenger was abolished in 1859.[48]The office of Genealogist was abolished at the same time, but revived in 1913.[91]The offices of Registrar and Secretary were formally merged in 1859, although the two positions had been held concurrently for the previous century.[92]An Officer of Arms and a Secretary for the Knights Commander and Companions were established in 1815,[13]but abolished in 1847.[93]The office of Deputy Secretary was created in 1925.[94]

Under the Hanoverian kings, certain of the officers also held heraldic office. The office ofBlanc Coursier Heraldof Arms was attached to that of the Genealogist,Brunswick Herald of Armsto the Gentleman Usher, and Bath King of Arms was also madeGloucester King of Armswith heraldic jurisdiction over Wales.[95]This was the result of a move by Anstis to give the holders of these sinecures greater security; the offices of the Order of the Bath were held at the pleasure of the Great Master, while appointments to the heraldic offices were made by the King under the Great Seal and were for life.[96]

Habit and insignia[edit]

An embroidered representation, or 'chaton', of the star of the civil division of the Order.
The insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the civil division of the order.
Mantle of the Order.
The insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the military division of the order.
Star and neck badge of a Knight Commander of the civil division of the order.

Members of the Order wear elaborate costumes on important occasions (such as its quadrennial installation ceremonies andcoronations), which vary by rank:

Themantle,worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross, is made ofcrimsonsatinlined with whitetaffeta.On the left side is a representation of the star (see below). The mantle is bound with two large tassels.[97]

Thehat,worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross and Knights and Dames Commander, is made of blackvelvet;it includes an upright plume offeathers.[98]

Thecollar,worn only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross, is made of gold and weighs30troy ounces(933 g).It consists of depictions of nine imperial crowns and eight sets of flowers (rosesfor England,thistlesfor Scotland, andshamrocksfor Ireland), connected by seventeen silver knots.[97]

On lesser occasions, simpler insignia are used: Thestaris used only by Knights and Dames Grand Cross and Knights and Dames Commander. Its style varies by rank and division; it is worn pinned to the left breast:

The star formilitary Knights and Dames Grand Crossconsists of aMaltese Crosson top of an eight-pointed silver star; the star formilitary Knights and Dames Commanderis an eight-pointed silver cross pattée. Each bears in the centre three crowns surrounded by a red ring bearing the motto of the Order in gold letters. The circle is flanked by twolaurelbranches,and is above a scroll bearing the wordsIch dien(older German for 'I serve') in gold letters.[97]Stylised versions of this are known asBath stars,and are used asepaulettepips to indicateBritish Army officer ranksand forpolice ranks.

The star forcivil Knights and Dames Grand Crossconsists of an eight-pointed silver star,withoutthe Maltese cross; the star forcivil Knights and Dames Commanderis an eight-pointed silver cross pattée. The design of each is the same as the design of the military stars, except that the laurel branches and the wordsIch dienare excluded.[97]

Thebadgevaries in design, size, and manner of wearing by rank and division. The Knight and Dame Grand Cross' badge is larger than the Knight and Dame Commander's badge, which is in turn larger than the Companion's badge;[99]however, these are all suspended on a crimson ribbon. Knights and Dames Grand Cross wear the badge on a riband or sash, passing from the right shoulder to the left hip.[97]Knights Commander and male Companions wear the badge from a ribbon worn around the neck. Dames Commander and female Companions wear the badge from a bow on the left side:

Themilitary badgeis a goldMaltese Crossof eight points, enamelled in white. Each point of the cross is decorated by a small gold ball; each angle has a small figure of a lion. The centre of the cross bears three crowns on the obverse side, and a rose, athistleand ashamrock,emanating from asceptreon the reverse side. Both emblems are surrounded by a red circular ring bearing the motto of the Order, which are in turn flanked by two laurel branches, above a scroll bearing the wordsIch dienin gold letters.[97]

Thecivil badgeis a plain gold oval, bearing three crowns on the obverse side, and a rose, athistleand ashamrock,emanating from asceptreon the reverse side; both emblems are surrounded by a ring bearing the motto of the Order.[97]

On certain 'collar days' designated by the Sovereign, members attending formal events may wear the Order's collar over their military uniform or evening wear. When collars are worn (either on collar days or on formal occasions such as coronations), the badge is suspended from the collar.[97]

The collars and badges of Knights and Dames Grand Cross are returned to theCentral Chancery of the Orders of Knighthoodupon the decease of their owners. All other insignia may be retained by their owners.[97]

  • Star, Knight Grand Cross Military Division
    Star, Knight Grand Cross Military Division
  • Neck badge, awarded to Cecil Fane de Salis (1859–1948) in 1935
    Neck badge, awarded to Cecil Fane de Salis (1859–1948) in 1935
  • Star, awarded to Cecil Fane de Salis
    Star, awarded to Cecil Fane de Salis
  • Star and neck Badge awarded to Sir Charles Taylor du Plat
    Star and neck Badge awarded to Sir Charles Taylor du Plat
  • Medal Ribbon of the Order of the Bath
    Medal Ribbon of the Order of the Bath

Chapel[edit]

Westminster Abbeywith a procession of Knights of the Bath, byCanaletto,1749.
Banners of the senior Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in theHenry VII Lady ChapelinWestminster Abbey.

The Chapel of the Order is theHenry VII Lady ChapelinWestminster Abbey.[100]The Sovereign, Great Master, and the Knights and Dames Grand Cross are allottedstallsin thechoirof the chapel, above which theirheraldic devicesare displayed.

Every four years, an installation ceremony, presided over by the Great Master, and a religious service are held in the chapel. The last such service was on Tuesday 24 May 2022, and was presided over by the Prince of Wales.[101]The Sovereign and each knight who has been installed is allotted a stall in thechoirof the chapel.[102]

As there are a limited number of stalls in the chapel, only the most senior Knights and Dames Grand Cross are installed. A stall made vacant by the death of a military Knight Grand Cross is offered to the next most senior uninstalled military GCB, and similarly for vacancies among civil GCBs.[100]Waits between admission to the Order and installation may be very long; for instance,Marshal of the Air Force Lord Craig of Radleywas created a Knight Grand Cross in 1984, but was not installed until 2006.[20]

Above each stall, the occupant's heraldic devices are displayed. Perched on the pinnacle of a knight's stall is hishelm,decorated with amantlingand topped by hiscrest.UnderEnglish heraldic law,women other than monarchs do not bear helms or crests; instead, thecoronetappropriate to the dame's rank (if she is apeeror member ofthe Royal family) is used.[100]

Above the crest or coronet, the knight's or dame's heraldicbanneris hung, emblazoned with his or hercoat of arms.At a considerably smaller scale, to the back of the stall is affixed a piece ofbrass(a 'stall plate') displaying its occupant's name, arms, and date of admission into the Order.

Upon the death of a Knight, the banner, helm, mantling, and crest (or coronet or crown) are taken down. The stall plates, however, are not removed; rather, they remain permanently affixed somewhere about the stall, so that the stalls of the chapel are festooned with a colourful record of the Order's Knights (and now Dames) throughout history.[103]

When the grade of Knight Commander was established in 1815, the regulations specified that they too should have a banner and stall plate affixed in the chapel.[13]This was never implemented (despite some of the KCBs paying the appropriate fees) primarily due to lack of space,[104]although the 1847 statutes allow all three classes to request the erection of a plate in the chapel bearing the member's name, date of nomination, and (for the two higher classes) optionally the coat of arms.[105]

Privileges[edit]

Precedence[edit]

Coat of arms of theMarquess of Carisbrooke(1886–1960) with the circlet and collar as Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

Members of the Order of the Bath are assigned positions in theorder of precedence.[106]Wives of male members also feature on the order of precedence, as do sons, daughters, and daughters-in-law of Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commander; relatives of female members, however, are not assigned any special precedence. Generally, individuals can derive precedence from their fathers or husbands, but not from their mothers or wives. (Seeorder of precedence in England and Walesfor the exact positions.)

Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commander prefix 'Sir', and Dames Grand Cross and Dames Commander prefix 'Dame', to their forenames.[107]Wives of Knights may prefix 'Lady' to their surnames, but no equivalent privilege exists for husbands of Dames. Such forms are not used bypeersandprinces,except when the names of the former are written out in their fullest forms. Furthermore, honorary foreign members andclergymendo not receive the accolade of knighthood, and so are not entitled to the prefix 'Sir', unless the former subsequently become Commonwealth citizens.

Knights and Dames Grand Cross use thepost-nominalGCB; Knights Commander use KCB; Dames Commander use DCB; Companions use CB.[108]

Heraldry[edit]

Knights and Dames Grand Cross are also entitled to receiveheraldic supporters.[109]Furthermore, they may encircle their arms with a depiction of thecirclet(a red circle bearing the motto) with the badge pendant thereto and the collar; the former is shown either outside or on top of the latter.

Knights and Dames Commander and Companions may display the circlet, but not the collar, around their arms. The badge is depicted suspended from the collar or circlet. Members of the Military division may encompass the circlet with 'two laurel branches issuant from anescrolazureinscribedIch dien',as appears on the badge.

Members of the Order of the Bath and their children are able to be married in Westminster Abbey in London.[110]

Revocation[edit]

It is possible for membership in the Order to berevoked.Under the 1725 statutes, the grounds for this wereheresy,high treason,orfleeing from battleout ofcowardice.Knights Companion could in such cases be degraded at the next Chapter meeting. It was then the duty of the Gentleman Usher to 'pluck down the escocheon [i.e. stallplate] of such knight and spurn it out of the chapel' with 'all the usual marks of infamy'.[111]

Only two people were ever degraded:Lord Cochranein 1813, andGeneral Sir Eyre Cootein 1816, both for political reasons, rather than any of the grounds given in the statute. Lord Cochrane was subsequently reinstated, but Coote died a few years after his degradation.[112]

Under Queen Victoria's 1847 statutes, a member 'convicted of treason, cowardice,felony,or any infamous crime derogatory to his honour as a knight or gentleman, or accused and does not submit to trial in a reasonable time, shall be degraded from the Order by a special ordinance signed by the sovereign.' The Sovereign was to be the sole judge, and also had the power to restore such members.[113]

The situation today is that membership may be cancelled or annulled, and the entry in the register erased, by an ordinance signed by the Sovereign and sealed with the seal of the Order, on the recommendation of the appropriate Minister. Such cancellations may be subsequently reversed.[114]

In 1923, the Italian dictatorBenito Mussoliniwas made an honorary Knight Grand Cross, by King George V. Mussolini was stripped of his GCB in 1940, after he had declared war on the UK.[115]

George Pottinger,a senior civil servant, lost both his status of CB andCommander of the Royal Victorian Order(CVO) in 1975 when he was jailed for corruptly receiving gifts from the architectJohn Poulson.[116]

Romanian presidentNicolae Ceauşescuwas stripped of his honorary GCB status by Queen Elizabeth II on 24 December 1989, the day before his execution.Robert Mugabe,thePresident of Zimbabwe,was stripped of his honorary GCB status by the Queen, on the advice of theForeign Secretary,David Miliband,on 25 June 2008, 'as a mark of revulsion at the abuse of human rights and abject disregard for the democratic process inZimbabweover which President Mugabe has presided.'[117]

Vicky Pryce,former wife ofChris Huhne,was stripped of her CB by Queen Elizabeth II on 30 July 2013, following her conviction forperverting the course of justice.[118]

Current Knights and Dames Grand Cross[edit]

Sovereign and Great Master[edit]

Name Year of appointment Present age
The King(ex officio) 1974 as Great Master as The Prince of Wales; Sovereign since 2022 75
The Prince of WalesKG,KT,GCB,PC,ADC 2024 42

Knights and Dames Grand Cross[edit]

Rank (if any) Name Known for Year of appointment Present age
Marshal of the Royal Air Force The Lord Craig of RadleyGCB,OBE Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, RAF Strike Command 1984 94
Sir Clive WhitmoreGCB,CVO Permanent Under-Secretary of State for DefenceandPrincipal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister 1988 89
Sir Peter MiddletonGCB Permanent Secretary to the Treasury 1989 90
Air Chief Marshal Sir Patrick HineGCB,GBE Joint Commander British Forces Gulf War 1989 91
Sir William HeseltineGCB,GCVO,AC,QSO,PC Private Secretary to the Sovereign 1990 88
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Benjamin BathurstGCB,DL Vice-Chief of the Defence StaffandCommander-in-Chief Fleet 1991 88
Sir Terence HeiserGCB Permanent Secretary at theDepartment of the Environment 1992 92
Admiral Sir Jock SlaterGCB,LVO,DL Commander-in-Chief Fleet 1992 86
The Lord Butler of BrockwellKG,GCB,CVO,PC Cabinet Secretaryand Head of the Home Civil Service 1992 86
Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael GraydonGCB,CBE Chief of the Air Staff 1993 85
Field Marshal The Lord Guthrie of CraigiebankGCB,GCVO,OBE,DL Chief of the General Staff 1994 85
General Sir John WatersGCB,CBE Deputy Supreme Allied Commander EuropeandCommander-in-Chief, Land Forces 1994 88
Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael AlcockGCB,KBE,FREng,FIMechE,FRAeS Air Officer Commander-in-Chief,RAF Logistics Command 1995 87
The Lord BurnsGCB Permanent Secretary to the Treasury 1995 80
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard JohnsGCB,KCVO,CBE Chief of the Air Staff 1997 84
General Sir Roger WheelerGCB,CBE Commander-in-Chief, Land Command 1997 82
The Lord FellowesGCB,GCVO,QSO,PC Private Secretary to the Sovereign 1998 82
Field Marshal The Lord Walker of AldringhamGCB,CMG,CBE,DL Commander-in-Chief, Land Command 1999 79
General Sir Jeremy MackenzieGCB,OBE,DL Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe 1999 83
Sir Nigel WicksGCB,CVO,CBE Second Permanent Secretary to the TreasuryandPrincipal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister 1999 84
The Lord Wilson of DintonGCB Cabinet Secretaryand Head of the Home Civil Service 2001 81
Admiral Sir Nigel EssenhighGCB,DL First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval StaffandCommander-in-Chief Fleet 2002 79
Sir Hayden PhillipsGCB,DL Clerk of the Crown in Chancery 2002 81
Sir David OmandGCB Director of the Government Communications Headquarters 2004 77
Admiral The Lord West of SpitheadGCB,DSC,PC First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff 2004 76
General Sir Michael JacksonGCB,CBE,DSO,DL Chief of the General Staff 2004 80
Marshal of the Royal Air Force The Lord StirrupKG,GCB,AFC,FRAeS,FCMI Chief of the Air Staff 2005 74
Sir Richard MottramGCB Permanent Secretary for Intelligence, Security and Resilience 2006 78
The Lord JanvrinGCB,GCVO,QSO,PC Private Secretary to the Sovereign 2007 77
General The Lord DannattGCB,CBE,MC,DL Chief of the General Staff 2008 73
Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn TorpyGCB,CBE,DSO Chief of the Air Staff 2008 70
Admiral Sir Jonathon BandGCB,DL First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval StaffandCommander-in-Chief Fleet 2008 74
Admiral Sir Mark StanhopeGCB,OBE,DL First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff,Commander-in-Chief FleetandVice-Admiral of the United Kingdom 2010 72
General The Lord Houghton of RichmondGCB,CBE,DL Vice-Chief of the Defence StaffandChief of Joint Operations 2011 69
Sir David NormingtonGCB Permanent Under-Secretary of State of the Home Officeand Permanent Secretary at theDepartment for Education and Skills 2011 72
General The Lord Richards of HerstmonceuxGCB,CBE,DSO,DL Chief of the Defence StaffandChief of the General Staff 2011 72
The Lord O'DonnellGCB,FBA,FAcSS Cabinet Secretaryand Head of the Home Civil Service 2011 71
Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen DaltonGCB,ADC,FRAeS Chief of the Air Staff 2012 70
General Sir Peter WallGCB,CBE,DL Chief of the General StaffandCommander-in-Chief, Land Forces 2013 68
The Lord Macpherson of Earl's CourtGCB Permanent Secretary to the Treasury 2015 64
Admiral Sir George ZambellasGCB,DSC,ADC,DL,FRAeS First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval StaffandFleet Commander 2016 66
Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew PulfordGCB,CBE,ADC Chief of the Air Staff 2016 66
The Lord GeidtGCB,GCVO,OBE,QSO,PC,FKC Private Secretary to the Sovereign 2018 62
General Sir Nicholas CarterGCB,CBE,DSO Chief of the Defence StaffandChief of the General Staff 2019 65
Dame Sally DaviesGCB,DBE,FRS,FMedSci Master of Trinity College, CambridgeandChief Medical Officer for England 2019 74
Admiral Sir Philip JonesGCB,ADC,DL First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff 2020 64
Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen HillierGCB,CBE,DFC Chief of the Air Staff 2020 61–62
Sir Tom ScholarGCB Permanent Secretary to the Treasury 2023 55
The Lord Young of Old WindsorGCB,GCVO,PC Private Secretary to the Sovereign 2023 57
General Sir Mark Carleton-SmithGCB,CBE,DL Chief of the General StaffandDirector Special Forces 2023 60

Honorary Knights and Dames Grand Cross[edit]

Country Name Office when appointed Year of appointment Present age Notes
Portugal António Ramalho EanesGCB 16thPresident of Portugal 1978 89 Recipient of theRoyal Victorian Chain
Nigeria Ibrahim BabangidaGCB 8thPresident of Nigeria 1989 82
Iceland Vigdís FinnbogadóttirGCB,GCMG 4thPresident of Iceland 1990 94
Poland Lech WałęsaGCB 2ndPresident of Poland 1991 80
Brunei Hassanal BolkiahGCB,GCMG 29thSultan of Brunei 1992 77 In both the Military and Civil Divisions; alsoHonorary Admiralin theRoyal NavyandHonorary Air Chief Marshalin theRoyal Air Force
Poland Aleksander KwaśniewskiGCB,GCMG 3rdPresident of Poland 1996 69
Brazil Fernando Henrique CardosoGCB 34thPresident of Brazil 1997 93
Jordan Abdullah II of JordanGCB,GCMG,KCVO King of Jordan 2001 62 Colonel-in-Chief of theLight Dragoons
South Africa Thabo MbekiGCB,GCMG,KStJ 2ndPresident of South Africa 2001 82
Nigeria Olusegun ObasanjoGCB 12thPresident of Nigeria 2003 87
Germany Horst KöhlerGCB 9thPresident of Germany 2004 81
Malta Eddie Fenech AdamiGCB 7thPresident of Malta 2005 90
Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaGCB 35thPresident of Brazil 2006 78
Lithuania Valdas AdamkusGCB 9thPresident of Lithuania 2006 97
Latvia Vaira Vīķe-FreibergaGCB,OC,OQ 6thPresident of Latvia 2006 86
Estonia Toomas Hendrik IlvesGCB 4thPresident of Estonia 2006 70
Ghana John KufuorGCB 2ndPresident of Ghana 2007 85
Turkey Abdullah GülGCB 11thPresident of Turkey 2008 74
France Nicolas SarkozyGCB 23rdPresident of France 2008 69
Slovenia Danilo TürkGCB 4thPresident of Slovenia 2008 72
Mexico Felipe CalderónGCB 56thPresident of Mexico 2009 61
South Africa Jacob ZumaGCB 4thPresident of South Africa 2010 82
Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al ThaniGCB,GCMG Emir of Qatar 2010 72
Indonesia Susilo Bambang YudhoyonoGCB,GCL,AC 6thPresident of Indonesia 2012 74
South Korea Park Geun-hyeGCB 11thPresident of South Korea 2013 72
France François HollandeGCB,OQ 24thPresident of France 2014 69
Singapore Tony TanGCB 7thPresident of Singapore 2014 84
Mexico Enrique Peña NietoGCB 57thPresident of Mexico 2015 58
Germany Joachim GauckGCB 11thPresident of Germany 2015 84
Colombia Juan Manuel SantosGCB 32ndPresident of Colombia 2016 72
South Africa Cyril RamaphosaGCB 5thPresident of South Africa 2022 71
Germany Frank-Walter SteinmeierGCB 12thPresident of Germany 2023 68
France Emmanuel MacronGCB,CBE 25thPresident of France 2023 46
South Korea Yoon Suk YeolGCB 13thPresident of South Korea 2023 63

Officers[edit]

Coat of arms of the Air Chief MarshalSir Peter Squire,Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

The Order of the Bath now[when?]has six officers:[119]

See also[edit]

For people who have been appointed to the Order of the Bath, see the following categories:

Notes[edit]

  1. ^Montague-Smith, P.W., ed. (1968).Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Companionage.Kingston-upon-Thames:Kelly's Directories Ltd.p. 896.
  2. ^The word 'Military' was removed from the name byQueen Victoriain 1847. Letters Patent dated 14 April 1847, quoted inStatutes1847.
  3. ^Statutes1725, although Risk says 11 May
  4. ^abcd"Order of the Bath".Royal.gov.uk.Official website of the British monarchy. Archived fromthe originalon 2 January 2012.Retrieved9 December2011.
  5. ^Statutes1925, articles 8–12.
  6. ^Anstis,Observations,p. 4.
  7. ^Letters patent dated 18 May 1725, quoted inStatutes1725.
  8. ^The purely legendary pre-history was associated withHenry IV.
  9. ^Wagner,Heralds of England,p 357, referring to John Anstis, who proposed the Order, says: "He had the happy inspiration of reviving this ancient name and chivalric associations, but attaching it, as it never had been before, to an Order or company of knights."
  10. ^Perkins,The Most Honourable Order of the Bath,p. 1: "It can scarcely be claimed that a properly constituted Order existed at any time during the preceding centuries [prior to the reign of Charles II]".
  11. ^Statutes1925, article 2.
  12. ^abStatutes1925, article 5.
  13. ^abcde"No. 16972".The London Gazette.4 January 1815. pp. 17–20.
  14. ^abStatutes1925, article 8.
  15. ^See, for example,the order of wear for orders and decorationsArchived28 January 2007 at theWayback Machine,the Royal Warrant defining precedence in Scotland ("No. 27774".The London Gazette.14 March 1905. pp. 2012–2014.), or the discussion of precedence athttp://www.heraldica.org/topics/britain/order_precedence.htm
  16. ^abcRisk,History of the Order of the Bath,p. 6.
  17. ^The Manner of making Knights after the custom of England in time of peace and at the Coronation, that is Knights of the Bath,quoted in Perkins, pp. 5–14.
  18. ^According to Anstis (Observations,p. 73) such knights were sometimes known asKnights of the SwordorKnights of the Carpet
  19. ^Anstis, p. 66.
  20. ^abcdefgh"Order of the Bath feature article".Royal.gov.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 29 September 2006.Retrieved9 September2006.
  21. ^Risk, p. 114.
  22. ^Nicolas,History of the orders of knighthood of the British empire,p. 38–39.
  23. ^The later usage by the Order of the Bath does not make things any clearer. The presence of therose,thistle,andshamrock(symbols of England,Scotland,and Ireland, respectively) in the Collar supports the above claim. The shamrocks however were not added until the 19th century, probably as a result of a suggestion of SirJoseph Banks,who in his proposal observed that the presence of the shamrock would "greatly augment the meaning of the motto" (Risk, p 115). A further explanation for the crowns is provided in the 1725 statutes of the Order. Thecoat of armswhich was to appear on the Order's seal (Azure three imperial crowns Or,that is, three gold imperial crowns on a blue background) was described as being anciently attributed to King Arthur.
  24. ^Nicolas, p 38, quoting Bishop KennetRegister and Chronicle Ecclesiastical and Civil from the Restoration of King Charles II faithfully taken from the manuscripts of the Lord Bishop of Peterborough,(1728) p. 410.
  25. ^Garter King of Arms from 1754 to 1773, and anofficer of armsfor some 25 years before that
  26. ^Wagner, pp. 348, 357.
  27. ^Risk, p. 2.
  28. ^Hanham, Andrew (2016).The Politics of Chivalry: Sir Robert Walpole, the Duke of Montagu and the Order of the Bath.Vol. 35. Parliamentary History. pp. 262–297.
  29. ^In the words of his son, Horace Walpole, "The Revival of the Order of the Bath was a measure of Sir Robert Walpole, and was an artful bank of favours in lieu of places. He meant to stave off the demand for Garters, and intended that the Red [i.e. the Order of the Bath] should be a step to the Blue [theOrder of the Garter]; and accordingly took one of the former for himself. "Horace Walpole,Reminiscences(1788)
  30. ^Nicolas, p. 237–238, footnote.
  31. ^Risk, p. 4.
  32. ^Statutes1725.
  33. ^Statutes1725, article 2.
  34. ^Risk, p. 15, 16.
  35. ^abRisk, p. 16.
  36. ^Statutes1725, article 6, the same article which state "[the Great Master shall] take especial care that... the antient Rituals belonging to this Knighthood be observed with the greatest Exactness"
  37. ^No Installation had been held between 1812 and the coronation of George IV in 1821, by which time the number of knights exceeded the number of stalls in the chapel. To allow the knights to wear their collars at the coronation (which they could not do until installed), they were dispensed from the Installation, and this precedent was subsequently followed. (Risk, p. 43).
  38. ^Risk, p. 10.
  39. ^Risk, p. 20.
  40. ^Statute dated 8 May 1812, quoted inStatutes1847.
  41. ^Statute dated 20 April 1727, quoted inStatutes1847.
  42. ^The Times,10 January 1815, p. 3.
  43. ^"No. 17061".The London Gazette.16 September 1815. pp. 1877–1882.
  44. ^Letters Patent dated 14 April 1847.
  45. ^The document by which the Prince Regent modified the structure of the Order in 1815 was a Warrant under theRoyal sign-manual.This is of lesser authority than Letters Patent under the Great Seal, by which the Order and its Statutes were originally established. It had been questioned on a number of occasions whether the Statutes of the Order could be modified by anything less than such Letters Patent. The 1847 Letters Patent retroactively confirmed the validity of the 1815 document and the subsequent appointments to the Order
  46. ^Risk, p. 61.
  47. ^Special statute 1850."No. 21127".The London Gazette.16 August 1850. p. 2242.
  48. ^abRisk, p. 70.
  49. ^Risk, p. 89.
  50. ^Perkins, p. 122.
  51. ^Risk, p. 92.
  52. ^Perkins, pp. 124–131.
  53. ^Risk, pp. 95–96.
  54. ^16 in Queen Victoria's reign, 6 inEdward VII's and 19 in George V's. (Risk, p. 97)
  55. ^Allen, Philip(2004)."Nunn, Jean Josephine (1916–1982)".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/66883.Retrieved16 May2014.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
  56. ^Risk, p. 102.
  57. ^"No. 62866".The London Gazette(Supplement). 28 December 2019. p. N3.
  58. ^"New Year Honours list 2020 – Awards for NY2020"(PDF).GOV.UK.HM Government.Retrieved30 August2023.
  59. ^The Order of the Garter, the Order of the Thistle, the Order of Merit and the Royal Victorian Order
  60. ^"No. 6376".The London Gazette.25 May 1725. p. 1.
  61. ^Nicolas, Appendix p. lxx gives the first four Great Masters, although he considers the latter three to have only been acting Great Masters
  62. ^"No. 19570".The London Gazette.19 December 1837. p. 3309.
  63. ^"No. 19592".The London Gazette.23 February 1838. p. 407.
  64. ^Prince Albert was appointed acting Great Master sometime in 1843, and the appointment was made substantive by the 1847 Statutes, article 4. Risk says that he was appointed acting Great Master on 31 March 1843, howeverThe Times,reporting the death of the Duke of Sussex (22 April 1843, pp. 4–5) says that the office of acting Great Master became vacant on his death. At any rate, when the executors of the Duke of Sussex delivered his insignia together with the seal and statutes to the Queen on 20 June (The Times,21 June 1843, p. 6) Prince Albert was then acting Great Master.
  65. ^"No. 20737".The London Gazette.25 May 1847. pp. 1947–1957.
  66. ^The Times,22 June 1897, p. 10.
  67. ^"No. 27289".The London Gazette.26 February 1901. p. 1414.
  68. ^The Times,25 February 1942, p. 7.
  69. ^"No. 46428".The London Gazette.10 December 1974. p. 12559.
  70. ^Milss, Rhiannon (23 April 2024)."King recognises Queen and Prince William in honours list and creates new role for Kate, Princess of Wales".Sky News.Retrieved23 April2024.
  71. ^Statutes1725, article 4.
  72. ^Letters Patent dated 14 April 1847, quoted inStatutes1847.
  73. ^Statutes1925, article 9.
  74. ^Statutes1925, article 10.
  75. ^Statutes1925, article 12.
  76. ^Statutes1925, article 15.
  77. ^The Times,25 October 1972, p. 21.
  78. ^The Times,1 December 1993, p. 24.
  79. ^Samuel, Henry (27 March 2008)."Nicolas Sarkozy awarded honorary title".Telegraph.co.uk.London,England:The Daily Telegraph.Archived fromthe originalon 1 April 2008.Retrieved24 December2008.
  80. ^"Abdullah Gül".tccb.gov.tr.Presidency of the Republic of Turkey.Retrieved4 April2012.
  81. ^"Queen begins state visit to Slovenia".BBC News.21 October 2008.Retrieved22 October2008.
  82. ^Monare, Moshoeshoe (6 March 2010)."Zuma's taste of British protocol".Iol.co.za.Independent Online.Retrieved9 December2011.
  83. ^The Times,Issue 50193; 13 July 1945; p. 4; col A.
  84. ^The Times,27 May 1943, p. 4.
  85. ^The Times,21 May 1991.
  86. ^Branigan, Tania (12 May 2004)."Colin Powell claims Scottish coat of arms".The Guardian.London,England.Retrieved24 December2008.
  87. ^Smyth, Chris (25 June 2008)."Queen strips Robert Mugabe of knighthood in 'revulsion' at violence".TimesOnline.co.uk.London,England:The Times.Retrieved24 December2008.
  88. ^Statutes1925, article 18.
  89. ^"In the event of any future wars or of any action or services civil or military meriting peculiar honour and reward... to increase the numbers in any of the said classes and in any of the said divisions".Statutes1925, article 17.
  90. ^Marks & Payne 1978, p. 123
  91. ^Risk, p. 93.
  92. ^Risk, pp. 13, 70.
  93. ^Statutes1847, article 15.
  94. ^Risk, 1972, p. 95
  95. ^Statute dated 17 January 1726 (according to Risk, p. 14). Both the 1812 and 1847 editions of the Statutes give the date as 17 January 1725, but this is most probably a misprint since the Order was not founded until May 1725, and the additional statute also specified the office holders by name.
  96. ^Risk, p. 14.
  97. ^abcdefghiStatutes1925, article 23.
  98. ^The hat was made of white satin (Statutes1725, article 8), but was changed to black velvet at the command of George IV for his coronation (Nicolas, p. 198). The hat is not explicitly specified in the 1847 or 1925 statutes
  99. ^Statutes1925, articles 23, 24, 25.
  100. ^abcStatutes1925, article 21.
  101. ^"Westminster Abbey: Abbey welcomes HRH The Prince of Wales to Bath service; Tuesday, 24th May 2022".Westminster-Abbey.org.Westminster Abbey.
  102. ^Statutes1812, article 8
  103. ^Perkins 1920, p. 107
  104. ^Risk, p. 40.
  105. ^Statutes1847, article 18.
  106. ^Statutes1925, article 22.
  107. ^Statutes1925, article 20.
  108. ^"Order of the Bath".debretts.com.Archived fromthe originalon 28 March 2016.The post-nominal letters are not mentioned in the Statutes of the Order.
  109. ^Statutes1925, article 28.
  110. ^ "FAQ: Westminster Abbey".Westminster-Abbey.org.Archived fromthe originalon 28 February 2011.Retrieved9 April2016.
  111. ^Statutes1725, article 3.
  112. ^Risk, p. 30.
  113. ^Statutes1847, article 26.
  114. ^Statutes1925, article 30.
  115. ^Tharoor, Ishaan (1 February 2012)."Disgraced British Knights: A Not-So-Chivalrous History".world.Time.com.Time.Retrieved1 August2016.
  116. ^"No. 46561".The London Gazette.2 May 1975. p. 5731.
  117. ^Smyth, Chris (25 June 2008)."Queen strips Robert Mugabe of knighthood in 'revulsion' at violence".TheTimes.co.uk.The Times.Retrieved8 May2021.
  118. ^"No. 60583".The London Gazette.30 July 2013. p. 14994.
  119. ^Court Circular,17 May 2006.
  120. ^"Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood".TheGazette.co.uk.The London Gazette, HM Government. 7 December 2018.Retrieved22 December2018.
  121. ^"Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood".TheGazette.co.uk.The London Gazette, HM Government. 5 July 2024.Retrieved6 July2024.
  122. ^"Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood".TheGazette.co.uk.The London Gazette, HM Government. 5 July 2024.Retrieved6 July2024.

References[edit]

External links[edit]

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