The Queen appoints her two younger sons to the Garter

Buckingham Palace has announced that the Queen has been “graciously pleased” to appoint Prince Andrew, the Duke of York and Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex as royal knights of the Order of the Garter for their contribution to national life and for service to the monarch.

The appointment of new Knights and Ladies of the Garter is in The Queen's gift and without Prime Ministerial advice. Appointments to the Order of the Garter are in the same category as the Order of the Thistle, the Order of Merit and the Royal Victorian Order which are also in The Queen's gift.

The Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex will now join the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal and other members of the royal family as royal Knights of the Garter.

The Order of the Garter, founded by King Edward III in 1348, is the most senior British Order of Chivalry and the oldest in the world.

Queen Elizabeth II will invest Prince Andrew and Prince Edward with the insignia of the Garter in the Garter Throne room at Windsor Castle, before their installation in St. George’s Chapel on Garter Day.