Tales of 1,000 knights
LONDON (AP) — Prince William was made a Royal
Knight of the Garter on June 23 at a ceremony presided over by his grandmother —
the British monarch — and attended by his father, brother and girlfriend.
Queen Elizabeth II made William the 1,000th knight to
join the order and formally presented him with the regalia, including a blue
garter, sash and star brooch.
After the ceremony at Windsor Castle, the knights wore
their traditional ostrich feather hats and velvet robes as they walked to St.
George’s chapel in the castle grounds for a service.
William’s girlfriend Kate Middleton, dressed in a black
suit and hat, watched the procession with his brother Prince Harry.
The
Order of the Garter was established in 1348; the monarch can give the honor to
anyone she chooses without advice from government ministers. It is meant to
honor those who have held public office, who have contributed to national life
or who have served the queen personally. William, 25, is second in line to the
throne after his father, Prince Charles.