The Oldest and Highest British Order of Chivalry, founded in 1348 by Edward III.

Today The Order consists of Her Majesty The King who is Sovereign of the

Order, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and 24 Knights Companions.

The Order of the Garter is the most senior and the oldest British Order of Chivalry and was founded by Edward III in 1348. The Order consists of the Sovereign, The Prince of Wales and twenty-four knights, plus Royal Knights. Every Knight is required to display his individual Crest a, along with a Banner of his Coat of Arms in St George’s Chapel Windsor together with a Sword, and enamel stall plate 

These Crowns, Coronets, Badges and Crests created by Sculptor Ian GB, have been placed on display upon a 15th Century style Great Battle Helmet upon the Knights Stall (seat) beneath their Banner, within the historic Medieval St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle and also upon the Knights Stall in Henry V11 Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey since 1989. Many of which are shown below in St George's Chapel Windsor Castle during February 2025. 

A360 deg view of St George's Chapel Windsor Castle.

Please click the image above to view a 30sec video of the Garter crests in position in a new window.

(Tip: When the new window opens, click the full screen option at the bottom right of the window. Once viewed, Reduce the window size and then click the back button on the browser window to return to this page.)

The procession in 2023 was shown outside St George’s Chapel of the Ladies and Knights of the Garter and Royal Ladies and Knights Prince William. The Prince of Wales -Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne. The Princess Royal. Along with Sir Tony Blair King Charles, Queen Camila whose Swan Crest and Queen Camilla’s Crown Ian recently completed were then placed above their stalls (seats) in the historic Medieval Chapel. 

The recently completed Mute Swan Crest placed in position above former Prime Minister Sir Tony's Blairs Stall (seat) along with Queen Camilla’s completed Crown now placed alongside the Princess Royal’s Coronet Ian completed over two decades earlier. 

The Crown for HRH Queen Camilla – The Swan Crest for former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair.

In early 2024 Ian was working on nine totally different Crests,Badges and a Coronet for the latest Knights and Ladies of the Garter and Knights of the Bath. On this occasion these Crests were also being worked on alongside Ian’s early stage carved plaster ‘master copies' of Kings Charles 111 New Arms, alongside Ian’s early stages carved lime wood version of the Kings ‘Lesser’ Arms. 

Ian GB in his studio putting the finishing touches to the Swan Crest for Garter Knight and former British Prime Minister Sit Tony Blair and the Crown for Queen Camila. Often working into the early hours to try and ensure they are all complete in time for the ancient Garter and Bath Services. Which has sometimes meant that he was working throughout the day and often into the early hours often being accompanied over the years by a variety of different often curious local wildlife who casually wander into his studio from the Forest beyond.  

The Mute Swan Crest for former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair and the Crown for HM Queen Camilla. 

These individual Knight of the Garter Crests have been created in three-dimensions by Sculptor Ian GB since 1989 and are then placed on display upon a 15th Century style Great Battle Helmet upon the Knights Stall (seat) beneath the Knights Banner, within the historic Medieval St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle with the latest Crests and Coronet shown below being delivered to the Chapel in February 2026.  

St George’s Chapel Windsor

During another rather busy period several years earlier Ian was also working on a carved oak high bas-relief Coat of Arms for St Paul's Cathedral, along with various Crowns, Coronets and Crests commissioned for Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle. Including those for a Marshal of the RAF, an Admiral, four Knights of the Realm, three Lords, a former Olympic Gold Medallist and two European Kings.

These individual Knights of the Garter Crowns, Coronets, Badges and Crests have been placed on display upon a 15th Century style Great Battle Helmet upon the Knights Stall (seat) beneath the Knights Banner, within the historic Medieval St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. 

The crests and coronets pictured above were commissioned for : -

Lady Soames LG - (Coronet): Lord Bingham of Cornhill KG (Griffin): Sir John Major KG (Stag) --- the Royal Crests for HRH Prince Edward The Earl of Wessex and former HRH Prince Andrew The Duke of York, now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor  --- Sir Thomas Dunne (snakes) : HRH Prince William:  Lord Luce (swan) 

Crowns, Coronets and Crests for the Royal Knights, Extra Knights and Ladies, Knights and more recently, Lady Companions of the Most Noble Order of the Garter have been placed above the Knights stalls (seats) in St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle for well over three decades.

Three Knights of the Garter Crests alongside four Knights of the Bath Crest awaiting delivery to Windsor Castle and Westminster Abbey

St George's Chapel Windsor Castle

A small selection of the thirty nine Knights of the Garter Crowns, Coronets and Crests carved by Ian G Brennan placed upon the Knights Helmets in St George's Chapel Windsor.

Please click image to enlarge

Each of these Royal Crowns, Coronets or Knights Crests can take Ian between three and six weeks to produce depending on complexity, with the sizes range from between 12 - 28 inches high. The Royal Crowns and Coronets gilded rims are often set with large painted silver ‘balls’ or ‘pearls’ Ian, or when appropriate for Sovereigns, the jewels are coloured. The golden arches Ian also produces for many of the different Sovereigns Crowns are often fitted with rows of large white or silver ‘pearls,’ Ian has added over the years which were then placed above either open Crowns, or above the painted crimson caps. 

On 23 April in 2006, St George's day; HRH Prince Andrew The Duke of York and Prince Edward The Earl of Wessex were both made Royal Knights of the Garter by Her Majesty the Queen. The Duke of York and Prince Edward The Earl of Wessex were both appointed to this the most senior British order of chivalry amid a weekend of celebrations to mark Her Majesty's 80th birthday.

This high honour recognises their seniority with the Royal Family and joins their father HRH Prince Philip, their brother HRH The Prince of Wales and sister The Princess Royal and more recently in 2008 HRH Prince William of Wales in the Order. 

    Crest for HRH Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex  -  Crest for HRH Prince Andrew the Duke of York, now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor  -  The Duke of York’s Crest has now been removed from St George’s Chapel.

The Royal Crests for The Duke of York and The Earl of Wessex which Ian created during 2006 were then placed above the Royal Knights stalls in St George's Chapel Windsor Castle. To distinguish the two Princess crests each of the central points on the white labels around the Lions necks have their own individual design; an anchor for The Duke of York and the Tudor rose for The Earl of Wessex. 

HRH Prince William’s Royal Crest – The Prince’s Crest and Sword in St Georges Chapel Windsor – the small red escallop.

HRH Prince William’s Royal Crest and Sword made by Ian G Brennan now placed upon the Prince’s helmet in St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle. As the second in line to the British throne; Prince William of Wales like his father the Prince of Wales, also uses a white label of three points but in addition on the lion is a small carved red ‘escallop’ to honour the memory of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales. The decision for Prince William to recognise his mother this way is a break with tradition as it is highly unusual for members of the Royal Family to include maternal symbols in their heraldic emblems.

The Knights and Ladies of the Garter Crowns, Coronets, Badges and Crests, placed in position within St George's Chapel Windsor during January 2026.

The Crown for King Harald V, KG of Norway

H.R.H the Princess Royal, G.C.V.O. F.R.S Lady of the Order of the Garter	H.M  Juan Carlos I, King of Spain	H.M  Beatrix, Queen of the Netherlands
H.R.H  The Duke of Gloucester, K.G, G.C.V.O	His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan	The Lord Kingsdown, K.G, P.C
Sir William Gladstone KG	Sir Edward Heath KG, M.B.E	The Lord Sainsbury, K.G
Lord Leverhulme KG	Field Marshal Lord Inge, KG	The Duke of Abercorn, K.G
Sir Ninian Stephen, K.G, P.C	Sir Edmund Hillary, K.G, O.N.Z, K.B.E	Sir Timothy Colman  K.G
Margaret, Baroness Thatcher LG, O.M, F.R.S, P.C	The Duke of Devonshire, K.G, M.C .P.C	Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk   L.G. C.B.E
The Duke of Wellington KG, L.V.O, O.B.E,  M.C	The Lord Ashburton  K.G,  K.C.V.O	Field Marshal Lord Bramall K.G, G.C.B, O.B.E, M.C.
HRH The Princess Alexandra. LG	The Viscount Ridley K.G, G.C.V.O, T.D	Lady Soames LG
The Duke of Westminster, KG	The Right Honourable Lord Butler  of Brockwell, KG	The Right Honourable Lord Morris  of Aberavon, KG
Lord Bingham of Corhill KG	Sir Antony Acland, KG	Sir John Major KG
Sir Thomas Dunne	Lord Luce	HRH Prince William
Baroness Manningham-Buller	Lord Stirrup	Lord King of Lothbury
The former HRH The Duke of York crest	HRH Prince Edward; The Earl of Wessex	Lord Shuttleworth
Sir David Brewer	Admiral Lord Boyce	Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers
Lady Mary Fagan Garter Crest	Lord Brookeborough	King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
King Felipe V1 of Spain	The Marquess of Salisbury	Lady Mary Peters
The Duchess of Cornwall	Lady Amos	Sir Tony Blair
Queen Camilla	Baroness Ashton	Lord Patten
Duchess of Gloucester	Lord Peach	Lord Kakkar

 

 

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Various Bath and Garter Crests and a Crown being created in three-dimensions by Ian GB. during 2019. 

 

 Ian in his studio working on the Crown for Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and King Juan Carlos’s Son, King Felipe V1 of Spain in 1989. Both Crowns were then placed in position in St George’s Chapel Windsor.

   

 

Although when the Crowns and Crests are placed high upon the Knights helmets high up in the Chapel. A lot of the detail cannot be seen from below, Ian still chooses to produce, whenever possible, the Crowns and Crests in detail on all sides. 

Beneath the Knights Crest in St George’s Chapel are placed the Knights swords; These swords have for centuries been carved from pine wood, a tradition Ian continued with when he was commissioned to produce some new swords in 2008 for the latest Knights, including Prince William sword which he also carved mostly from Scots pine.

 

Prince Williams’s sword before and after painting gilding

 

Once the swords were carved they were then painted and gilded, Ian then spent several more hours aging the swords so they would blend in with the other swords in the Chapel which were originally produced in the Middle Ages.

 

HRH Prince William’s carved Knight of the Garter Sword

 

When Ian was carving Prince Williams sword, he was also carving a the sculpture of HMS Victory from original oak removed from the lower gun deck of HMS Victory; so he decided to set into the hilt of the Prince’s sword a piece of original Victory oak from Lord Nelson’s Flagship, as Prince William being second in line to the British Throne; the future King of England will one day also be the Head of the Senior Service; The Royal Navy.

 

Prince William’s Royal Arms

 

Prince William’s royal crest design on the royal coat of arms drawing shows the royal lion standing upon the top of an open ducal coronet, which as a drawing works very well, unfortunately the difficulties in producing exactly as originally designed, a three dimensional version with the lion standing around the top of the coronet has always been a problem since the middle ages as it is not possible to carve a lion in three dimensions in the correct pose, which would enable all four of the lions legs to fit on the top of the coronet; 

Many different solutions have been attempted over the centuries without much real success. Compromises were made, such as the lion standing inside the open coronet; as instructed to do for the Duke of Gloucester shown below and also the Lion straddled across the top of the coronet as with the royal crest for the Duke of Windsor, before Ian created three such Royal Lions Crest for Prince Andrew and Prince Edward’s and Prince William.

 

Prince William’s Crest being made in Ian’s studio

 

When Ian was commissioned in 2006 to carve Prince Andrew and Prince Edward’s royal crest this long standing problem creating a lion sculpture standing around the top of the coronet once again materialise, so Ian suggested that he could set a thin ‘pole’ in the middle of the coronet for one of the lions legs to rest on, as this gilded pole would not be seen when viewed from below in the Chapel. This idea was approved for both Princes royal crests and two years later Ian used the same technique when he was commissioned to create Prince Williams’s royal crest.

 

   

Crest for Duke of Gloucester-the Duke of Windsor – Prince William.

 

 

 

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Three  Garter Knights Crests, at the early roughed out stages of the carving

( lime wood 24 inches high approx )

 

 

A close up of some of the Crests by Ian in position above the Knights Stalls (Seats) in St George's Chapel Windsor Castle. These include the coronet for Baroness Margaret, Baroness Thatcher - Sir Timothy Colman K.G (wings) - Sir Edward Heath KG (swan) The Lord Butler of Brockwell, K.G (badger) and Field Marshal Lord Bramall (Lion)

 

 

The Coronet and Crests for; Lady Soames LG - Lord Bingham of Cornhill KG ; and Sir John Major KG now in position in St George's Chapel Windsor Castle

 

For a panoramic view of many of the 39 Royal Crowns, Coronets and Crests created by Ian G Brennan between 1989 and 2009 commissioned for the Royal Knights, Knights and Ladies of the Most Noble Order of the Garter in St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle. Please click here.

 

St George's Chapel Windsor Castle

please click to enlarge

 

POSITION OF THE GARTER CRESTS IN THE CHOIR IN ST GEORGE'S CHAPEL DURING 2007

ORGAN SCREEN

South Side                                                                                         North Side

HIGH ALTAR

 

 

 

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GARTER CRESTS IN THE CHOIR IN ST GEORGE'S CHAPEL DURING 2026

(The dates shown are those of nomination or declaration as KG or LG. Names are in order of seniority within the Order.) 

The King & The Queen HRH The Prince of Wales 1979 HM Queen Margrethe of Denmark 1983 HM King Carl Gustaf of Sweden 1985 HRH The Duke of Kent 1988 HM King Juan Carlos of Spain 1989 HRH Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands 1994 HRH The Princess Royal 1997 HRH The Duke of Gloucester 1998 HIM Emperor Emeritus Akihito of Japan 2001 HM King Harald of Norway 2003 HRH Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy 2006 HRH The Duke of York: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh 2017 HM King Felipe of Spain 2018 HM King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands 1999 The Duke of Abercorn.

2003 The Lord Butler of Brockwell, 2005 Sir John Major 2008, The Lord Luce: Sir Thomas Dunne 2011, The Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers 2013, Marshal of the Royal Air Force The Lord Stirrup 2014, The Baroness Manningham-Buller: The Lord King of Lothbury 2016, The Lord Shuttleworth 2018 The Viscount Brookeborough:, Lady Mary Fagan 2019, The Marquess of Salisbury: Lady Mary Peters 2022, The Baroness Amos: Sir Anthony Blair 2023, The Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Lord Patten of Barnes.

 

Over the past decades Ian has been involved with a wide variety of restoration projects that have included restoring a number of older Crowns and Crests for various Knights of the Bath and Knights and Royal Knights of the Garter including. Including those for Horatio. Earl Kitchener, Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, Frederick 1X, King of Denmark, and Prince Charles and Sir Winston Churchill. 

    The Royal Crest along with King Edward V111 Crest; before and after they were both restored by Ian.

The restored carved Crest and Royal Banner above the stall of HRH The Prince of Wales, the Great Master of the Order of the Bath. 

Along with restoring the original Royal Crest of King Edward V111 that was produced a century ago. The Kings Crests that was once placed above the Kings Stall‘ seat’ in Sovereigns Stall in St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle and was later removed from the Chapel after the King's abdication in 1936. Many decades later Ian was invited to restore King Edward V111 Crest. 

  King Edward V111 in his Garter robes and the King's Royal Crest during the restoration process.

Although today Ian prefers to concentrate more on creating original artwork and no longer gets too involved with restoration projects, he has rather enjoyed working with such organisations as the Royal Household, Private and Government organisations along with the Museum service and English Heritage to assist on a wide variety of historic replicating or restoration projects also during the 1990’s. 

Such commissions have included replacing or restoring antique, ornate plaster mouldings, figures, wood carvings and bronze sculptures for Government buildings, Museums, Churches, restoring King Edward V111 Royal Garter Crest; Southwick House, the former Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force in WW2 restoring ornate mirrors and picture frames. To restore an oak bench from the private gardens in Kensington Palace to carving a full-size replica of an 18th century ships figure head for a museum and in 1990’s spent a year replacing various sections of the starboard side Entrance Port. 

HMS Victory - Southwick House - (before and after)

Occasionally on these commissions the only information Ian has to work from in replicating something can be just from an old photograph of an 18th century Ships Figurehead which needed replacing outside a Museum thirty years ago. 

During the 1990‘s Ian was commissioned to replicate the original centuries old carved oak Royal Crest that had been removed sometime earlier. Ian then produced a bronze replica which now adorns the Royal Arms above the porchway of the College of Arms in London. 

Original oak Crest– the replacement bronze casting- the original oak Crest recently restored.

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