Gong for Howard?

February 28, 2008, 9:40pm,  144 views

There is increasing speculation the Queen will appoint former Prime Minister John Howard a Knight Companion of The Most Noble Order of the Garter.

The Order of the Garter is the most senior and oldest British Order of Chivalry and the oldest continuing order of chivalry in the world.  Knight and Lady Companions may come from countries of which the Queen is Sovereign.

Its creation is said to have followed an incident at a royal ball, where Joan, Countess of Salisbury, lost one of her garters. Seeing her embarrassment, King Edward III is said to have retrieved it, bound it to his own leg.

A vacancy arose with the death of New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary of Everest fame. If Mr Howard is knighted he will be installed at a ceremony at Windsor Castle in June.