Kate dazzles as she proudly watches King Charles lead Royal Family at annual Garter Day

Kate dazzles as she proudly watches King Charles lead Royal Family at annual Garter Day The Royal Family has gathered en-masse yet again today with the King and Queen leading the Firm at the annual ancient Order of the Garter ceremony at Windsor Castle - and the Princess of Wales looking on from the sidelines The King has led the royal family for the annual Garter Day ceremony in front of a crowd of thousands in Windsor - as the Princess of Wales proudly watched on. Charles, wearing the traditional velvet robes and plumed hat of the Order of the Garter, smiled as he presided over the elaborate display of pomp and pageantry in the blazing sunshine. The Queen, also dressed in the order’s full regalia, walked alongside him as the procession snaked its way down the hill from the castle’s quadrangle to St George’s Chapel. Ahead of them, walked the Prince of Wales, who chatted to his uncle, the Duke of Edinburgh, just behind the Princess Royal. They were watched from the Galilee Porch by Kate, the Duchess of Edinburgh and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, who all chatted with the clergy on arrival. Kate wore a pale yellow coat dress by Patrick McDowell, who she presented with the Queen Elizabeth II prize for British design last year. The fabric was woven for her by Stephen Walters & Sons, in Suffolk and she finished her outside with a wide-brimmed hat by Jane Taylor, trimmed with the same fabric, and earrings by Robinson & Pelham. She and Sophie, in a white dress with a pink and blue floral motif and matching pink and nude hat, waved to the crowd and chatted animatedly to one another as they waited. As the royal party walked past them, there were nods and smiles of recognition for some of the Garter companions, followed by a smile for Prince William from the Princess. The Duchess did likewise for Prince Edward. Both women then dropped into a curtsy as the King and Queen, both smiling broadly, came into view. The Duke of Kent and Lady Mary Peters both attended the service but did not take part in the procession. The royal party walked down Castle Hill wearing the traditional robes and plumed hats of the Order, following the Military Knights of Windsor and the Heralds and followed by a detachment of The King's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard. The service began with the installation of the new Garter knights and they took their places in their stalls, followed by the King, before the congregation joined in the Lord's Prayer. Following the service, Their Majesties and Members of the Royal Family will depart by carriages for their return journey to the Castle. The ex-prince Andrew, who was forced in to step back from royal life after his relationship with convicted paedophibe Jeffrey Epstein was revealed in 2019, was stripped of his Order of Merit when the King relieved him of all his titles and honours last October.He spent the day at his new home on the King’s Sandringham estate, following his eviction in February from his former 30 room mansion, Royal Lodge in Windsor. The ceremony heralds a busy period for the royals, with the King and Queen and Prince and Princess of Wales expected at the Royal Ascot festival of racing in the coming days. The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain, established by King Edward III nearly 700 years ago. The Order includes the King, who is Sovereign of the Garter, the Queen, several members of the Royal Family, and up to 24 companions chosen in recognition of their work. The Garter, founded in 1348 by Edward III, is awarded by the sovereign for outstanding public service and achievements. Ahead of the Service, three new Companions to the Order of the Garter were invested at a private Investiture in the Garter Throne Room at Windsor Castle. Companions of the Garter are chosen personally by the Sovereign to honour those who have held public office, who have contributed in a particular way to national life or who have served the monarch personally. The appointment of The Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield, The Lord O’Donnell and The Right Honourable The Lord Burnett of Maldon was announced on April 23. Lord Hennessy, an academic and historian specialising in the history of government, has served as Attlee Professor of Contemporary British History at Queen Mary University of London since 2000. Lord O’Donnell served as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service between 2005 and 2011. Lord Burnett served as Lord Chief Justice between 2017 and 2023. He studied jurisprudence at Pembroke College, Oxford, where he became an honorary fellow in 2008. He was called to the bar at Middle Temple in 1980 and appointed Queen's Counsel in 1998.