Keeping us in suspenders

While we wait for Prince William to become King, he yesterday received the prestigious Order of the Garter from his grandmother, coincidentally the thousandth one issued since 1348. We glean more from the BBC report :

He was officially appointed by the Queen at a service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

The numbers of the 24 Knights Companion were depleted recently with the deaths of the conqueror of Mount Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary, and former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath.

Prince William, who will be the 1,000th Knight in the Register, wore a blue velvet cape and black velvet hat with white ostrich plumes for a procession from the castle to the chapel.

It should perhaps be noted that George Bush also visited Windsor only the day before; again from the BBC:

Mr Bush's 45-minute tea meeting with the Queen was billed by Buckingham Palace as a "private and informal" visit between "old friends".

They were joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, American ambassador Robert Tuttle and his wife, Maria

Their traditional tea of cakes and finger sandwiches was followed by a brief photocall in St George's Hall in Windsor Castle.

cheers