The Order of the Thistle reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Order of the Thistle

This article is part of the series British honours system

Order of the Garter

Order of the Thistle

Order of St Patrick

Order of the Bath

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Order of St Michael and St George

Order of the Indian Empire

Royal Victorian Order

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Order of the Companions of Honour

Order of the Crown of India

Knights Bachelor

The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry in the British honours system, associated with contributions to Scotland. The Order's original date of foundation is unknown; some suggest that it dates to the eighth Century. It is more likely that it was established at some point in the sixteenth century by King James III. Nevertheless, the Order descended into disuse until James VII (James II in England) made an order "reviving and restoring the Order of the Thistle to its full glory, lustre and magnificency" in 1687. However, during the reigns of William and Mary, the Order again fell into disuse, until it was revived by Queen Anne in 1703. The Order is now the highest Scottish Order in the British honours system. Its English equivalent is the Order of the Garter, and its Irish one was the Order of St Patrick. The latter became moribund when most of Ireland separated from the United Kingdom in 1922.

The Order is limited to sixteen Knights Companions, and more recently, Ladies Companions. Originally, the limit was twelve, but it was raised to sixteen in 1827. Some "supernumary" members, including members of the Royal Family, do not count toward the limit. Knights Companions use the post-nominal "KT," while Ladies use "LT."

For the order's great festivals (such as the order's annual services at St Giles High Kirk, Edinburgh, where its chapel is located), the knights and ladies wear elaborate insignia:

• The Collar is a gold chain consisting of representations of thistles alternating with representations of sprigs of rue. It is worn around the neck.
• The Badge Appendant is an enamelled figure of St Andrew bearing his cross, with rays of gold surrounding him in the form of a glory; it is suspended from the collar.
• The Mantle is a green velvet coat, with a representation of the Star of the Order on the left shoulder.
• The Hat is of black velvet and is plumed with white osprey feathers.

On other occasions, simpler insignia are worn:

• The Badge is two-sided and worn (at the right hip) on a green ribbon passing over the left shoulder. On one side is the image of St Andrew bearing his cross. On the other side is an image of a green Thistle upon a green field, surrounded by the motto of the Order.
• The Star is worn on the left breast. It a silver figure of St Andrew's cross, with a ray emerging from each angle of the cross. In the centre is a gold field, upon which is a representation of a green Thistle, which is surrounded with a green circle bearing the motto Nemo me impune lacessit ('No one provokes me with impunity') in gold letters.

The Order has four officers: the Dean, the Chancellor (who is one of the Knights), the King of Arms and the Usher. The King of Arms, who is responsible for heraldry, is the Lord Lyon King of Arms, while the usher is the Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod.

Current Knights and Ladies Companions, and Officers, of the Thistle

Sovereign: HM The Queen
Chancellor: The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry
Dean: The Very Rev. Gilleasbuig Iain Macmillan
King of Arms: The Hon. Robin Orr Blair
Usher: Rear Admiral Christopher Hope Layman

Knights and Ladies Companions:

1. The Earl of Wemyss and March (b. 1912)
2. Colonel Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel (b. 1910)
3. The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry (b. 1923)
4. The Earl of Elgin and Kincardine (b. 1924)
5. The Lord Thomson of Monifieth (b. 1921)
6. The Earl of Airlie (b. 1926)
7. Captain Sir Iain Mark Tennant (b. 1919)
8. The Viscount Arbuthnott (b. 1924)
9. The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres (b. 1927)
10. The Lady Marion Anne Fraser (b. 1932)
11. The Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden (b. 1926)
12. The Lord Mackay of Clashfern (b. 1937)
13. The Lord Wilson of Tillyorn (b. 1935)
14. The Lord Sutherland of Houndwood (b. 1941)
15. Sir William Erich Kinloch Anderson (b. 1936)

Supernumary Knights and Ladies Companions:

• HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (b. 1921)
• HRH The Duke of Rothesay (b. 1948)
• HRH The Princess Royal (b. 1950)

See Also

• Knights and Ladies of the Thistle

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