How do I join the Thistle in Order?
The Sovereign alone grants membership of the Order; he or she is not advised by the Government, as occurs with most other Orders. The sixteen members are required to be Scottish-born, though not the “extra” knights and ladies. The Order’s primary emblem is the thistle, the national flower of Scotland.
How do you get knighted in Scotland?
A title of Scottish nobility can be gained in 3 ways:
- Buying a barony title.
- Marrying a person with the current ‘Lord’ title or ‘Lady’ title.
- Receiving an appointment to the House of Lords (which can only be achieved through nomination by the Prime Minister and then confirmation from the Queen).
What is thistle day?
When is St Andrew’s Day? While the Scottish thistle is the national flower, St Andrew is Scotland’s patron saint and every year on the 30th of November the country celebrates him.
Which order has a green sash?
The Order of the Thistle was formally established in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland (James II of England). It is Scotland’s senior order and the second-highest order within the United Kingdom. The Order is limited to the Sovereign and 16 members.
What is the oldest order of chivalry?
Each year in June a procession and service takes place at Windsor Castle for the Order of the Garter, attended by The Queen and members of the Royal Family. The Order is the senior and oldest British Order of Chivalry, founded by Edward III in 1348. An annual service for the Order has been held every year since 1948.
Why is the Thistle The Flower of Scotland?
But one legend has it a sleeping party of Scots warriors were saved from ambush by an invading Norse army when one of the enemies trod on the spiky plant. His anguished cry roused the slumbering warriors who duly vanquished the invader and adopted the thistle as their national symbol.
Which Thistle is the Scottish Thistle?
Cirsium vulgare
It is the native spear thistle, Cirsium vulgare, which is thought to have been used as the national emblem. They are abundant in Scotland, and the imagery on coins, flags and other symbols through history closely matches this particular variety.
Where did the Thistle originate?
The plant we know as the Scotch thistle, Onopordum acanthium, is not native. It was most likely introduced from Europe pre-16th century and has now naturalised in many areas. Chosen by Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) as the emblem for George IV’s visit to Scotland in 1822, it has been accepted as a national emblem.
What Colour is a thistle?
purple
Thistle is a very pale shade of purple with the hex code #D8BFD8, first used as a color name in English in 1892. The thistle is the national flower of Scotland, and induction into The Order of the Thistle is Scotland’s most illustrious state decoration.
What does a red sash mean?
The red sash is worn by many members of the British army but was originally worn by an Infantry Soldier in battle who was in charge of holding the regimental colors together with a junior officer (ensign) which then acted as a rallying point in the confusion of battle. Available in other colors: Red.
What side do you wear a sash on?
The sash is usually worn from the right shoulder to the left hip. A few orders do the contrary, according to their traditional statute.
What is a Lady of the Garter?
This category encompasses women of the Commonwealth realms, invested with the Order of the Garter before 1987, when the rank of Lady Companion was instituted, and British Royal Women invested with the Order of the Garter (before and after 1987).