An interview with The Right Honourable Lord Butler of Brockwell KG GCB CVO PC

There are very few offices of state, orders of chivalry or titles of dignity that expect the holder to be armigerous. Even peers of the realm are not required to have a coat of arms, but it is a long-standing tradition that Knights of the most senior orders of chivalry should petition for arms if they are not armigerous. 

The most senior of the British orders of chivalry is Order of the Garter. Visitors to St George's Chapel in Windsor castle can see the heraldic banners of the Knights and Lady Companions of the Order on display in the quire of the chapel.

On 23rd April 2003 (St George's Day) Queen Elizabeth II graciously appointed Baron Butler of Brockwell to be a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. His appointment was announced in the London Gazette alongside the 6th Duke of Westminster (Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor) and Baron Morris of Aberavon who were likewise made Knight Companions the same day.

In November of 2025 the Heraldry Society was privileged to interview Lord Butler of Brockwell KG GCB CVO PC to learn about his experiences of being appointed to the Order and the symbolism represented in his arms.

About the Order of the Garter

The Order of the Garter is both the most senior and the most ancient of Britain's various orders of chivalry, and is only outranked in order of precedence by the George Cross and Victoria Cross. The Order was founded by King Edward III in 1348 and is dedicated to England's patron saint, St George. Knights and Ladies of the Garter take precedence before all other knights and baronets.

Appointments to the Order are made at the discretion of the monarch, who is Sovereign of the Order. Since 1946 those appointments have been without the advice of the government. As such appointment to the Order is in the personal gift of the King or Queen regnant, free of political influence. The maximum number of Knights and Ladies Companion that may be appointed at any time is limited to twenty-four, although the Monarch may appoint supernumerary members from among the Royal Family and foreign heads of state who are known as Stranger Knights (e.g, King Harald V of Norway).

While the founding Knights of the Garter were all men, it was only 10 years later that Queen Philippa of Hainault (Edward III's wife) was appointed as the first Lady Companion. Uniquely among the Royal Knights The Princess Royal and Princess Alexandra have chosen to be styled Royal Knights rather than Lady Companions, although neither of them are entitled to a heraldic crest.

The most visible aspect of the Order of the Garter is the annual Garter Day ceremony held in Windsor Castle during the summer. This event is also an opportunity for newly appointed Knights and Ladies of the Order to be formally invested by the Sovereign.

From deflation to elation

Robin Butler is a retired civil servant who was educated at Harrow and Oxford before pursuing a career in public service. He has served as private secretary to three Prime Ministers (Wilson, Heath and Thatcher), as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service in the governments of Prime Minister's Thatcher, Major and Blair. Since retiring from public service he has also served as Master of University College Oxford and Master of the Worshipful Company of Salters.

A humble tire puncture may not seem to be the best start to an otherwise landmark day in one's life, but it was while dealing with a particularly tricky and irksome bicycle puncture that Lord Butler's wife took a phone call from the Queen's private secretary. Following a brief establishment of bona fides Lord Butler was asked if he would accept appointment to the Order of the Garter. With such a personal mark of esteem from Queen Elizabeth all thoughts of the irksome puncture were swiftly gone.

Symbolism in symbiosis

Lord Butler was elevated to the peerage in February of 1998 and while he did not petition for arms until 2003 he had cause to speak with Garter Principal King of Arms before he was introduced to the House of Lords. 

It remains a duty of Garter Principal King of Arms to the agree the territorial designation of newly appointed life peers and to introduce them to the House of Lords. The choice of Baron Butler of Brockwell was inspired by a public park near to Lord Butler's home. While the choice of territorial designation should be in proportion to the peer's rank and unique among the peers, it required some research on the part of Garter to determine if Brockwell was in fact a place at all. Happily the College's archives confirmed it is, and Brockwell was agreed. Brock is an old English word for a badger.

The armorial achievement of The Right Honourable Lord Butler of Brockwell KG GCB CVO PC

The choice of Brockwell as a territorial designation proved to be a wise one. The crest of Lord Butler's arms is a pun on this territorial designation where we see a badger appearing from the mouth of a well (perhaps a convenient means to access the badger's sett). Lord Butler is pleased to learn that this friendly looking badger is a favourite among school parties that visit St George's Chapel.

Note: The five ranks of peerage that exist in the United Kingdom are largely a creature of the Norman system of nobility and feudal tenure, although the Anglo-Saxon title of Earl is kept in lieu of the continental Count. In Scotland the addition of a territorial designation is based on not just an association with a place, but still requires ownership of substantial land holding in the place concerned.

Moving down from the crest we see the elements of an armorial achievement which indicate the rank and status of a peer. The helm facing dexter and the barons coronet are symbols of noble rank. As is the convention of the College of Arms, the mantling and the torse (or wreath) are of the first colour and metal of the shield (Azure and Or).

The shield is encircled by the Garter with the motto of the Order 'Honi soit qui mal y pense' (Shame on him who thinks this evil). This is one of two possible ways of indicating that the armiger is a Knight or Lady Companion of the Order, an alternative is for the collar of the order to encircle the shield. 

The two supporters (Argent Lions) are elements of an armorial achievement which are only granted to members of the royal family, peers of the realm, and knights or dames of the highest rank in some of Britain's orders of chivalry. Both lions hold a lymphad or galley which is an allusion to the maiden name of Lord Butler's wife and their protective role.

Coming to the shield there is a clear link to Lord Butler's alma mater, University College, Oxford. The Cross Flory Parted Or makes reference to the Cross Patonce Or (sometimes depicted as a Cross Flory) which is the principal charge of the arms of University College. The four covered cups refer to the surname Butler which was originally the role of an official who looked after the king's wines. Similar covered cups (or salts) with sprinkles of salt appear on the arms of the Salters' Company of which Lord Butler was the Master in 2011.

Early in his career Robin Butler was occasionally confused with Richard Austin Butler (R.A. Butler) the conservative politician who served in the government's of Anthony Eden and Sir Harold Macmillan. R.A. Butler was also elevated to the peerage as Lord Butler of Saffron Walden and was appointed a Knight of Garter. His had arms that featured covered cups.

Note: The title of Chief Butler of England still exists as a feudal office of grand serjeanty which was last held by the 14th Duke of Norfolk. Ownership of the title is now disputed.

Lord Butler's heraldic badge.

Lord Butler's motto Servire et Servare (Serve and maintain) refers to his career in public services. His heraldic badge features a Martlet circled by a gold coronet. The Martlet is another charge taken from the arms of University College, Oxford. Lord Butler served as Master of the College from 1988 to 2008.

Practice makes perfect

Garter Day is one of the highlights of state ceremonial and the day on which the Monarch invests newly appointed Knights or Ladies of the Garter with their insignia in the throne room at Windsor Castle. 

The day starts with a practice of the investiture ceremony conducted by Garter Principal King of Arms in Windsor Castle. Outwith the Companions of the Order, and the orders officers, the only other persons present during the investiture ceremony are the spouses of the members of the Order.

One of the duties of invested Garter Knights it to assist with the placement of the insignia of the Order on newly appointed knights and ladies, particularly the collar which is attached to the Garter robe by means of a ribbon affixed to each shoulder (see photo below). Garter knights must brush up on their Scouting knots to assist in this bit of ceremonial. Lord Butler tells that any fumbling during this aspect of the ceremony was apt to invite a swift on the hand by Queen Elizabeth II who would put her Guiding knowledge to good use and tie the knot herself.

Formal investiture occurs at the moment when the Monarch pins the badge of the Order of the Garter on the newly appointed Knight or Lady, thereby signifying their admission into the Order. The investiture is followed by lunch hosted by the Monarch. 

It is only after lunch that the procession of members of the Order makes its way to the Chapel of St George in a public spectacle of pomp and pageantry led by the Military Knights of Windsor and the Officers of Arms.

His Majesty King Charles III, Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Garter and Queen Camilla, Lady Companion of the Order.

A lunch appointment

As a newly appointed Knight of the Garter it was Lord Butler's privilege to be seated next to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during lunch. While he was deep in conversation the badge of the Order became detached from his morning coat and landed in Her Majesty's lap. 

Unfazed by this occurrence Her Majesty replied that she must be losing her touch and duly pinned the badge back onto Lord Butler's robe. Whether this means that Lord Butler is the only Knight of the Garter to have been appointed twice is open to debate.

Interested to know more?

The annual Garter Day ceremony is open to members of the public to attend and while tickets are free they are strictly limited and must be applied for in advance between January 1 and March 1. A maximum of four tickets may be requested and applicants are asked to indicate if any member of their party has mobility issues. 

To apply for tickets email: GarterDay@royal.uk