Insignia badge for the Order of the Garter

The Order of the Garter is the United Kingdom's most senior Order of Chivalry. The Order was founded by Edward III in 1348. The creation of the Order was a means for the King to publicly reward the loyalty shown to him by senior members of the English aristocracy. The Order has its home at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, where special services for the Order are held. The badge shows the emblem of the Order, a blue garter with the motto, partially obscured by the crown, 'HONI SO[IT QUI] MAL Y PENSE', Anglo-Norman French for 'shame on him who thinks this evil'.

This insignia badge was worn as part of the Garter uniform by The Very Reverend The Hon. Henry Lewis Hobart (1774-1846), Dean of Windsor and Registrar of the Order of the Garter. An Anglican priest, in his role as Dean he served four monarchs, George III, George IV, William IV and Queen Victoria. He is believed to have worn this badge with his uniform at the coronation of George IV, in 1821.