Crimson & Gold & White

Crimson is the Garter mantle — the deep vivid cool-red of the mantle (a long formal cloak) worn by Knights of the Order of the Garter at the annual Garter Ceremony at Windsor Castle. The Garter mantle — a full-length crimson velvet cloak lined with white taffeta, approximately 4 meters long — is the most dramatically vivid single element of the Garter ceremony. The current crimson mantle (used since the reign of Edward IV, approximately 1470 CE) uses a specific deep cool-red crimson velvet that creates the most formally significant red garment in the English heraldic tradition. The Garter ceremony at Windsor Castle (held annually on the Monday of Royal Ascot week, typically in June) brings together the Sovereign, the Royal Family, and the 24 living Knight Companion members of the Order in the most elaborate annual ceremony of the English heraldic tradition. Gold is the collar and badge — the vivid warm gold of the Garter collar (a gold chain of alternating red roses and knots, with the Great George pendant — a depiction of Saint George slaying the dragon in enameled gold) and the Garter badge (the Lesser George, a smaller version of the George in gold enamel, worn on the blue Garter ribbon). The Garter collar and Great George pendant are the most elaborate and most precious pieces of English royal jewelry in active ceremonial use — the specific design (26 gold enamel roses alternating with 26 gold knots) has been maintained continuously since approximately 1453 CE. White is the formal ground — the pure white of the formal shirt, white gloves, and white hose worn beneath the crimson mantle in the Garter ceremony, creating the most classical heraldic chromatic structure: the deep crimson velvet mantle against the pure white of the formal dress, with gold creating the most precious accent between the two.