Collar day

Collar days are designated days on which the collar forming part of the insignia of certain members of orders of knighthood may be worn. Collars are special large and elaborate metal chains worn over the shoulders, hanging equally in front and back, often tied with a bow at the shoulders, with a distinctive pendant attached to the front.

Collar days in the United Kingdom

Collars are worn by members of the Order of the Garter, the Order of the Thistle, and Knights Grand Cross of other orders (the only active ones being the orders of the Bath, Saint Michael and Saint George, the British Empire, and the Royal Victorian Order; the Order of Saint Patrick, the Order of the Star of India and the Order of the Indian Empire are now in abeyance).

The collar can be worn on specific 'Collar Days' throughout the year.

Collar Days, in accordance with instructions of the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood[1][2][3] are:

Date Day Status
Variable Easter Sunday Current [1]
Variable Easter Monday Abeyance [1][2]
Variable Easter Tuesday Abeyance [1][2]
Variable Ascension Day Current [1]
Variable Whit Sunday Current [1]
Variable Whit Monday Abeyance [1][2]
Variable Whit Tuesday Abeyance [1][2]
Variable Trinity Sunday Current [1]
1 January New Year's Day Current [1]
6 January Epiphany Current [1]
25 January Conversion of St Paul Current [1]
2 February Presentation of Christ in the Temple (also called Candlemas) Current [1]
6 February The Queen’s Accession Current [1]
24 February St Matthias' Day Abeyance [1][2]
1 March St David's Day Current [1]
17 March St Patrick's Day Current [1]
25 March Lady Day (also called Annunciation Day) Current [1]
21 April The Queen’s Birthday Current [1]
23 April St George's Day Current [1]
25 April St Mark's Day Abeyance [1][2]
1 May St Philip and St James' Day Abeyance [1][2]
29 May Restoration of the Royal Family Current [1]
2 June The Queen’s Coronation Current [1]
10 June The Duke of Edinburgh’s Birthday Current [1]
24 June St John Baptist's Day Current [1]
29 June St Peter's Day Abeyance [1][2]
25 July St James' Day Abeyance [1][2]
4 August Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother’s Birthday Current [1]
6 August Transfiguration Day Current [1]
24 August St Bartholomew's Day Abeyance [1][2]
21 September St Matthew's Day Abeyance [1][2]
29 September St Michael and All Angels's Day Current [1]
18 October St Luke's Day Abeyance [1][2]
28 October St Simon and St Jude's Day Abeyance [1][2]
1 November All Saints' Day Current [1]
30 November St Andrews's Day Current [1]
21 December St Thomas' Day Abeyance [1][2]
25 December Christmas Day Current [1]
26 December St Stephen's Day Current [1]
28 December Innocent’s Day Current [1]

Collars are also worn when the queen opens or prorogues Parliament and a few other observances, including religious services of the various orders and by those taking part in the Ceremony of Introduction of a Peer in the House of Lords.[1][2][4]

Collars are not normally worn after sunset nor while mounted in parades such as the Trooping the Colour. Even if a bearer is entitled to more than one collar, only one may be worn at a time. The riband with badge can not be worn with the collar, but that of another order is allowed.[1][2]

References

  • De la Bere, Ivan (1964). The Queen's Orders of Chivalry. London: Spring Books. 

External links

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