Queen wears full royal regalia for Order of the Garter, adding surprisingly edgy touch

The Queen is in Windsor today leading the annual Order of the Garter ceremony.

Joined by high-ranking members of the Royal Family, the 700-year-tradition sees the Queen welcome new knights into the Order.

The Order of the Garter can only have 24 knights at a time, on top of the Queen and Prince Charles.

The Queen, along with Charles and William, wore the traditional mantle and hat of the Order.

Today’s service took place in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, the Order’s ancestral home and also the location of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding.

The ceremony saw the installation of new Garter Knights to the Order, with the Queen, Prince Charles and William, including other senior royals, all wearing the traditional Garter mantle.

The mantle is a dark navy blue robe worn by members since the 15th century, and is embroidered with the Order of the Garter insignia.

Donning a red velvet sash on top of the navy cape, the Queen also wore a white, floor-length gown, visible beneath the regal cloak.

Around her neck, she wore heavy gold chains and insignia, finishing the look with her signature white gloves.

In a surprising move, the Queen added a more edgy, personal touch to the centuries old attire, a quirky pair of shiny silver, pointed toe high heels.

To match her shiny silver footwear, the monarch wore a huge pair of stunning diamond earrings, in a floral shape.

She matched the regal red and navy mantle with some red lipstick, her hair perfectly preened beneath her black plumed hat.

The Queen, Prince Charles and Royal Knights and Ladies’ mantle all end in trains and the shield of St George’s Cross encircled by the Garter is sewn onto the left shoulder.

The Queen’s issue all wore a similar outfit, with other members of the Order including former prime minister Sir John Major and Admiral Lord Boyce, a former head of the UK’s armed forces.

After the ceremony, the Queen rode in the carriage with her son Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

Also attending the Order of the Garter ceremony was Prince Edward, Andrew and the Queen’s only daughter Anne.

Contrasting against the dark, traditional robes of the immediate Royal Family, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, opted for an ethereal white ensemble, with back touches.

Making a change from her usual pastel-coloured wardrobe, she stunned in a white dress and embroidered black and white jacket.

Glistening in the sun, Camilla’s white simple shift dress came to the knee and featured large pleats falling down from the hips, cut in an elegant v-neck exposing her décolletage

She covered the dress with a stunning black and off-white embroidered jacket, cinched in at the waist.