His Majesty The King has appointed two distinguished individuals to the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the highest Order in the United Kingdom, in the personal gift of the Sovereign, and the first of his reign.
The Right Honourable the Baroness Ashton of Upholland, GCMG PC is to be invested as a Lady Companion and The Right Honourable the Lord Patten of Barnes, CH PC as Knight Companion.
The announcement posted on the website of the Royal Family included the following biographies.
Catherine Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, is a former Labour Government Minister and European Union diplomat, who served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Education and the Ministry of Justice between 1999 and 2007. Baroness Ashton has served as Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council; British European Commissioner and Commissioner for Trade in the European Commission; Vice-President of the European Commission. As the E.U.’s first High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, she contributed towards negotiating a peace settlement between Serbia and Kosovo, and bringing about the Iran nuclear agreement.
Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, is a former Conservative Member of Parliament who became the final Governor of Hong Kong from 1992-1997. Lord Patten was first elected as an MP in 1979 and served across Government for over two decades, including as Secretary of State for the Environment and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, as well as Conservative Party Chairman. Lord Patten also led the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland and served as European Commissioner for External Relations from 1999 to 2004. He was Chairman of the BBC Trust between 2011 and 2014.
Paul Borrow-Longain regularly attends the Garter Day Service at Windsor Castle in June most years, and believes such an event is a wonderful occasion to present the best of British tradition, while simultaneously recognising the lifetime achievements of some of the best individuals in our country.
