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Royal Household

Volume 507: debated on Wednesday 10 March 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the Garter Banner uniforms, decorations and other related artefacts of Kaiser Wilhelm II which relate to his honorary rank as United Kingdom Field Marshal and Honorary Colonel-in-Chief of United Kingdom regiments prior to 1914 are in the custody of the Royal Household; and if he will make a statement. (321126)

The Garter Banner and other insignia of Kaiser Wilhelm II were removed from St. George's Chapel, Windsor during the first world war. We have been unable to ascertain their location. The stall plates of Kaiser Wilhelm II are still in place in St. George's Chapel. The Royal Collection has confirmed that it holds the Robe and Garter dress of Kaiser Wilhelm II as well as two diamond Garter Stars and Badge of Kaiser Wilhelm II. No other uniforms, decorations or related artefacts are held.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the uniforms, decorations and other related artefacts of HM King George V which relate to his honorary rank as a German Field Marshall or as Honorary Colonel of German regiments prior to 1914 are still in the custody of the Royal Household; and if he will make a statement. (321127)

The Royal Collection holds a number of items relating to the honorary ranks held by HM King George V in the German armed forces. Records show that uniforms relating to the ranks of Admiral of the Imperial German Navy, Prussian Field Marshall, Colonel in Chief of the 1st Guard Dragoon Regiment and Colonel in Chief of the Kürassier Regiment Graf Getzler (Rhine) No. 8 are held. The Royal Collection also holds a number of decorations: Order of St. Hubert (Bavaria), Order of the Wendish Crown (Mecklenburg), Order of the Black Eagle (Prussia), Order of the Red Eagle (Prussia), Hohenzollern House Order (Prussia), Saxe Ernestine Order (Saxe Coburg), Order of the White Falcon (Saxe Weimar) and Order of the Rue Crown (Saxony).