Story: Royal honours system

Sir Edmund Hillary: Knight of the Garter (2nd of 2)

 Sir Edmund Hillary: Knight of the Garter

The postage stamp shown here, one of a set issued in 2008 to mark Sir Edmund Hillary's death, depicts him in the blue velvet robes and black hat with white plumes of the Order of the Garter, to which he was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II in 1995. Every knight of the order must display their coat of arms at Windsor Castle in England. Hillary's arms included a kiwi holding an ice axe, chevrons evoking mountains, prayer wheels representing Tibetan (Himalayan) Buddhism and two emperor penguins, an antarctic reference.

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New Zealand Post
Reference: 2008 Sir Edmund Hillary stamp issue

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How to cite this page:

Mandy Wong, 'Royal honours system - History and overview', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/postage-stamp/35639/sir-edmund-hillary-knight-of-the-garter (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Mandy Wong, published 20 Jun 2012