Former Forces chief and top judge appointed as Knights of the Garter

Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, president of the Supreme Court, and Admiral Lord Boyce, ex-Chief of the Defence Staff, were appointed Knights Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

Recipients of the honour are chosen because they have held public office, contributed to national life or served the sovereign personally.

The appointment of Knights of the Garter is in the Queen’s gift and is made without consulting ministers.

Lord Phillips, 72, is the first president of the Supreme Court, the UK’s highest court, which was officially opened by the Queen in October 2009.

Born Nicholas Addison Phillips, he has been a senior Law Lord since October 2008 and before that was Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.

Michael Boyce, 68, joined the Royal Navy in 1961 and qualified as a submariner and later commanded a nuclear attack submarine.

He also commanded the frigate HMS Brilliant and went to hold a number of senior Nato roles.

He was appointed First Sea Lord in 1998 and Chief of the Defence Staff in 2001.

He was head of the Armed Forces at the time of the Iraq invasion in 2003 and has appeared before the inquiry into the conflict.

He retired in 2003 and that year received a peerage and now sits as a cross-bench member of the House of Lords.

The installation ceremonies will take place in June, on the Monday of Royal Ascot week, known as Garter Day.

The new appointments bring the number of Garter Knights to 23. They include former Prime Ministers Lady Thatcher and Sir John Major.