The most noble order of the garter is the highest order of knighthood in great Britain, traditionally instituted by edward iii in about 1348. The popular legend is that the countess of Salisbury accidentally dropped her garter at a court ball. It was picked up by the king who, noticing the looks of the spectators, rebuked them by winding the blue band round his own knee, saying "honi soit qui mal y pense". The order is limited to the sovereign and other members of the royal family, except for two commoners; sir edward grey in 1912 and sir winston churchill who received the order from queen elizabeth ii in 1953.