Are new Knights Stranger announced (not invested) at the same time as Knights/Ladies Companion, Royal or otherwise, of the Order of the Garter? I was wondering if the Emperor of Japan may be in line to receive the order during his state visit in June. The visit is scheduled for "late" June, whereas the garter ceremony is on 17th... Also, I wonder if there is anything stopping the King from conferring the order on non-reigning royals. Among past recipients, there are a few royals who were not monarchs, direct heirs or regents (Prince Heinrich of Germany, Grand Duke Michael of Russia, Emanuele Filiberto Duke of Aosta), albeit from reigning houses. If Charles III decided he wanted to confer the order on Simeon II of Bulgaria, Margareta of Romania or Alexander of Serbia, would he be able to?