"Queen Anne gave the Duke of Marlborough a particularly large and beautiful George set with magnificent diamonds. Later this George came into the hands of the Prince Regent and he gave it to the great Duke of Wellington. It is now in the possession of the present holder of that title, who lent it to Sir Winston Churchill so that he might wear it at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth the Second."
Note the above says "It is now in the possession of ..." That was in the 1964 edition. More research needed.
Now quoting from Royal Insignia, Stephen Patterson, The Royal Collection, c 1997, about the Great George.
" Another example is the copy of the George that had formerly belonged to John, 1st Duke of Marlborough, who had been made a Knight of the Garter by Queen Anne in 1702. This copy was made for King George IV in 1828 by Rundell, Bridge and Rundell (RA 26301), after the original had been presented by the King to the Duke of Wellington at a dinner at Carlton House in 1825 to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo."
" The Rundell, Bridge and Rundell badge has been worn by the Queen on state occasions since her Coronation in 1953 (see frontispiece), including the annual Garter ceremomy in June."
[The frontispiece is an official portrait of the Queen. And I believe RA would refer to a source in the Royal Archives.]
Oh!! I have learned something by this. Thank you Robert for posing your question!
We must now assume, I believe, that Charles III wears the copy of the Marlborough George as did his mother Queen Elizabeth II.
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