Most British orders of chivalry cover the whole United Kingdom, but the three most exalted ones each pertain to one constituent country only.

The 1687 warrant states that during a battle in 786 with Angles under Æthelstan of East Anglia, the cross of St Andrew appeared in the sky to Achaius, King of Scots; after his victory, he established the Order of the Thistle and dedicated it to the saint.

[5] Most historians consider the earliest credible claim to be the founding of the order by James III, during the fifteenth century.

[14] Writing around 1578, John Lesley refers to the three foreign orders of chivalry carved on the gate of Linlithgow Palace, with James V's ornaments of St Andrew, proper to this nation.

Fowler believed that there had been an order, founded to honour Scots who fought for Charles VII of France, but it had been discontinued in the time of James V, and could say nothing of its ceremonies or regalia.

[17] James VII issued letters patent "reviving and restoring the Order of the Thistle to its full glory, lustre and magnificency" on 29 May 1687.

[18][19] His intention was to reward Scottish Catholics for their loyalty, but the initiative actually came from John, 1st Earl and 1st Jacobite Duke of Melfort, then Secretary of State for Scotland.

[21] Queen Anne appointed knights to the Order from 1704,[22] and it has remained in existence since then, and is used to recognise Scots 'who have held public office or contributed significantly to national life.

George VI felt that the orders of the Garter and the Thistle had been used only for political patronage, rather than to reward actual merit.

Therefore, with the agreement of the Prime Minister (Clement Attlee) and the Leader of the Opposition (Winston Churchill) in 1946, both orders returned to the personal gift of the sovereign.

[33] The first to resign from the Order of the Thistle was John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll in 1710;[34] the last to take such an action was Thomas Dundas, 2nd Earl of Zetland in 1872.

The only individual to have suffered such a fate was John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar who lost both the knighthood and the earldom after participating in the Jacobite Rising of 1715.

[36] The order has five officers: the Chancellor, the Secretary, the Dean, Lord Lyon King of Arms, and the Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod.

During this operation, one barefoot Norseman had the misfortune to step upon a thistle, causing him to cry out in pain, thus alerting Scots to the presence of the Norse invaders.

[42] For the Order's great occasions, such as its annual service each June or July, as well for coronations, the Knights and Ladies wear an elaborate costume:[43] Aside from these special occasions, however, much simpler insignia are used whenever a member of the order attends an event at which decorations are worn: However, on certain collar days designated by the sovereign,[50] members attending formal events may wear the order's collar over their military uniform, formal wear, or other costume.

[55] Each year, the sovereign resides at the Palace of Holyroodhouse for a week in June or July; during the visit, a service for the order is held.

[58] Lady Marion Fraser had a helm and crest included when she was granted arms; these were displayed above her stall in the same manner as for knights.

[59] Unlike other British orders, the armorial banners of Knights and Ladies of the Thistle are not hung in the chapel, but instead in an adjacent part of St Giles High Kirk.

These enamelled plates are affixed to the back of the stall and display its occupant's name, arms, and date of admission into the order.