24 April 2024 , 16:13
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The Princess of Wales received a huge new honour from King Charles this week.
The monarch bestowed a historically significant title on his daughter-in-law, who is currently away from official duties while undergoing chemotherapy after receiving a cancer diagnosis earlier this year. The King appointed the Princess of Wales to be Royal Companion of The Order of the Companions of Honour on Tuesday, St George's Day. He revealed that he gave Kate the honour to recognise the "esteem [in which] she is held".
The honour is all the more poignant given that Kate is believed to be the first member of the royal family to hold the title.
The order was founded by King George V in 1917 to recognise outstanding achievements and major contributions over a long period of time to the arts, sciences, medicine, and public service. The motto of the order is - "In action faithful and in honour clear".
The Princess is the patron of several arts organisations, including the National Portrait Gallery, the V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum), and the Royal Photographic Society. She also studied art history at St. Andrews University, where she famously first met husband Prince William.
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There are 65 members in the Order of the Companions of Honour at a time. Notable current members include Dame Maggie Smith and Sir Ian McKellen, musicians Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney, author J.K. Rowling, and Sir David Attenborough.
Stephen Hawking, Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu were all past members. Non-British nationals can be honorary members in addition to the core 65. Royal fans may well get to see Kate wearing the honour whenever she next attends a white-tie occasion, such as a state visit or the annual diplomatic reception.
The insignia consists of a gold medallion suspended from a red-coloured ribbon and surmounted by a crown. It depicts an armoured knight mounted on a horse and an oak tree from which hangs a shield of the Royal Arms. The blue enamelled border of the medallion is inscribed with the motto.
A host of other announcements were announced on St George's Day, with the King appointing eldest son and heir the Prince of Wales the Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. The Most Honourable Order of the Bath was established by King George I in 1725 although it is believed to originally date back as far as the eighth century. It is awarded to members of the military or civil service for exemplary service. Charles was a previous Great Master from 1974 to 2022.
The King also appointed his wife as Grand Master and First or Principal Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. The role is the second most senior in the order with the King sovereign of the order.
It was previously held by the King's father , the late Duke of Edinburgh, and Charles's great-grandmother Queen Mary, and the abdicated Edward VIII when he was still the Prince of Wales. The Order of the British Empire, established by George V in 1917, is the largest order of chivalry in the UK, recognising outstanding contributions by individuals within their local communities or at a national level.
Charles also made four new appointments, which are in his personal gift, to the Order of the Garter, including acclaimed composer Lord Lloyd Webber. The theatre impresario, whose hit musicals include The Phantom Of The Opera, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, is now a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.