Kate Middleton is honoured by the King for her years of public service: Princess of Wales becomes first member of the royal family to be appointed a Royal Companion of The Order of the Companions of Honour
The Princess of Wales has received a unique honor from the King in recognition of her years of public service after being appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honor.
Kate, 42, has been made a Royal Companion of the organisation, which was founded by King George V in 1917 to recognize outstanding achievements in the arts, sciences, medicine and public service.
The Mail understands it is the first time in the order’s centuries-long history that a member of the royal family has been appointed.
Sources say it is a symbol of the “great esteem” the princess enjoys from her father-in-law, King Charles.
It is not only a personal thank you for her loyal service to the Crown since she married Prince William almost thirteen years ago, it is also a recognition of her contribution to the arts.
The Princess of Wales has received a unique honor from the King in recognition of her years of public service after being appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honor. Above: Charles and Kate at the 2021 premiere of James Bond film No Time To Die
Avid photographer Kate is patron of the Royal Photographic Society and the National Portrait Gallery and is inspiring the moving lockdown photography project Hold Still.
The appointment is not a direct gift from the king, but is made by the cabinet on his recommendation.
The Order of the Companions of Honor – whose spiritual home is the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace – is limited to 65 members from across the Commonwealth.
She is in good company as current members include Sir David Attenborough, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Maggie Smith, Sir Roy Strong, Sir Paul McCartney and JK Rowling.
Her appointment is one of a series of new appointments made by His Majesty today/yesterday, including awards for four senior royals.
Kate, 42, has been made a Royal Companion of the organisation, which was founded by King George V in 1917 to recognize outstanding achievements in the arts, sciences, medicine and public service. Above: Kate and Charles visit the Defense Medical Rehabilitation Center (DMRC) in Loughborough in February 2020
Sources say it is a symbol of the “great esteem” the princess enjoys from her father-in-law, King Charles. Right: the honor
Queen Camilla becomes Grand Master and First or Principal Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, which is a fairly traditional appointment for the monarch’s wife.
Previous Grand Masters include Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh – who was appointed when Queen Elizabeth was crowned and remained so until his death in 2021 – as well as Queen Mary and King George VI, when he was Prince of Wales.
The Order of the British Empire was established by King George V in 1917 to honor a broader cross-section of society, both military and civilian.
Prince William has also been honored and appointed Grand Master of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, following in the footsteps of his own father when he was Prince of Wales.
The ancient order was founded in 1725 by King George I, but was originally thought to date from the 8th century and was awarded to members of the military or civil service for exemplary service.
As is tradition on St. George’s Day, four new companions of the Order of the Garter, Britain’s oldest order of chivalry, have also been announced.
Among them is the Duchess of Gloucester, who is married to the late Queen’s cousin and is still a working royal, who will become a Royal Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
The appointment will be seen as a thank you for her decades of loyal service on behalf of the monarch and more than sixty charities and organizations that she supports.
New Knights include Air Chief Marshall the Lord Peach – Britain’s special envoy to the Western Balkans, who was previously NATO military chief, chief of the Defense Staff and chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee – and Lord Kakkar, president of the Thrombosis Research Institute and chairman of the King’s Fund.
The most notable appointment, however, is Lord Lloyd-Webber, Britain’s most successful living composer who has written the scores of some of the world’s most famous musicals, including Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Jesus Christ Superstar. He also owns six of London’s best-known West End theaters.
Every June, the Garter is celebrated with a procession and service in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
The appointment of the Knights and Ladies of the Garter is a gift from the King and takes place without advice or interference from the Prime Minister.