Princess Kate has been honoured by the King for her “outstanding” public service. Photo / Getty Images
Princess Kate has been honoured by the King for her “outstanding” public service. Photo / Getty Images
The Princess of Wales has become the first member of the royal family appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour.
The 41-year-old has been honoured by the King for her “outstanding” public service and joins an array of notable members including Sir David Attenborough, David Hockney, Dame Maggie Smith, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John.
The King created the role of Royal Companion of the Order especially for his daughter-in-law, of whom he is incredibly fond, who has been a working member of “The Firm” for 13 years.
The honour was made in recognition of the valuable role the princess has played within the royal family throughout the early months of the King’s reign.
The King created the role of Royal Companion of the Order especially for his daughter-in-law. Photos / Getty Images, AP
In January, both the King and the Princess were treated at the same London hospital, where the monarch, who was undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate, regularly popped down the corridor to visit his daughter-in-law, who had just had major abdominal surgery.
Both were later given the news that they had cancer and have been undergoing treatment at the same time.
The King revealed his pride in the princess when she spoke publicly about her own diagnosis, his spokesman revealing that the pair had remained “in the closest contact”.
The Order of the Companions of Honour was founded in 1917 by George V to recognise outstanding achievements in the arts, sciences, medicine and public service.
Membership is limited to 65 people at any one time and those who receive it wear the initials CH after their name. Its motto reads “In action faithful and in honour clear”.
Sir Quentin Blake, JK Rowling, Sir John Major and George Osborne are among the 63 current members.
Notable former members include Winston Churchill and Stephen Hawking.
Order of the Garter
Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshal the Lord Peach, a retired RAF officer who chairs Nato’s military committee; Lord Kakkar, a professor of surgery; and Lord Lloyd Webber, the composer, have all been knighted, becoming Knights Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
Lord Lloyd Webber is the first person from the world of the arts and culture to be made a member of the Order of the Garter. Photo / Getty Images
Lord Lloyd Webber, the theatre impresario who composed the anthem Make a Joyful Noise for the King’s coronation last year, is understood to be the first person from the world of the arts and culture to be made a member of the Order of the Garter.
A photograph released to mark the announcement, which depicted the musician and the King, was taken by Charles’ private secretary Sir Clive Alderton last year at Dumfries House in Scotland.
The composer said: “I am humbled, grateful and, quite frankly, staggered to have been made a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter by His Majesty King Charles III.”
He added: “This is the greatest honour of my life.”
The Duchess of Gloucester has also been made a Royal Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior British order of chivalry.
Birgitte married Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin, the Duke of Gloucester, in 1972. Just six weeks later, his elder brother, Prince William of Gloucester, died in a flying accident and the couple were propelled into royal duties.
Joe Little, the managing editor of Majesty magazine, described it as the “ultimate accolade” for the 77-year-old, whose work supporting the monarchy has often gone under the radar.
“The late Queen was pretty frugal when it came to handing out honours to those who were not blood members of the royal family,” he said. “This is a real show of public recognition for her work by the King.”
Each year, Royal Knights and Ladies of the Order of the Garter gather at St George’s Chapel in Windsor for a procession and ceremony.
Watched by crowds of onlookers, they walk down the hill to the chapel from the State Apartments, dressed in grand velvet robes and plumed hats.
Appointments to the Garter are in the King’s gift and made without prime ministerial advice. They are usually announced on St George’s Day, April 23.
The new members take the total number of Knights and Ladies Companion to 21, of a maximum 24.
The duchess joins eight other senior members of the family as Royal Knights and Ladies in the ancient order, including the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex.
The Queen, then Duchess of Cornwall, was admitted in 2021, the first Royal Companion to be created since Prince William in 2008.
The Prince of Wales has been appointed Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. Photo / Getty Images
William follows in father’s footsteps
Elsewhere, the Prince of Wales has been appointed Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, following in the footsteps of his father, the King.
The order was established by George I in 1725 and is awarded to members of the military or civil service for exemplary service.
The Queen is appointed Grand Master and First or Principal Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
Previous Grand Masters have included Prince Philip, Queen Mary and Edward VIII.
A source said the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Queen and the Duchess of Gloucester had all been given “special recognition” for their sterling work.
“All four have taken on a greater share of the work and this is the King showing his recognition and thanks,” the insider added.
