Kate Middleton is the first royal to join the prestigious Order of the Companions of Honour. Her honor as a Royal Companion – for achievements in the arts, medicine, sciences and public service – was bestowed upon her by King Charles. Queen Camilla and Prince William have also received historic honours, Buckingham Palace has announced. The Prince of Wales becomes Grand Master of the Order of the Bath, while the Queen is Grand Master of the Order of the British Empire, once held by the King’s father, Prince Philip, and grandfather George VI. The appointments for these historic royal orders, traditionally announced on St George’s Day, rewarded key members of the royal family, at a time when both King Charles and Kate are undergoing treatment for cancer.
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Catherine, as she continues to recover from her health problems, becomes the first royal to be named a Companion of Honor in the order’s 107-year history, in what will be seen as a show of support from the king who wanted it the nomination. She joins a select group of people honored for their contribution to public life, such as artists and creative figures, including Sir David Attenborough, Ian McEwan and Sir Elton John. Prince William’s honor as Grand Master of the Order of the Bath will see him take on the role held by his father when he was Prince of Wales. The Order was established in the 18th century as a reward for exemplary service in military or civilian life. Meanwhile, Duchess of Gloucester Birgitte Eva van Deurs becomes a member of the oldest of chivalric orders, the Order of the Garter, which dates back to the 14th century.
