NEW DELHI:
Buckingham Palace
on Wednesday announced that
Queen Camilla
, Prince William, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, have been bestowed with significant
royal honours
. Prince William has been appointed as the great master of the order of the bath, while Catherine has become a companion of honour, an order that acknowledges outstanding contributions in various fields such as arts, medicine, sciences, and public service.
Queen Camilla has been named the grand master of the order of the British empire, a position previously held by Prince Philip and King George VI. These appointments come at a time when the Royal Family's numbers are reduced, and both King Charles and Catherine have been undergoing cancer treatment. The honours recognize the efforts of those who have been carrying out official duties, particularly the Queen, who at 76 years old, has been attending events on behalf of the King.
The Order of the British Empire was established in 1917 to honour a wider range of civilian and military recipients. Catherine's appointment as a Companion of Honour, the first royal to receive this honour in the order's 107-year history, is seen as a gesture of support from the King. She joins a distinguished group of individuals recognised for their contributions to public life, including Sir David Attenborough, Ian McEwan, and Sir Elton John.
Prince William's role as Great Master of the Order of the Bath, which was previously held by his father when he was Prince of Wales, is a reward for exemplary service in military or civilian life. The Duchess of Gloucester, a working royal at 77, has been appointed as a member of the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior order of chivalry, dating back to the 14th century.
Lord Lloyd-Webber, who composed music for last year's Coronation, has also been made a member of the Order of the Garter, along with Air Chief Marshal Lord Peach and Lord Kakkar, who has had a distinguished career in medicine and public service. However, the anti-monarchy group Republic has criticised these honours, calling them a "slap in the face for all the hardworking people who get awarded MBEs, OBEs and CBEs" and an act of "breathtaking nepotism."
(With inputs from agencies)
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