Just a day after celebrating the success of his ambitious Homewards initiative, Prince William entered into one of Scotland’s oldest royal traditions when he joined King Charles for the annual Service of the Order of the Thistle at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.
On Wednesday, the Prince of Wales, known in Scotland as the Duke of Rothesay, stepped out in the order’s ceremonial dark green velvet robes, adorned with the gold collar and insignia of Scotland’s highest order of knighthood.
Conducting the service inside the historic cathedral, William joined the King, Queen Camilla, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal for the centuries-old ceremony, which remains one of the highlights of Royal Week in Scotland.
King Charles, the Sovereign of the Order, led the service celebrating The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Scotland’s highest honour.
Dressed in the order’s distinctive robes and feathered hats, the members treated through St. Giles’ Cathedral in a spectacular display of royal splendor and Scottish tradition.
The Order of the Thistle recognizes 16 knights and ladies who have made outstanding contributions to Scottish national life.
Appointments are made personally by the King in recognition of outstanding public service and achievement across a wide range of areas.
The service also reflects the evolution of the historical honor. In 1987, Queen Elizabeth II took the landmark decision to admit women into the Order on the same basis as men, ensuring that one of Scotland’s oldest traditions continued to evolve with the times.
