As Queen Elizabeth II marks her milestone as the longest reigning monarch in British history, she is preparing to bestow a very special honor upon Kate Middleton. By doing so is Queen Elizabeth preparing the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to soon be crowned King and Queen of England?
Duchess Kate Middleton is expected to travel to Balmoral in Scotland this weekend with Prince William and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte. It is there where Queen Elizabeth will present Kate with the highest honor that can be given to female member of the Royal family – the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Queen will present the personal memento – it is not a state decoration but can be worn at state occasions – directly to the Duchess of Cambridge. No formal announcement is made regarding the honor so Royal watchers will need to keep a watchful eye out when Kate Middleton attends next month’s state dinner for China’s President Xi Jinping to see if the Duchess has pinned the Order to the left shoulder of her evening gown.
Past recipients of the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II include the Queen’s daughter Anne – the Princess Royal, the late Diana, Princess of Wales as well as Prince Charles current wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles – Duchess of Cornwall. Prince Edward’s wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex was photographed wearing the Order to Princess Madeleine of Sweden’s 2013 wedding.
The Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II depicts a 1952 portrait of the Queen in evening dress and wearing the ribbon and star of the Order of the Garter. Painted on ivory and bordered by diamonds a Tudor Crown in diamonds and red enamel rests atop the Order – which is sewn onto a chartreuse yellow bow. The back of the Order is silver-gilt with a pattern of rays and depicts the royal cypher and St. Edward’s Crown in gold and enamel.
Rumors have been circulating that Queen Elizabeth II has decided to step away – but rather than have her son Prince Charles be crowned King she has insisted that he step aside in favor of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The presentation of the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II is not proof that these rumors are true, but it certainly places Princess Kate in a very exclusive group of senior female Royals. Come back to CDL for all your Royal news and gossip!
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