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King Charles III

Prince Charles dons full regalia at Order of the Bath

In his role as Great Master of the Honourable Order of the Bath, Prince Charles attended the service at Westminster Abbey Thursday morning.

He has held the role of Great Master since 1974.

The Order of the Bath ceremony oversees the installation of Knights Grand Cross of the Order that dates back to medieval times. The earliest recorded ceremony was in 1399.

The service honouring Armed Service members and a few civil servants is held every four years with only 34 spots available which means many are left waiting many years until they are installed. Lord Mountbatten famously had to wait 17 years for his turn.

It was not until 1971 that women were allowed in the Order.  Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, was the first Dame Grand Cross to be admitted.

The Prince of Wales took over from his mother, Queen Elizabeth in 2014 after it was feared that the steps at Westminster Abbey were “too steep” for The Queen while she donned the full regalia.

Some of those being installed yesterday were General The Lord Dannatt, The Right Honourable The Lord Geidt, General Sir Michael Jackson, The Right Honourable The Lord Janvrin, Sir David Normington Marshal of the Royal Air Force The Lord Stirrup.

In the evening, Prince Charles attended ‘Platinum – Celebrating Israel at 70’. The self-described show was a ‘breathtaking evening of live music, dance and art’ held at the Royal Albert Hall.

Jonathan Arkush, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, sent out a tweet during the festivities that guests were in the “distinguished company” of Prince Charles while he spent time chatting to those attending.

Later the Prince of Wales sat with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis during the concert that lasted three hours.