The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have been welcomed into the highest Scottish chivalric order during Holyrood Week.
Queen Camilla and Prince Edward have joined King Charles and Prince William as members of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the highest order of chivalry in Scotland.
The Queen is now an Extra Lady of the order and The Duke of Edinburgh is an Extra Knight- the “Extra” denotes that they do not count towards the sixteen member total.
They wore the traditional green velvet robes and plumed white hats and attended the Order of the Thistle Service at St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh where the Order’s official chapel is located.
King Charles was made an Extra Knight of the Order of the Thistle in 1977 when he was heir to the throne and known in Scotland as The Duke of Rothesay. Prince William (now The Duke of Rothesay) was made an Extra Knight in 2012. Prince William is also the Earl of Strathearn.
King James VII of Scotland (James II in England) created the Order of the Thistle in 1687 and claimed that it was based on an older order. There are sixteen regular members of the Order at any given time, and members of the Royal Family can be made Extra members.
The Royal Family is in Scotland this week for Holyrood Week, a period where they celebrate Scottish community, achievement, and culture.
King Charles will be back in London on July 5th because of the general election. Votes go to the polls on July 4th and the leader of the largest group following the ballot will go to Buckingham Palace on July 5th where The King will ask them to form a government.
