The former Kensington Palace staffer who once guided the communications and strategy for the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has been made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order by King Charles III in his New Year’s Honours List.
Jason Knauf, who joined Kensington Palace in 2015 and worked for the four principles there during his tenure, joins an illustrious list of staffers who have been rewarded for personal service to the monarch or the Royal Family.
Speaking of his honour, Knauf said, “Working for the Prince and Princess of Wales was the honour of a lifetime. Receiving this recognition means more to me than I can say. I am incredibly grateful.”
Knauf is perhaps most widely known for his role in the bullying allegations at Kensington Palace, alerting Prince William to allegations from staffers working for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Knauf continued to work with William and Catherine within their eponymous Royal Foundation through 2021 before stepping down from his duties. Knauf helped launch the Earthshot Prize in 2019 and 2020 as part of his duties.
Other royal staffers who were similarly honoured in the New Years list include Zoë Ware, an Assistant Private Secretary to William, who has been made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order; and Dawn Murphy, Princess Anne’s hairdresser, who has been awarded the Royal Victorian Medal (Silver).
Virginia Carlington, an Assistant Master of the Household of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order; as has Margaret Hammond, Princess Anne’s lady-in-waiting.
The Royal Victorian Order dates back to 1896, when Queen Victoria created a personal award that she alone could grant to people. The Royal Victorian Order has five grades and people throughout the Commonwealth can be admitted solely on the discretion of the monarch.
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