A royal ceremony at Westminster Abbey quietly reinforced Prince William’s unique role in Britain’s ancient chivalric traditions.
Prince William, the Prince of Wales, has been formally installed as the Great Master of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath.
The appointment, confirmed during a ceremony with King Charles III at Westminster Abbey on May 16, 2025, highlights the historic legacy of royal honors and the significance of generational succession within the monarchy.
During a service steeped in history and symbolism, William joined his father to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Order of the Bath.
Held inside Westminster Abbey, the event marked a significant moment for the royal family, as it was the King’s first time attending as Sovereign.
As heir to the throne, William was installed as Great Master of the Order—a role traditionally assigned to the next in line. During the ceremony, five individuals were also formally inducted as Knights Grand Cross.
Founded by George I on May 18, 1725, the Order was originally conceived as a military honor but has since evolved to include senior military and civil officials.
The name and rites go back to medieval practices, where knights would undergo a ritual bath as a symbol of purification before their investiture. Although revived in the 18th century, the Order retains its connection to those earlier customs.
The King and the Prince were welcomed at the Great West Door of the abbey before joining a formal procession with other dignitaries through the nave. They proceeded to the Quire for the service and later moved to the Henry VII Lady Chapel for the official installation rites.
While the Sovereign only attends every other service—once every eight years—the Great Master is present at each quadrennial event. King Charles III last attended in 2022 while Queen Elizabeth II was still alive.
Highlighting the occasion on social media, the official Instagram account for the Prince and Princess of Wales wrote, “Celebrating the 300th anniversary of Order of the Bath. For three centuries, the order has recognised exceptional military and civil achievements across the UK and the Commonwealth.”
This ceremonial moment further cements Prince William‘s trajectory as future king, while also underscoring a distinction that his younger brother, Prince Harry, will likely never share.
Additionally, a recent event makes it seem like Harry may never recover the bond with his family. As reported previously, the Duke spoke candidly during a BBC interview in early May, where he addressed his ongoing estrangement from the royal family while his father faces cancer.
In the revealing conversation, Harry touched on the release of his 2023 memoir, “Spare,” which sparked controversy for its blunt criticism of Queen Camilla, Princess Catherine, and Prince William.
He acknowledged that some of the royal family may never forgive him for the things he disclosed, but emphasized that the central issue remains unresolved: his concern for safety and security.
“There have been so many disagreements and differences between me and some of my family,” Harry said, noting that the five-year conflict revolves around “human life and safety” above all else.
He also shared his desire to move past these differences, “I would love reconciliation with my family. I don’t know how much longer my father has… but it would be nice to reconcile.”
Security was a major focus of the interview, as Harry explained how court decisions left him vulnerable during visits to the United Kingdom.
He stated that the protection offered is insufficient, especially when not invited to official royal functions. Though private security teams accompany him, he stressed their limitations, saying he has been treated differently than any other royal, past or present.
Adding further context, Harry said during the interview that Charles has refused to speak with him about the issue, deferring responsibility to government policy. However, the Duke challenged that notion, pointing out that the RAVEC (the committee overseeing VIP security) chair consulted the palace at the outset of the process.
“I have never ever been allowed or offered to make my own representations, not in 2020 and not for the last five years,” he said, criticizing what he described as a double standard applied only to him.
Harry concluded by reflecting on his ongoing work with the Invictus Games and his time spent with Canada’s First Nations communities.
From them, he learned the value of “truth and reconciliation,” a principle he now applies to his own situation. “Well, I’ve now found out the truth. I’ve shared some of it with you today… So it would be nice to have that reconciliation part now,” he said. “If they don’t want that, that’s entirely up to them.”
Shortly before the interview aired, Harry released a public statement following the outcome of his court case (appeal) over police protection in the UK.
He explained that his legal action had only ever been about ensuring his safety and that of his immediate family when visiting his home country. He criticized the 2020 decision that removed his official security, calling it a “reckless action” that endangered his family and “signaled to all other governments to do the same.”
“My ask has been simple: that the standard protocols for security and risk assessments be applied to me in the same way they are to others,” he said. The Duke alleged that the royal household influenced the decision and that RAVEC failed to follow its own procedures.
He emphasized that he had never been invited to contribute to the process and had even offered to pay for protection privately. “The only possible conclusion that can be drawn is they choose not to [reassess], because they know the outcome would prove that my security should never have been removed in the first place,” he wrote.
His emotional plea for reconciliation gains added weight in light of recent health concerns surrounding his father. In February 2025, Buckingham Palace confirmed King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis, which was discovered during a routine procedure for a benign prostate condition.
While His Majesty has stepped back from public-facing duties, he remains active in state responsibilities. The Palace shared that the King is optimistic about his treatment and hopes to return to full royal duties as soon as possible.
In an earlier interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry also discussed the personal toll of leaving royal life and the lack of acknowledgment within the family.
He revealed that no one had expressed regret. After years of asking for help and warning of potential consequences, he said, “It’s been really hard because I’m trying. I am part of the system with them. I always have been.”
He added that although his brother remains bound to that system, “I have [left it].” When Winfrey asked if his own father thought anything bad about that system, Harry noted, “He’s had to make peace with it.”
To understand how Harry reached this point, one must look back. As detailed in his book “Spare,” as a boy, the prince was known as the more carefree royal, often described as the happy-go-lucky kid compared to his serious older brother, the heir.
But everything changed when he lost his mother at 12. Grief consumed him. He struggled with school, lashed out in anger, and found life under constant media scrutiny unbearable. He blamed the press for her death and never made peace with life in the spotlight.
At 21, Harry joined the British Army. The structure gave him purpose, and his two tours of duty made him a national hero. Still, the trauma lingered. He developed post-traumatic stress and suffered from panic attacks. More than anything, he longed for a genuine connection.
Then came Meghan. The couple’s love story and wedding felt like a fairy tale. But behind the scenes, they were battered by an aggressive press, facing racism, fabricated stories, and relentless intrusion.
Harry watched his wife suffer and feared history was repeating itself. With their mental health and safety at risk, he made a choice few royals have ever dared to make: to walk away. “The last to try,” the book says, “had been his mother.”
