Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, receives a significant family order from Queen Elizabeth II. (Photo : Reuters)
Queen Elizabeth II presented one of the ultimate honors for a female in the royal family by offering Kate Middleton the Royal Family Order that previously belonged to her after Middleton resumed her royal duties after a maternity leave.
The order, which is essentially a type of badge that is usually stuck on the heir's left shoulder, was given to the Duchess of Cambridge this month in a special dinner in Balmoral, Scotland. The dinner was apparently held during a celebration of the Queen's reign after achieving the title of the longest reigning monarch in Britain, Star Pulse reported.
According to Pop Sugar, the specific Order that Middleton received was a painting of Queen Elizabeth II bordered in diamonds and portrayed the Queen with an evening dress while she was in her younger days. The Order included red enamel, a Tudor crown and a yellow ribbon from which the rest was hanging.
According to credible sources, the giving of the order was initiated over two centuries ago by King George lV. Receiving the order is compared to getting a gold star from the monarch. Therefore, Queen Elizabeth clearly shows that Middleton has done a good job of representing the royal family in her first four years of marriage.
The previous recipients of the Order include the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles' current wife, and Princess Diana. The Order is treated more as a personal memento rather than a state decoration.
Following the honor, Queen Elizabeth and her granddaughter-in-law seem to be fairing on well denying the rumors of bad blood between the two.
