Both Prince William and King Charles attended the Order of the Bath Service at Westminster Abbey this morning, where William was installed as a Great Master of the Order
Prince William was today installed as a Great Master of the Order of the Bath today after processing through Westminster Abbey with his father in lavish crimson robes. The Prince of Wales attended the historic service for the first time, having been appointed to the ancient order last year by the King.
Meanwhile, the King took part for the first time as sovereign of the order, which is awarded to members of the military or civil service for exemplary work and this year celebrates its 300th anniversary. Father and son, both dressed in the order’s billowing satin robes, arrived at the Abbey’s Great West Door separately, shortly after 11am to be greeted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle.
Inside, the King greeted his son warmly, with an affectionate pat on his shoulder; before they enjoyed a brief, jovial conversation with the dean in the Chapel of Saint George. They then processed through the church with officers, knights and the Dame Grand Cross of the order before taking their seats in the Quire.
The King was accompanied by his young page Guy Tryon, ten, the son of his godson, Lord Charles Tryon, and the grandson of the late Lady Dale Tryon, an Australian socialite who enjoyed a close relationship with the King in his younger years.
The service was conducted by the Dean, who read the lesson from St Paul’s epistle to the Philippians chapter 4, verses 4 – 8 and gave the address.
During the service, the King and Prince William processed to the Henry VII Lady Chapel for the installation ceremony, which took place below the banners of living knights hanging above the stalls and was relayed to the congregation on television screens.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier and Admiral Sir Philip Jones took the oath as Knights Grand Cross of the Order and were installed, while General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith and Lord Young of Old Windsor – Elizabeth II’s former private secretary – and Sir Tom Scholar, took the oath but will not be installed until spaces arise.
In the chapel, the Bath King of Arms bowed to those being installed before they stepped up to their stalls. The King then presented the Book of Statutes to his son before the Prince and the Dean read the oath simultaneously. Each Knight then took the oath before bowing to the Grand Master.
After both the King and the Prince had made an offering of gold and silver at the altar, each Knight who had taken the oath turned towards the altar, behind Prince William, who drew his sword.
The Knights followed suit, holding their swords forward before the Prince’s sword was briefly laid upon the altar. They then processed back to the Quire to Elgar’s Nimrod.
The outing today comes just weeks after Prince Harry talked about his strained relationship with his father and brother in a bombshell interview with the BBC. The service for the Order of the Bath takes place every four years, with the monarch traditionally attending on only every other occasion and the Prince of Wales, as Great Master, attending every service.
The King, as Prince of Wales, last attended in May 2022. This year’s service was brought forward by one year to coincide with the 300th anniversary, meaning that the next one will not take place until 2030. The congregation comprised only members of the order and their guests.
The order consists of up to 120 Knights and Dames Grand Cross, 295 Knights and Dames Commander, and 1455 Companions, in addition to the Sovereign and the Great Master. It is the fourth most senior order of merit, after the Orders of the Garter, the Thistle, and of St. Patrick.
The late Queen last attended the service in 2014, when, due to her frailty, the then Prince Charles stepped in to perform her duties by making the offering, a task that involved climbing steep wooden steps in full regalia.
The order was established by George I on May 18, 1725, taking its name from the symbolic bathing which was often part of the preparation of a candidate for knighthood. The honour was only conferred on a knight after he had performed a number of rituals designed to purify the inner soul – fasting, vigils and prayer.
