Prince William’s distinct place in Britain’s long-standing chivalric customs was subtly reaffirmed during a royal ceremony held at Westminster Abbey.
The Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath has been formally installed as Prince William, Prince of Wales. The appointment, which was confirmed on May 16, 2025, at Westminster Abbey in a ceremony with King Charles III, emphasises the importance of generational succession within the monarchy and the long history of royal honours.
William joined his father in celebrating the 300th anniversary of the Order of the Bath at a historically significant and symbolic service.
Since it was the King’s first time attending as Sovereign, the event, which took place inside Westminster Abbey, was a momentous occasion for the royal family.
William was installed as the Great Master of the Order, a position customarily given to the heir apparent. Five people were also formally inducted as Knights Grand Cross during the occasion.
The Order was first established by George I on May 18, 1725, as a military honour, but it has since expanded to include high-ranking military and civilian authorities.
Prior to their investiture, knights would take a ceremonial bath as a sign of purity, which is where the term and rituals originate. The Order maintains its ties to those ancient traditions even though it was resurrected in the 18th century.
Before entering the nave in a solemn procession with other dignitaries, the King and the Prince were greeted at the abbey’s Great West Door. Following the ceremony in the Quire, they travelled to the Henry VII Lady Chapel for the formal installation ceremonies.
The Great Master is present at every quadrennial event, but the Sovereign only attends every other service, which is held once every eight years. The last time King Charles III went was in 2022, when Queen Elizabeth II was still living.
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.”
Prince William’s destiny as king is further cemented by this ceremonial occasion, which also highlights a distinction that his younger brother, Prince Harry, is unlikely to ever have.
Furthermore, a recent incident raises the possibility that Harry will never be able to re-establish his relationship with his family. while previously reported, the Duke opened up about his continued alienation from the royal family while his father battles cancer in an interview with the BBC in early May.
Harry discussed the publication of his 2023 memoir, “Spare,” which caused controversy because to its direct criticism of Queen Camilla, Princess Catherine, and Prince William, during the candid discussion.
He stressed that the core problem—his worry for safety and security—remains unaddressed, even if he admitted that certain members of the royal family might never forgive him for what he revealed.
“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.”
The conversation focused heavily on security, as Harry described how court rulings made him vulnerable while travelling to the UK.
He claimed that the protection provided is inadequate, particularly for those who are not invited to formal royal events. He emphasised the limitations of the private security forces that surround him, claiming that he has received different treatment than any other king, past or present.
In the interview, Harry added more background by stating that Charles has declined to discuss the matter with him, blaming it on government policy. The Duke disputed that idea, pointing out that the chair of the RAVEC—the group in charge of VIP security—consulted the palace early on.
“I have never ever been allowed or offered to make my own representations, not in 2020 and not for the last five years,” he added, denouncing what he called a “double standard” that exclusively applied to him.
Harry ended by sharing his thoughts on his time working with Canada’s First Nations communities and his current work with the Invictus Games.
From them, he learnt 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.”
Following the outcome of his court case (appeal) regarding police protection in the UK, Harry made a public statement just before the interview aired.
He clarified that the sole goal of his legal action had always been to protect himself and his close relatives when travelling back to his native country. His official security was taken away in 2020, a decision he criticised as a “reckless action” that put his family in risk and “signedaled 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 stated. The Duke claimed that RAVEC did not adhere to its own protocols and that the royal household had an impact on the choice.
He emphasised 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.
Given his father’s recent health issues, his emotional appeal for reconciliation gains more weight. King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis was verified by Buckingham Palace in February 2025. The malignancy was found during a normal treatment for a benign prostate problem.
His Majesty continues to be involved in official activities even if he has retreated from public engagements. According to the Palace, the King is hopeful about his prognosis and intends to resume his full royal responsibilities as soon as feasible.
Harry also talked about the lack of recognition in the family and the personal costs of quitting royal life in a previous interview with Oprah Winfrey.
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.”
It is necessary to go back in order to comprehend how Harry got to this point. According to his book “Spare,” the prince was regarded as the more carefree royal as a youth and was frequently referred to as the carefree child in contrast to his solemn older brother, the heir.
But when he lost his mother when he was twelve, everything changed. He was overcome with grief. He found living under continual media attention intolerable, suffered in school, and reacted angrily. He never came to terms with being in the spotlight and blamed the media for her passing.
Harry enlisted in the British Army at the age of 21. His two tours of service turned him into a national hero, and the structure provided him a sense of purpose. The trauma persisted, though. He experienced panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder. He wanted a real relationship more than anything else.
Then Meghan arrived. It seemed like a fairy tale how the pair fell in love and got married. However, behind the scenes, they were subjected to racism, false information, and constant intervention from an aggressive press.
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.”
