Prince William Receives a New Royal Title From King Charles That Harry Might Never Get
William is set to take over a special royal title which was once bestowed upon Charles by the late Queen in 1975.
Prince William is set to receive a new title from his father, King Charles. On 16 May, the King and the Prince of Wales will attend the Service of the Order of the Bath at Westminster Abbey. At the event, William will be named ‘Great Master of the Order’— a title once bestowed upon the then-Prince Charles by the late Queen Elizabeth in 1975. The ceremony will mark a royal first for Charles as monarch. But this might be one title that Prince Harry might never receive, considering his royal exit in 2020.
The Great Master of the Order, HRH The Prince of Wales, processes out of the Abbey church at the end of the #OrderOfTheBath service. pic.twitter.com/W2ARLCGMUI
— Westminster Abbey (@wabbey) May 24, 2018
As reported by Marie Claire, the event marks the Order's 300th anniversary and will welcome invited members only. Those on the guest list include members of the royal family and senior civil servants and military personnel. The event will see the King acting as Sovereign of the Order for the first time. The service will also include the oath-taking and installation of five knights.
Later this morning, HM The King and HRH The Prince of Wales will attend a service and ceremony of the Oath and Installation of Knights Grand Cross of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath here at Westminster Abbey. The King is Sovereign of the Order, and the Prince of Wales will… pic.twitter.com/aNzVLQBoQ3
— Westminster Abbey (@wabbey) May 16, 2025
As reported by GB News, during the event, the King and Prince of Wales will be received at the Great West Door of the Abbey before joining the procession. Charles and William will later process to the Henry VII Lady Chapel for the Installation ceremonies. After William receives the title, he would be required to attend each service of the Order of the Bath, held once every four years. The Order of the Bath dates back to medieval times when part of the ceremony of knighthood included a ritual bath. This symbolic bath represented spiritual purification and included a vigil the night before receiving the honor.
William also holds other lesser-known titles. In Scotland, he is known as the Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Lord of the Isles, and Baron of Renfrew. Cosmopolitan reports that his new ‘Grand Master of the Order’ title signifies that he is taking on more royal responsibilities as he prepares to become King. Speaking to Fox News, royal expert Hilary Fordwich opined of the Prince, “Both Prince William and Princess Catherine have been readying to assume leadership roles with an accelerated schedule of preparation for their future positions as king and queen. But most certainly, they are not in any way actively seeking an immediate ascension.”
It is widely reported that William has been taking on extra royal duties since Charles was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024. Insiders suggest that William has “played a very smart hand” and has already 'chosen' how his reign will look. As reported by the Scottish Daily Express, a source said, “He was thinking about this early because he didn’t want to drift and then find that he hadn’t had a say in it. It’s one of the defining qualities of the man.” Reportedly, William "wants to be his own man," stepping away from Charles’ legacy and modernizing the monarchy once he ascends the throne.
