Prince Edward Receives a New Title from King Charles as He Battles Cancer

In the middle of his brother King Charles III‘s ongoing battle with cancer, Prince Edward has a brand new title – a member of the prestigious Order of the Thistle – and showed off his regalia for the first time in a public appearance on Friday, April 12th.

Edward, 60, is Commodore in Chief of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and attended the inauguration of a new ship in Leith, Scotland. For the occasion, the Duke of Edinburgh wore his ceremonial military uniform with special new additions. Edward’s navy blue blazer featured a silver medal with a gold emblem at its center, a badge awarded to members of the Order of the Thistle.

Edward, for his part, joined the order in March through his older brother Charles, 75.

“To mark the Duke of Edinburgh’s 60th birthday tomorrow, His Majesty the King was delighted to appoint His Royal Highness to the oldest and most noble Order of the Thistle,” the royal family said in a statement X Page read March 9th.

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A royal life story. Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, is 13th in line to the British throne. After the Queen’s death in September 2022 at the age of 96, the Earl of Wessex joined his three older siblings – King Charles III, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew […]

The Order of the Thistle is “the greatest order of chivalry in Scotland,” says a description on the royal website. It recognizes 16 Scottish men and women who have held public office or contributed to national life. The order goes to King James III. and King James VII returned to honor the monarch’s national allies. (The King is known as the Sovereign of the Order.)

The reigning ruler can appoint 16 knights to the order and also award the title to members of his family. Charles, 75, previously called wife Queen CamillaSister Princess Anne and son Prince William as royal Thistle Knights.

Charles bestows the honorific on Edward shortly after he and his wife Duchess Sophie, have risen as senior working royals. Charles and William’s wife, Princess Kate Middleton, both have temporarily reduced their duties as they both battle cancer. Kate, 42, confirmed her diagnosis in March, a month after Charles revealed his health battle.

Related: Kate Middleton and other royals diagnosed with cancer

Several British royals have been diagnosed with various forms of cancer since the beginning of their family’s reign. Buckingham Palace announced in February 2024 that King Charles III. received a cancer diagnosis a week after being admitted to the London Clinic for treatment of an enlarged prostate. “During King’s recent hospital procedure […]

“I would like to express my warmest thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received over the last few days,” the royal said in a February statement released by Buckingham Palace. “As every cancer survivor knows, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement.”

Charles, who has not revealed further details about his diagnosis, is currently undergoing treatment. As a result, he limited his public appearances mainly to audiences in the palaces. His Majesty appeared at the Royals’ Easter Mattins service in Windsor on March 31.