In case you missed it, the royal family recently shared a striking portrait of King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Prince Edward on social media. They attended the Thistle Service at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, and all were pictured in the traditional attire, including dark velvet robes and white-plumed hats. However, several royal fans took to the comments and asked why Duchess Sophia of Edinburgh—who was also in attendance—wasn't included in the photo and wearing the same robe.
The Surprising Reason Duchess Sophie Wasn’t Allowed in the Latest Royal Family Photo
Her husband, Prince Edward, was in the pic
Published Jul 5, 2024
•5:28pm
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There's a valid reason for this—but before we get to that, a quick explainer on what the Order of the Thistle is. Per the official royal website, it's the "greatest order of chivalry in Scotland," and it recognizes "Scottish men and women who have held public office or who have contributed in a particular way to national life." Appointments made to the Order are considered a personal gift from the King, and it includes 16 knights and ladies, in addition to the queen, Princess Anne, Prince William and the Duke of Rothesay.
The king appointed his brother, Prince Edward, to the Order of the Thistle in March—roughly a year after he gave his wife the same honor in June 2023. According to BBC, the prince called it a "huge privilege," adding that it carried "quite a lot of weight of expectation as well… there's an awful lot of legacy that came with that title."
As for Duchess Sophie, she has not been appointed a Lady of the Thistle, which explains why she is not included in the royal portrait. However, she may receive the honor as a gift from the king in the future.
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Understandably, Princess Anne, a Royal Knight of the Thistle, did not join the royal family in Scotland, since she is recovering from a recent accident. Prince William's wife, Kate Middleton, was also not in attendance amid her ongoing cancer treatment.
Typically, the Order of the Thistle Service occurs every other year. The knights are dressed in distinctive velvet robes, glistening insignia and white-plumed hats as they participate in a grand procession to the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle in Edinburgh. Then, the knights and ladies attend a ceremony at the Thistle Chapel in St Giles' Cathedral, where new members are installed into the Order by the king.
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