- Represents the highest honour the Queen can bestow in Scotland
By Rebecca English
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The Queen has awarded her grandson, Prince William, one of her highest orders of chivalry to mark his 30th birthday next month.
The future king is to be made a Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle.
Appointments to the Order of the Thistle are entirely in the personal gift of The Queen and are not made on the advice of the Prime Minister, as are most other Honours.
Honour: The Queen is to make Prince William a Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle to mark his 30th birthday
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle â€" whose motto is Nemo Me Impune Lacessit, No one provokes me with impunity - represents the highest honour the Queen can bestow in Scotland.
It is another sign of the prince’s gradual introduction into becoming a full-time senior working royal, although for the time being he will continue to work as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot in North Wales.
Duty: William will continue to work as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot in North Wales
Revived by King James VII, the Order has a complement of 16 Knights, who have the letter KT after their name. In 1987, The Queen decided that ladies should also be eligible for the Thistle in the same way as men.
William, 29, who is known as The Earl of Strathearn north of the border, will be formally welcomed into the order in a ceremony at Holyroodhouse Palace in Edinburgh in the next few weeks.
Other Royal Knights of the Thistle include the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and Princess Anne.
The Order of the Thistle is second only in precedence in the UK to the Order of the Garter, whic h Prince William is already a member of.
The Order honours Scottish men and women who have held public office or who have contributed in a particular way to national life.
The date of the foundation of the Order is not known, although legend has it that it was founded in 809 when King Achaius made an alliance with the Emperor Charlemagne.
It is also possible that the Order may have been founded by James III, who was responsible for changes in Royal symbolism in Scotland, including the adoption of the thistle as the Royal plant badge, in the early 1500s.
The patron saint of the Order of the Thistle is St Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, who also appears on the Order's badge.
Highest honor: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, attend the service of the 'Installation of the Knights of the Thistle' at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh in 2003
The breast star of the Order consists of a silver saltire with a pointed ray between each of the arms of the cross.
At the centre is a gold medallion contained in an enamelled representation of the thistle, surrounded by a green border bearing the Order's motto.
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ooohhhh will we have to bow a little lower now?
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Silly title, they really ought to grow up instead of playing dressing up!
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Knight of the Thistle eh? Thats a nice fancy made up title, a bit like his 'helicopter rescue passenger' title he holds.
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How about getting him in the front line so he can EARN some of this tinware. Otherwise he may as well be an American...
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This order of chivalry is apparently earned by holding open the door for your Grandmother (assuming of course that she is the Queen).
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Prince William will make a fantastic King. Maybe Granny has plans we know nothing about? As for Charles, being a divorced man, and re-marrying, does not sit well with the Queen, nor with the Church of England. She did not budge when Margaret, second in line at the time, wanted to marry a divorced man (Capt. Townsend) she said, "No". Those are painful rules to keep, but the Queen is strong at holding the line between right and wrong according to the Monarchy. She does seem exceptionally fond of the Prince and Catherine. The Queen does not make hasty decisions, and once reaching a conclusion, she sticks with it. Time will tell, and we shall see.
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Oh my goodness, where do they think up this stuff. Oh well, I like make believe.
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How sad that comments, even from Brits, can't acknowledge a unique historical monarchy that goes back hundreds of years as something so special - and revered by those of us who see it as what makes Britain what it used to be " Great " !
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Meaningless title, same as the others. Try as they might, they are not superior to the masses. They are human as are we all. - an honest , opinion, 28/5/2012 22:53 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm unsure if it's meaningless. I know to some, Orders of Chivalry mean acknowledgement, and well done. But to a Royal as young as HRH PW? It may mean: another weight on his lapel, holding him down, reminding him to give up what he wants (RAF), and attend to his duty.
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And when Scotland once more becomes independent, no longer bound to the english monarchy or its lackeys will they rescind these SCOTTISH titles , lands and honours?
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