Criticism has been directed towards King Charles for postponing the bestowal of one of the most prestigious honors within the royal family upon Kate Middleton, mirroring the way he treated Diana before.
Chancellor of the Order of the Garter
In a historic move, King Charles III has appointed Baroness Manningham-Buller as the Chancellor of the Order of the Garter. This prestigious position marks a significant milestone, as she becomes the first female Chancellor since the office’s inception in 1475. The Order of the Garter, founded by Edward III in 1348, is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain. Its members are personally appointed by the monarch for their contributions to public life.
Baroness Manningham-Buller, the former head of MI5, has a distinguished career. She was previously made a Lady Companion of the Garter by the late Queen Elizabeth II in April 2014. Now, following the retirement of the Duke of Abercorn, she assumes the role of Chancellor. Buckingham Palace has stated that the King is “graciously pleased” with this appointment.
Growing Demands and Princess Kate
Interestingly, this appointment coincides with growing demands to name Princess Kate (the Princess of Wales) as part of the Order of the Garter.
Speaking on behalf of Slingo, as per the Daily Express, former butler of Princess Diana, Paul Burrell urged the 75-year-old monarch to make the Princess of Wales a Lady of the Order of the Garter, owing to her priceless status among the royals.
Paul shared, “I wonder why Kate hasn’t been made a Lady of the Order of the Garter when she is our future queen, which is out of kilter for me,” adding: “I think it revolves around the King and his favorites.”
Kate Middleton, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy following her cancer diagnosis, has been hit with mixed news. While she receives a new royal title as a Royal Companion of The Order of the Companions of Honour, there are claims that King Charles has “snubbed” her by appointing Baroness Manningham-Buller to the prestigious role.
Princess Diana’s fate
The royal author compared Kate’s situation to Diana, noting she was void of any special honour during her decades-long tenure in the family.
“Diana, Princess of Wales, was married to Charles for 15 years before they divorced but never received one award from the royal family. Nothing for her contribution to society or the world.