King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prince William participated in the annual Garter Day service at Windsor Castle today, though Kate Middleton was notably absent, according to the Mirror.
This traditional celebration honours the ancient Order of the Garter and marks the start of the busy royal summer period.
The event follows the King's birthday parade, Trooping the Colour, where Kate Middleton made her first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis. However, as her treatment continues, her attendance on Saturday did not indicate a full-time return to royal duties. Royal sources stated that her public engagements would depend on her health, excluding her from today's ceremony and the upcoming Royal Ascot festival.
Today, members of the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most prestigious Order of Chivalry in the UK, processed from Windsor Castle's State Apartments to St. George's Chapel. Dressed in white plumed hats and dark blue velvet robes, they were observed by crowds, including Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh. After the ceremony, the palace announced that Charles, Camilla, and other royals would return to the castle by carriage.
Other attending royals included Princess Anne, Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester, and Princess Alexandra. Prince Andrew, also a member, did not participate in the parade.
During the service, new Companions of the Order, including composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, were installed. Lord Lloyd Webber, known for his musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera and Cats, attended a private investiture in the castle’s Garter Throne Room earlier in the day.
The Order of the Garter is limited to 24 Knights or Ladies Companion, plus the King, the Prince of Wales, and several supernumerary members, including foreign monarchs. Recipients are selected for their public service, contributions to national life, or personal service to the sovereign. Appointments are made solely by the King, without consulting ministers, and the investing of new companions is a key feature of the ceremony.
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