In a first for the royal family, King Charles will confer a new title on Prince William

Later this week, King Charles III will bestow a new title on his eldest son, Prince William, in a unique royal family tradition.

On Friday (16 May), the father and son will attend the Order of the Bath Service at Westminster Abbey, which marks the Order’s 300th anniversary year and continues a tradition begun in 1725 by George I’s Letters Patent. 
This will be Charles’ first service as the ruling monarch of the old order, a rare royal first, and will also see William appointed to a brand-new job with a fancy new title.

Tomorrow’s Order of the Bath Service will see the Prince of Wales installed as Great Master of the Order.
The ceremony is essentially a resurrection of a much earlier custom that stretches back to mediaeval times. 
A ritual bath, thought to represent spiritual purity, was once a part of the knighthood rite.

It also includes a vigil the night before earning the award. 
In 1975, Charles’ mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, appointed him as Great Master.
The Sovereign traditionally attends every other service, although William, as Great Master, attends every service.

Charles, who was the Prince of Wales at the time, last attended in 2022.
The order has three classes of members: Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCB), Knight or Dame Commander (KCB/DCB), and Companion (CB).
Women could not join the order until 1971.
Last Monday, the National Gallery displayed the latest royal portraits of Charles and Queen Consort Camilla.
Peter Kuhfeld painted 76-year-old Charles’ portrait to commemorate the couple’s coronation in 2023, while artist Paul Benny portrayed Camilla, 77.
However, it was a feature painted on his right shoulder that piqued people’s interest online, with many taking to social media to speculate.

One Facebook user asked, “Is that a bra on his shoulder?”
“I thought he had a bra draped over his shoulder?” a second asked, while a third brazenly declared: “It’s the bra on his shoulder and the bondage ties on the bed post.” 
A fourth said, “He has a bra over his shoulder.” 
“What’s the bra doing on his shoulder?” another said, and a final person added, “The bra on his shoulder!” 
All joking aside, we believe it is exceedingly implausible that the head of the royal family would have chosen to have a piece of white lacy lingerie draped over him in a royal portrait.