Princess Catherine received a historic new title from her father-in-law, King Charles III. However, her role sparked diverse reactions from the public, calling it a distraction from events behind palace walls.
On April 23, King Charles III announced that the Princess of Wales would become the Royal Companion of the Order of the Companions of Honour. This was the first appointment for any royal.
This prestigious appointment places her among an elite group recognized for their significant contributions across various fields. Some include the arts, sciences, and public service.
The Order of the Companions of Honour was established by King George V in 1917. It is an exclusive society limited to 65 members at any given time. However, additional honorary members from outside the Commonwealth are allowed. Notable figures among its ranks include Sir Elton John, Sir David Attenborough, Anna Wintour, Dame Maggie Smith, and Dame Judi Dench.
The announcement of Catherine’s new role has raised eyebrows. It has prompted a flurry of online comments expressing confusion and concern. Thoughts from the online community range from skeptical to supportive.
“Definitely a distraction as to what is really happening but okay,” one comment read, hinting at underlying royal dynamics. “But where is she?” asked another, highlighting the Princess’s noticeable absence from public engagements. “A Royal Companion never heard of that role,” a person noted.
“She still hasn’t been seen in public since Dec 25th, and no one seems concerned with this at all?” another person expressed. “Where is she now?” a comment echoed. “I hope she is getting better,” a Facebook user shared. “Ermm what kind of title is that?” questioned another, puzzled over the significance of the new title.
It’s clear that while the honor is significant, it also casts a spotlight on Catherine’s recent low profile. This has stirred public curiosity and concern about her well-being and the circumstances surrounding her new royal duties.
The appointment coincides with a challenging personal period as Catherine undergoes cancer treatment. This new role highlights the deep familial and supportive bonds within the royal family during her health struggles.
King Charles, who was also diagnosed with cancer, shares a particularly close relationship with Catherine. “He has always had a very good bond with her. I don’t think it is presumptuous to say that she is like the daughter he never had,” explained royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith.
The bond between Catherine and the King is fortified by their shared experiences and mutual support during these trying times. The Monarch even expressed pride in Catherine’s bravery following her public announcement of her cancer diagnosis on March 22. Catherine’s announcement came after much public speculation about her health.
In it, she expressed her commitment to her recovery, supported by her husband Prince William, and their children. “She has the inner strength, the support of her husband and her extraordinary family, so she can focus on what’s important, which is her getting back to strength,” commented Ailsa Anderson, former spokeswoman for the late Queen Elizabeth.
Catherine shared that having her husband by her side has been immensely comforting. The couple’s children also played a significant part in the timing of her announcement.
This shared experience of health challenges further solidifies the connection between Catherine and King Charles, beyond their roles within the monarchy.
The announcement also came on Prince Louis’s 6th birthday. His parents even celebrated his special day with a lovely Instagram post. We previously reported that Catherine and William shared a new photo of Louis for his birthday. Social media users have reacted to their birthday tribute.
In the heartwarming picture, the youngest of the Wales kids is seen beaming widely at the camera, showing off his pearly whites. “Happy 6th Birthday, Prince Louis! 🎂,” expresses the caption before it goes on to thank everyone who has been wishing him a happy birthday.
Admirers have taken to the comment section of the post to wish Prince Louis a happy birthday. “Happy birthday Prince Louis – growing up quickly, lovely picture 🎉🎁,” wrote a fan.
Similarly, another said, “Happy birthday Prince Louis! 🎈You are growing up so fast. I hope you have a great day. God bless you and your beautiful family ❤️.”
“There’s so much personality in his face. I bet he is wonderful to have as your baby 👶,” remarked another well-wisher. Someone else marveled at the similarity between Prince Louis and Prince George, pointing out, “Louis looks so much like George here!”
This breaking news comes after we just reported that Catherine and Prince William had not yet shared a birthday tribute to Prince Louis on his actual birthday or before, like they have done in the past.
Monday was cause for celebration within the British royal family as this was the date of Prince Louis’s 6th birthday. Before April 23 (Prince Louis’s birthday), eagle-eyed fans anticipated seeing a birthday post from his parents.
One person took to X to post a gif of Daffy Duck with a worried expression as he nervously patted his cheeks to show he was anxious about something. Alongside the gif, the X user captioned, “We right now … waiting for Prince Louis Birthday pictures.”
“In 2016, KP shared Prince George’s third birthday pictures in the morning so that’s likely they will do the same for Louis tomorrow. I’m glad the press didn’t get it tonight because they don’t deserve it. Fingers crossed for tomorrow 🤞🏻,” stated another person.
However, when April 23 arrived, no new pictures of Prince Louis were released yet, but some fans still clung to the hope that perhaps pictures would be posted later in the day. “Waiting to see if any photos get released of Prince Louis on his birthday,” wrote a hopeful fan.
Referencing Prince Louis’s parents, another asserted, “I hope the Prince and Princess of Wales don’t allow the Mother’s Day picture controversy to discourage them from releasing a birthday photo for Prince Louis’s sixth birthday.”
Alas, no photos surfaced online at that point, prompting someone else to express, “Disappointed we did not get a new photo of Prince Louis for his 6th Birthday. Was looking forward to it.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales have shared birthday posts in celebration of Prince Louis in the past for every one of his birthdays.
They usually post adorable pictures of him on the day before his actual birthday with sweet and short messages like “A very happy birthday to Prince Louis.”
In addition to the birthday posts, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also take pride in making their children’s birthdays extra special with cake.
When previously asked who makes the birthday cakes for their kids, Catherine Middleton revealed, “I love making the cake. It’s become a bit of a tradition. I love it.”
In another instance in which Catherine received expert baking tips from “The Great British Baking Show’s” Alice Fevronia, Alice confirmed, “She mentioned that she’d been up quite late on a couple of occasions trying to decorate the kids’ birthday cakes.”
Since Catherine is quite the hands-on mother, especially when celebrating her kids’ birthdays, many previously wondered why Prince Louis had not been celebrated publicly yet this year.
Before their recent birthday post, the official Instagram account for the Prince and Princess of Wales broke their silence with two posts. Among them is a video showing Prince William working closely with the Surplus to Supper charity. It spotlights the important work of delivering “freshly-cooked meals to local projects.”
Prince William was also seen in the public eye at a football match, where he and his son, Prince George, supported Aston Villa. This outing was particularly notable as it was their first public appearance since the announcement of Catherine’s illness.
The presence of George and the inclusion of one of Lady Rose Hanbury’s sons sparked considerable online discussion. Accusations of Prince William’s inappropriate relationship with Lady Rose Hanbury resurfaced, with social media users quickly pointing out the presence of her son at such a personal family outing. This stirred a mix of sympathy and controversy, reflecting the complex scrutiny the royal family often faces.
The appearances by Prince William reflect a return to a semblance of normalcy despite the ongoing personal challenges.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams called the appearances “well-timed,” He added, “Royals realize that every single thing they do sends a message in one way or another.
Before disclosing these details in her cancer diagnosis video and before the recent public reaction to Prince Louis’s 6th birthday, Catherine, Prince Louis, and his siblings had already gone viral.
Their controversial Mother’s Day photo sparked public outcry and speculation, which we previously reported on March 11, 2024. When Catherine took a two-month hiatus from the public eye to recover from surgery, little did she know that her return would ignite a firestorm of speculation and intrigue.
The Mother’s Day photo seemed to raise more questions than answers. In the photograph, Catherine can be seen hugging her three children. However, upon closer inspection of the picture, fans noticed that kids were holding their fingers in a rather unusual way.
“Why’s Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte fingers crossed?” questioned a fan. “Prince Louis’s fingers are crossed, what you do when you tell a lie. Is it a message?” another chimed in.
“Not to mention the fact that both George & Louis have their middle fingers crossed over their ring fingers & Charlotte has her ring finger crossed over her middle… But that’s a level of possible symbolism I’m not well versed in,” another fan remarked.
A close-up of Princess Charlotte’s hands posted on March 10, 2024 | Source: X/KensingtonRoyal
A lot of people believed that it was a message. Things have not been the greatest on the Middleton side of the family. First with Catherine’s public disappearance, and then with the lies regarding Prince William and the author of the photo.
Initially, it was announced that he was the one who took the picture of his wife and their kids, but later on, the information was discredited.
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“Prince William lied about taking a photo of Kate Middleton and kids. Photo agencies say it’s fake. They have issued a Kill Notification,” posted a user online.
While some worry about the misinformation being spread, others are concerned for the well-being of the family. Some believe that Prince Louis’s finger sign was a reference to the “Truman Show.” “And Prince Louis’s fingers are crossed (throwback to the aha moment in “The Truman Show”?)!” commented a user.
A close-up of Prince Louis’s fingers posted on March 10, 2024 | Source: X/KensingtonRoyal
In the famous movie starring Jim Carrey, there was a moment when the main character noticed something odd about his wedding photos. In the pictures, his wife Meryl has her fingers crossed while kissing him, revealing that she never had real feelings for him.
The fabricated marriage depicted in “The Truman Show” criticizes the media, mirroring real-world celebrity relationships that are faked purely for the sake of entertainment. In light of this and the details noticed fans speculated that the Wales kids were sending signs of their parents’ relationship also being faked.
Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales with Prince Louis of Wales, Prince George of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
As speculation about the British royal family keeps everyone hooked, one thing is certain: the intrigue isn’t fading. From the mystery surrounding Catherine and her health to her children’s curious gestures, each new detail adds more drama to the story.
