As the matriarch of the British royal family, Queen Elizabeth has plenty of grandchildren and great-grandchildren to dote upon. However one member seems to be a favourite of Her Majesty.
In an official statement, Buckingham Palace announced that the Queen has granted a special gift to Duchess Catherine and it’s only been given to three other royal family members during her reign.
“The Queen has been pleased to make the following appointment to the Royal Victorian Order. To be a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) – HRH The Duchess of Cambridge,” the statement read.
“Awards in the Royal Victorian Order are made personally by The Queen, for services to the Sovereign.”
The award was granted to mark the eighth wedding anniversary of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and now Duchess Catherine has joined other Dames Grand Cross including Princess Anne, Duchess Camilla and Sophie Countess of Wessex.
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While Kensington Palace is yet to release an official statement, royal correspondent Rebecca English said that a source revealed, ‘Her Royal Highness in honoured and looks forward to continuing her work in support of the Queen.”
Duchess Catherine curtsies to the Queen on her wedding day back in 2011. (Image: Getty Images)
Duchess Catherine was most recently spotted with the 93 year-old monarch when the family stepped out for the traditional Easter Sunday church service at St George’s Chapel.
As a sign of the utmost respect, the Duchess of Cambridge was photographed curtsying to her grandmother-in-law and it’s safe to say that she has perfected this age-old tradition.
The two royals seem to have a very close bond, which was demonstrated on their first solo joint outing in March this year.
When the Queen and Duchess Catherine visited King’s College London to open the latest building, they were snapped sharing a blanket with each other in the car, sending royal fans into a frenzy.
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Duchess Catherine has also been spotted wearing the Royal Family Order. This honour, worn as a brooch, is “given from the queen to relatives in the royal family as a reward for their service”.
Reserved specifically for “female family members”, both Duchess Catherine and her late mother-in-law Princess Diana have sported this honour from the Queen.
Duchess Catherine has worn the Royal Family Order on two occasions. (Image: Getty Images)
This isn’t the first sign that the Queen is particularly fond of her grandson’s wife.
In the 2016 documentary William & Kate: The Journey, royal reporter Ashley Pearson revealed that there are certain qualities that the Queen admires in Duchess Catherine.
“She likes her middle-class values … She likes that she’s close to her family,” Pearson explained, adding that the Duchess also is not “flashy or showy”.
“Kate has never tried to garner extra attention for herself.”
The Queen and Duchess Catherine share a special bond. (Image: Getty Images)
And the feeling is certainly mutual. In a documentary commissioned for the Queen’s 90th birthday, the Duchess of Cambridge revealed that she made a chutney from the Middleton family recipe archives as a gift for the Queen.
“I was slightly worried about it, but I noticed the next day that it was on the table,” Kate revealed.
“I think such a simple gesture went such a long way for me and I’ve noticed since she’s done that on lots of occasions and I think it just shows her thoughtfulness, really, and her care in looking after everybody.”
