Prince Edward Receives Order of Thistle Honor on His 60th Birthday From King Charles

On the occasion of Prince Edward's 60th birthday today, March 10, his older brother, King Charles III, gifted him with the highest Honor in Scotland, the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. 

It has an equivalent honor in England, the Most Noble Order of Honor, where Prince Edward has been a royal knight member since 2006.

HRH Prince Edward The Duke of Edinburgh ©The Royal Family 

This is the second time that King Charles III made his younger brother's birthday extra special. In 2023, on the occasion of Prince Edward's 59th birthday, the King bestowed him the title of Duke of Edinburgh, which is a life peerage.

Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh (photo shared by The Royal Family)

Most Noble Order of Thistle

The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is the highest order of chivalry in Scotland. It was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland, who asserted that he was reviving an earlier order. 

The order consists of the sovereign and sixteen knights and ladies, as well as certain "extra" knights (members of the British royal family and foreign monarchs) just like in the Most Noble Order of the Garter. 

Emblem of the Order of Thistle

The sovereign alone grants membership of the order based on his personal choices and not advised by the government, unlike other orders. The order's primary emblem is the thistle, the national flower of Scotland. 

The British sovereign grants the Order of the Thistle in recognition of one's great contribution to Scotland and Scottish life.

Wearing their Order of the Thistle regalia from left: Princess Anne, Prince William, Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Philip

Apart from his title of The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward has another peer title that is Scottish in origin, the Earl of Forfar, which his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, gifted him in 2019.

King Charles is the Sovereign of the Order. It is a personal gift of the King to whoever meets the criteria of the Order. He grants the honor without a recommendation from the government.

King Charles III wears his Order of the Thistle regalia while Prince Edward wears his Order of the Garter regalia

Royals who are current members

Upon the death of the Queen and Prince Philip, only five (including Prince Edward) members of the Royal Family are recipients of the Order of Thistle Honor:

• His Majesty The King, since 1977 as Duke of Rothesay
• HRH The Princess Royal, Anne, since 2000
• HRH The Duke of Rothesay, Prince William, since 2012
• Her Majesty The Queen, Camilla, since 2023
• HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, since 2024

Congratulations to Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh for this honor and Happy 60th birthday!