NEED TO KNOW<\/p>\n
The British royal family might be spending time out of the public eye while they take a summer getaway at Balmoral Castle<\/a>, but King Charles<\/a> took the opportunity to honor his brother-in-law, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, with a new royal title.\n<\/p>\n Princess Anne<\/a>‘s husband was quietly invested with the Insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order on Aug. 21, according to the Court Circular<\/a>, the official record of the royal family’s engagements. It is the highest title available within the Order, which was established in 1896 by\u00a0Queen Victoria to recognize personal service to the royal family or the monarch.\n<\/p>\n Sir Tim, 70, became the first member of the royal family to receive the honor since Kate Middleton<\/a>. Queen Elizabeth<\/a>\u00a0named her granddaughter-in-law as a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order<\/a>,\u00a0the female equivalent of a Knight Grand Cross, on April 29, 2019 \u2014\u00a0which happened to be Kate and\u00a0Prince William<\/a>\u2018s eighth wedding anniversary.\n<\/p>\n Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence at Trooping the Colour on June 14, 2025.<\/p>\n Max Mumby\/Indigo\/Getty<\/p>\n Others with the honor include fellow royal spouses Queen Camilla<\/a> and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh<\/a>. Blood members of the royal family are also part of the club, including Prince Edward<\/a> and Prince Andrew<\/a>. Meanwhile, Princess Anne was made a Dame Grand Cross in 1974 before becoming Grand Master in 2007.\n<\/p>\n While Princess Kate, 43, is a member of the Royal Victorian Order, her husband Prince William is not. But as heir to the throne, he will one day be Sovereign of the Order like King Charles is currently. The Prince of Wales, 43, holds other honors that are considered more prestigious than the Royal Victorian Order, such as Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (the most senior knighthood in the U.K.) and Knight of the Order of the Thistle (Scotland’s highest honor).\n<\/p>\n With Sir Tim’s new title will come a new accessory. The insignia for a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order includes\u00a0a sash badge and a breast star, which Princess Anne’s husband may debut at the state visit hosting U.S. President Donald Trump next month at Windsor Castle.\n<\/p>\n Since becoming a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Princess Kate has worn a blue, red and white sash over her dress as well as a badge featuring a Maltese cross at state banquets, signifying her position<\/a>. At King Charles’ coronation in May 2023, Kate wore the red, white and blue mantle (or robe) of the Order<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Kate Middleton at King Charles’ coronation in May 2023.<\/p>\n Max Mumby\/Indigo\/Getty<\/p>\n While Sir Tim is not a working member of the royal family, the retired Royal Navy officer has often supported them at events such as Trooping the Colour and Remembrance Day over his 33 years of marriage to Princess Anne.\n<\/p>\n Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?\u00a0Sign up for our free Royals newsletter<\/a>\u00a0to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n