Duchess to visit city for Thistle ceremony

The Duchess of Cambridge is to accompany her husband to Edinburgh next month when the Queen makes Prince William a Knight of the Thistle – one of her highest orders of chivalry.

The honour will mark William’s 30th birthday next Thursday, with a ceremony taking place at St Giles’ Cathedral on July 5. The Duchess of Cambridge, pictured, will attend. The couple are known as the Earl and Countess of Strathearn in Scotland.

Also attending will be the 91-year-old Duke of Edinburgh, who is still recovering from his recent bout of illness, and the Princess Royal. All will sit down to a lunch with other Knights of the Thistle afterwards.

It is another sign of the prince’s gradual introduction into becoming a full-time senior working royal, although he will continue to work as an RAF search and rescue pilot in North Wales.

William’s installation is part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The monarch and Prince Philip will spend the week of July 2-6 carrying out a number of events in Scotland.