The Queen bestows rare honour on Duke to celebrate anniversary
THE QUEEN has presented the Duke of Edinburgh with a rare honour as a special anniversary present as they celebrate 70 years of marriage.
As the Royal couple reached their milestone platinum wedding anniversary, she appointed Philip a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) for services to the sovereign.
The touching gesture will be seen as the Queen’s recognition of the devotion Philip has shown through the decades, supporting her publicly and privately.
Philip, 96, retired from his public role in the summer after years of Royal duty alongside the monarch.
He is the longest-serving Royal consort in British history, and the Queen, the nation’s longestreigning monarch, is the first to celebrate a 70th wedding anniversary.
Awards in the Royal Victorian Order are made personally by the Queen and bestowed independently of Downing Street.
The monarch presented Philip with the honour at Windsor Castle, where they are marking their anniversary privately.
They were celebrating with close family and friends at a special dinner at the Berkshire residence last night.
Philip is already a Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG), a Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle (KT) and a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE).
Now with his GCVO he will have four UK order of chivalry breast stars. The last UK citizen to equal this was his uncle Lord Mountbatten of Burma.
Philip also has many other honours including the Order of Merit (OM), Order of New Zealand (ONZ), and Knight, Order of Australia (AK).
Meanwhile, the British monarchy has been valued at £67.5bn, according to a business valuation consultancy firm. Brand Finance estimates that the monarchy’s annual contribution to the UK economy in 2017 is £1.77bn.