Kate was only senior royal not wearing a robe at Scottish Coronation – why?

The Princess of Wales stood out today as the only senior member of the Royal Family not allowed to wear a ceremonial robe during King Charles’s Scottish Coronation.

The Princess of Wales joined other senior royals for a National Service of Thanksgiving at St Giles’ Cathedral in Scotland today, dazzling in a royal blue. Kate, who uses the title Duchess of Rothesay while in Scotland, wore a recycled blue Catherine Walker dress coat, stylishly coordinated with a Philip Treacy hat.

In May, Kate attended the Coronation service at Westminster Abbey wearing the Royal Victorian Order mantle to represent her title of Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. Unlike King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prince William, however, she was the only senior royal at today’s service not dressed in a ceremonial robe.

As explained by royal commentator Matta_Of_Fact in a TikTok clip, the gowns represent the Order of the Thistle, which Kate is not yet part of. She said: “You might also Kate is not wearing any robes, that is because she does not yet belong to the Order of the Thistle.

“I imagine she will someday, but instead, she went with [a] very interesting repeat of a Catherine Walker coat dress.”

What is The Order of the Thistle?

The Order of the Thistle is Scotland’s highest and only chivalry, explaining why the green mantel robes are exclusively worn in Scotland.

In British tradition, the sovereign travels to Scotland for a week every year, where they receive the keys to the city of Edinburgh upon arrival.

The royal website states that King Charles is sovereign of the Order, and “appointments made to the Order are entirely his personal gift, in recognition of men and women who have held public office or have contributed significantly to national life.”

The monarch has already appointed Queen Camilla, 75, Prince William, 41, and his sister Princess Anne, 72, as Royal Knights of the Thistle.