Kate Middleton receives historic royal title from loving father-in-law King Charles amid her cancer battle

LONDON, UK: Kate Middleton has reportedly become the first British royal family member to be honored with the Royal Companion of the Order of the Companions of Honour title. King Charles announced the honor on April 23, People reports.

As per the royal website, “the Order of the Companions of Honour was founded by George V in 1917 to recognize services of national importance.”

Kate Middleton shares new royal title with Stephen Hawking and John Major

65 people can be given the Order of the Companions of Honour and the current list includes names, like Stephen Hawking, Dame Maggie Smith, John Major, Desmond Tutu, and Lord Coe.

The Princess of Wales was bestowed with the new title as she and King Charles both battle cancer. Royal biographer, Sally Bedell Smith reportedly said, “He has always had a very good bond with her. I don’t think it is presumptuous to say that she is like the daughter he never had.”

“He shares with William an impulse to protect her. They are in this together, Kate and the King,” Smith stated.

King Charles and Kate Middleton share a 'close connection' 
Besides, another insider noted that the monarch and the future Queen not only share “a common health experience” but they are also “bound to have a close connection…”

“I imagine there was some comfort [for Kate] in seeing…that it was possible to balance some private information without there being an imperative to share all,” the tipster added.

Apart from Kate, her husband Prince William has also received a new designation.

The 41-year-old future king was reportedly named Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, which was set by King George I in 1725.

King Charles’ wife Queen Camilla was honored with the Grand Master and First or Principal Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Kate Middleton announces her cancer diagnosis
The new honors came weeks after Kate in March spoke frankly about her cancer.

In an Instagram video, the mother-of-three said, “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London, and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.” “My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and I am now in the early stages of that treatment,” she added.