Kate Middleton Celebrates Anniv, Receives Huge Honor From The Queen Amid Cheating Scandal

Queen Elizabeth bestowed Kate Middleton the Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order on Monday, officially appointing her as a dame. The bestowal of this huge honor coincides with Kate and Prince William’s eighth wedding anniversary celebration and comes off the heels of the cheating scandal allegedly involving the Duke of Cambridge and Rose Hanbury.

The honor is in recognition of the Duchess of Cambridge’s commitment to the monarchy and signifies her growing role as a member of the royal family. Having received the honor, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, now joins the ranks of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Anne, Princess Royal; and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who also previously received the same honor.

The Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order is the highest rank in the order personally granted by the Queen and is used to recognize one’s services to the sovereign. Queen Elizabeth could have considered Kate’s contributions as a member of the royal family when she decided to give her the honor.

Since Kate married Prince William in 2011, she has actively taken part in charity work and attended royal engagements in behalf of the monarchy. Prince William has also been very appreciative of his wife in his interviews, commending her for being able to juggle motherhood with her royal duties like a pro. People on social media have also expressed their messages of support on Twitter, congratulating the Duchess of Cambridge for her new achievement.

“Congratulations, Duchess of Cambridge!!! Always doing a great job!” one Twitter user wrote. “Well deserved. So graceful and effortlessly makes people feel special. Great news going to a fabulous Queen consort and support for William,” another wrote.

Interestingly, the honor comes on a particularly special day for Kate as Monday was also the day she and Prince William celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge managed to make their anniversary date a blast despite recent reports involving Prince William in a messy cheating scandal with royal confidante Rose Hanbury.

Prince William and Kate married on April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey. Kensington Palace shared snaps of their wedding on Instagram on Monday and thanked royal watchers for their well-wishes for the two amid the scandal that they are currently embroiled in.