Prince William will be installed as the great master during the Order of the Bath’s 300th anniversary service.

Prince William is set to receive a prestigious new royal title as King Charles presides over a landmark ceremony marking the 300th anniversary of the Order of the Bath at Westminster Abbey this Friday.

In what will be a historic royal first, King Charles will attend the ancient order’s service as its Sovereign for the very first time — continuing a centuries-old tradition with personal significance for the monarch and his heir.

The Prince of Wales will be formally installed as Great Master of the Order, taking over the role once held by King Charles himself. The event will be rich in royal pageantry and symbolism, honouring an order whose origins date back to the early 18th century and rooted even deeper in medieval chivalric rites.

The Order of the Bath, created by Letters Patent of King George I in 1725, is named after the medieval custom of bathing before knighthood — symbolising spiritual purification. Today, it recognises distinguished service to the Crown, with members including senior military officers and top civil servants.

The ceremony on 16 May 2025 will begin at Westminster Abbey’s Great West Door, where the King and Prince William will be received before joining a grand procession of officers, Knights, and Dames Grand Cross through the church’s nave.

Inside the Quire, five new Knights will take their oaths and be formally installed. Prince William, newly appointed as Great Master, will join the installation procession to the Henry VII Lady Chapel, a sacred and historic space where the order’s most significant rituals are carried out.

This marks a personal milestone for both monarch and heir. King Charles was installed as Great Master in 1975 by Queen Elizabeth II. Now, nearly 50 years later, he passes the mantle to his eldest son in a symbolic moment of dynastic continuity.

The sovereign traditionally attends every other Order of the Bath service — which is held every four years — and this Friday’s event will be King Charles’s first in that role. While the Prince of Wales customarily attends each service, this year’s participation takes on special meaning with his new title and responsibilities.

This solemn yet celebratory occasion underscores the ongoing evolution of the monarchy under King Charles’s reign. It also signals the increasing public role of Prince William as the future King, now shouldering more ceremonial and constitutional duties at his father’s side.

Observers note the significance of William’s elevation within the Order at a time when the royal family seeks to reinforce its institutional heritage amid modern challenges. By investing William with such a historic and senior honour, King Charles is visibly cementing the line of succession while honouring royal tradition.

The Order of the Bath’s connection to chivalry, service and royal duty continues to resonate in an age where the monarchy must adapt while preserving its ceremonial grandeur. This Friday’s Westminster service will showcase just that — a striking blend of time-honoured ritual and present-day royal affirmation.

The next Order of the Bath service is expected in 2029, but this year’s edition will be remembered for its historic transitions and the quiet symbolism of a son stepping further into his father’s footsteps.