According to an expert, Kate Middleton has been awarded "one of the lowest orders" of honors, a distinction that has not been bestowed upon any other royal.

The Duchess of Sussex, who has served as a working member of the Royal Family for 13 years, has been appointed as a Royal Companion of The Order of the Companions of Honour by her father-in-law, King Charles.

This recognition comes following Kate's announcement last month of taking a break from her official duties due to a cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

She is the first member of the royal family to receive this honor in the order's 107-year history. According to royal blogger Gertrude Daly, members of the Firm "usually receive much higher honours."

Daly stated to the Daily Star, "Receiving any honour from the British Monarch is a display of recognition and praise. But, in terms of the Order of the Companions of Honour and its position in the hierarchy and precedence of honours, this is considered one of the lowest orders."

"Princess Kate is the first royal to receive this honour, which is very much an honour. But it is important to also recognise that the reason this honour was never given to other royals is because of how low it is. Royal usually receive much higher honours."

Gertrude mentioned that Princess Kate's previous honor, the Grand Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, is generally considered more significant. "All of the other honors bestowed on Tuesday were among the highest honors you can receive. So, Princess Kate's honor appears less significant in comparison. It seems like a consolation prize," she remarked.

The next major award that people anticipate Princess Kate receiving is the Order of the Garter, the UK's highest Order of Chivalry, the royal expert added. This award is typically reserved for blood royals, with non-blood royals only receiving it if they are the consort or wife of the heir.

King Charles broke that tradition this year by awarding the Order of the Garter to the Duchess of Gloucester on Tuesday, April 23, in acknowledgment of her decade of dedicated service. Gertrude commented, "The Duchess of Gloucester is much lower in precedence than Princess Kate, but receives the Order of Garter first, as the King puts long service ahead of rank.

"This will also open the honor to Duchess Sophie receiving the Order of Garter. She has over a decade longer of service than Princess Kate, so may also receive it before her."