What Does Kate Middleton's Insignia of the Dame Grand Cross Mean?

Photograph, People, Event, Botany, Ceremony, Spring, Tree, Garden, Family, Wedding, — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Last month, Queen Elizabeth formally gave Kate Middleton an insignia of the Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, and last week she officially presented it to Kate in a private ceremony. The insignia is made up of a badge, sash, and star, and royals wear their insignias for formal occasions—so we might see Kate break out her new award/pretty jewelry as soon as President Trump's state visit in two weeks. SO excited.

First, in case that last paragraph was confusing to you (I hear that), here's what the insignia represents, courtesy of HELLO!:

So this is a special kind of award in honor of Kate's work, and also (informally) a sign of the relationship between the Queen and Kate. So there's no validity to any rumor saying they secretly hate each other, FYI. The star might look something like this, but we'll have to wait and see exactly how Kate wears it.

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This week, the relationship between the Queen and Kate was on full display, as Kate took her around the garden she designed for the Chelsea Flower Show:

A post shared by Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@dukeandduchessofcambridge)

Everyone looked thoroughly delighted. I can't wait for more formal fun in a couple weeks, and fingers crossed we get a good look at Kate's new glitter.

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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.