The King and The Prince of Wales celebrate 300th anniversary of The Order of the Bath

Friday, 16th May 2025

The King and The Prince of Wales celebrate 300th anniversary of The Order of the Bath

HM The King and HRH The Prince of Wales attended a service for The Most Honourable Order of the Bath at Westminster Abbey on Friday 16th May. The King is Sovereign of the Order and the Prince of Wales was today installed as its Great Master.

Anniversary celebration 

The Order of the Bath is a special Order of Knights which recognises the work of senior military officials and civil servants. It was established by Letters Patent of George I on 18 May 1725, making this its 300th anniversary year. 

However, the Order was a revival of a much older custom dating as far back as the eighth century when soldiers prepared to receive their knighthood by taking a ritual bath, symbolic of spiritual purification. 

The Dean of Westminster serves as Dean of the Order, and King Henry VII's Lady Chapel at the Abbey is designated as the Chapel of the Order. Thirty-four of the most senior members are allocated stalls in the Chapel, where they display their standards, crests and armorial stall plates.

A photograph of the Henry VII chapel at Westminster Abbey, with its spectacular fan vaulted ceiling and colourful heraldic banners hanging on either side of the shot

Today’s service was led by the Dean, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, who also read the lesson from St Paul's epistle to the Philippians, chapter 4, verses 4 - 8. 

The installations 

The appointment of The Prince of Wales as Great Master of the Order was announced in April last year. During today’s ceremony the Dean administered the Oath to His Royal Highness, before the Sovereign placed him in his stall in Henry VII's Lady Chapel. 

The Knights Grand Cross who also took the Oath and were installed in the Chapel were: 

  • Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier
  • Admiral Sir Philip Jones 

The Knights Grand Cross taking the Oath were: 

  • General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith
  • The Rt Hon the Lord Young of Old Windsor
  • Sir Tom Scholar 

The Oath is administered with the words: 

‘You shall honour God above all things; you shall be steadfast in the Faith of Christ; you shall love The King, your Sovereign Lord, and him and his right defend to your power; you shall defend the innocent, the vulnerable, and orphans in their rights and shall suffer no extortion as far as you can prevent it; and of as great honour be this Order unto you as ever it was to any of your progenitors, or others.’ 

Both the Sovereign and the Great Master made symbolic offerings of gold and silver at the altar of the Lady Chapel.

 

Also present during the ceremony were:  

  • Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, Bath King of Arms
  • Major General James Gordon, the Registrar and Secretary of the Order
  • Major-General Susan Ridge, The Lady Usher of the Scarlet Rod
  • Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave, Deputy Secretary of the Order
  • David White, Genealogist 

The music

The service was sung by The Choir of Westminster Abbey, conducted by Matthew Jorysz, Sub-Organist. The organ was played by Paul Greally, Assistant Organist. 

Fanfares were sounded by the trumpeters of the Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines, under the direction of Major Peter Woffenden. The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment played under the direction of Wing Commander Richard A Murray, Principal Director of Music (RAF). 

Further reading 

Order of Service - The Oath and Installation of the Great Master and Knights Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (PDF, 292KB)

Westminster Abbey and The Most Honourable Order of the Bath  

< Back to News archive
Back to top