Prince William reunites with King Charles at Thistle Service

Just a day after celebrating the success of his ambitious Homewards initiative, Prince William stepped into one of Scotland's oldest royal traditions as he joined King Charles for the annual Service of the Order of the Thistle at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.

On Wednesday, The Prince of Wales, known in Scotland as the Duke of Rothesay stepped out in the Order's ceremonial dark green velvet robes, adorned with the gold collar and insignia of Scotland's highest order of chivalry.

Holding the order of service inside the historic cathedral, William joined the King, Queen Camilla, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal for the centuries-old ceremony, which remains one of the highlights of Royal Week in Scotland.

King Charles, Sovereign of the Order, led the service celebrating The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Scotland's highest honour.

Dressed in the Order's distinctive robes and feathered hats, members processed through St Giles' Cathedral in a spectacular display of royal pageantry and Scottish tradition.

The Order of the Thistle recognises 16 Knights and Ladies who have made outstanding contributions to Scottish national life.

Appointments are made personally by the King in recognition of exceptional public service and achievement across a wide range of fields.

The service also reflects the evolution of the historic honour. In 1987, Queen Elizabeth II made the landmark decision to admit women to the Order on the same basis as men, ensuring one of Scotland's oldest traditions continued to evolve with the times.