Melbourne, Apr 23 : Britain’s Prince William has been declared as the latest recipient of the highest and oldest royal honours - he’s now been made a Royal Knight of the Garter.

The 25-year-old Royal will now be joining the rest of his family member’s as a Royal Knight of the Garter.

The news has ended year-long speculations of former Australian Prime Minister John Howard being the Queen's frontrunner for the honour.

According to reports from British Press Association, William has become a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter - the most senior British order of chivalry - and the 1000th knight in the register.

His father, the Prince of Wales (Prince Charles) received the honour in 1958, the Princess Royal (Princess Anne) in 1994, and the Duke of York (Prince Andrew) and the Earl of Wessex (Prince Edward) two years ago. The royal family members add up to the established number of 24 Knights companion.

Prince has filled one of the vacancies, which were left by the deaths of former British Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath and New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary.

It is been a tradition that Buckingham Palace announces any new recipient on St George's Day, i. e. April 23.

In February, reports indicated that Howard had been personally selected by the Queen for the honour, but later Buckingham Palace did not give any definite answers regarding the validity of these speculations.

"We have made no announcements on that whatsoever and we wouldn't speculate on who is in line to receive one. It's a great honour and a rare one," said a spokeswoman at the time.

However, a spokeswoman for Howard said that she didn't expect him to comment on such a matter. (ANI)