Prince and Princess of Wales award their trusted driver with honour,
The Prince and Princess of Wales have quietly awarded one of their most trusted staff members with the ultimate royal seal of approval.
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s driver, Lance Sergeant Scott Robin Bishop, was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in silver at an Investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday.
He was among several other A-list guests who received awards during the ceremony, including Wicked actress, Cynthia Erivo, 39, who was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to music and drama.
Comedian Matt Lucas was also honoured for his services to drama during the same service, as he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), while Luke was made an MBE for services to the sport in the King’s Birthday Honours.
Awarded in recognition of his ‘services to the Prince and Princess of Wales’, Lance’s circular medal was first instituted by Queen Victoria in 1896 and features the effigy of the reigning Sovereign, alongside a dark blue ribbon with red stripes.
The honour holds particular poignance as it lies entirely within the Royal Family’s personal gift, meaning it does not require ministerial advice or independent committees to be given.
It falls under three metallic grades – gold, silver and bronze – to denote levels of service and is different from other honours such as knighthoods, which typically are given to more public figures.
Showcasing a deeply personal expression of gratitude by the Prince and Princess of Wales, it reflects their close bond with the royal driver and indeed all levels of their royal household, rather than just senior courtiers.
While he tends to keep a low profile, Lance has been working for Britain’s future King and Queen for a number of years and is responsible for driving the Waleses to their royal engagements and public events.
The Prince and Princess of Wales’s driver, Lance Sergeant Scott Robin Bishop, was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in silver at an Investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday
Lance was among several other A-list guests who received awards during the ceremony, including Wicked actress, Cynthia Erivo, 39, who was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to music and drama
It comes after the Prince and Princess of Wales’s nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borallo, who has played a pivotal role in the lives of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, was also handed the silver Royal Victorian Medal in March.
Ms Borrallo hails from Spain and was trained at the prestigious Norland College before starting work for Waleses in 2014.
She was hired to help William and Kate look after George when he was eight months old but she now cares for Charlotte and Louis too.
Ms Borrallo was seen wearing the distinctive brown and white Norland uniform while tending to the three children during Pippa Middleton’s wedding in 2017.
More recently, she was spotted in the back of Prince William’s car as the Waleses headed back from a Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace on December 16.
Ms Borrallo lived with the family at Kensington Palace but when they moved into Adelaide Cottage in Windsor’s Home Park she stopped being a live-in nanny.
However, she continued to care for the children while living at another property.
The Prince and Princess of Wales now live at the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge, which they intend to be their ‘forever home’.
It comes after their nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borallo, who has played a pivotal role in the lives of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, was also handed the silver Royal Victorian Medal in March
Awarded in recognition of their ‘services to the Prince and Princess of Wales’, the honour bestowed on Lance and Maria (pictured) reflects their close bond with the royal couple
At the time Ms Borrallo was hired, Kensington Palace released a statement saying: ‘Maria is a full-time nanny, who started work with us recently, and will be accompanying the Duke and Duchess and Prince George to New Zealand and Australia.
It added: ‘We will not be giving further details on Maria or her employment, except to say that the Duke and Duchess are of course delighted she has chosen to join them.’
Maria was born in Madrid but grew up in Palencia in northern Spain.
She is said to have been nicknamed Santa – Spanish for saint – by those closest to her when she was a youngster.
Norland College where Ms Borrallo was trained has been producing nannies for the rich and famous since 1892.
Students are known for their distinctive uniforms and are schooled in all aspects of looking after youngsters during their three-year degree course.
The training costs £36,000 in total and the college added martial arts training and stunt driving to its curriculum to cater for modern clients – many of whom are celebrities and the super-rich.
Nannies are also trained in how to deal with paparazzi and are taken to Castle Combe Racing Circuit in Wiltshire to perfect their driving skills and learn how to drive at high speed in any weather condition.
