London, Jan 26 (IANS): Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, has been handed a new role by the Queen as his younger brother Harry prepares to step back from the royal family, a media report said.

Prince William has been made the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, The Telegraph reported.

This makes the Duke of Cambridge to become the sovereign's personal representative to the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

The Lord High Commissioner's role was established in the 1707 Act of Union between England and Scotland, and the Queen pledged to continue it during the first Privy Council meeting of her reign in 1952.

Prince William will make the opening and closing addresses to the Assembly, as well as carrying out official visits across Scotland.

The Church of Scotland is a Presbyterian church and recognises only Jesus Christ as "King and Head of the Church", so the Queen will attend services as an ordinary member.

The Queen appoints a figure to the role every year, and previous royal family members who have taken it on include the Princess Royal, the Duke of Rothesay, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex.

The General Assembly, which comprises 850 commissioners, meets each May, generally in Edinburgh.

During the period it convenes, the Lord High Commissioner is given permission to stay at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

He or she traditionally receives a Guard of Honour, a 21-gun salute and the keys to the City of Edinburgh.