 But his anxiety for New South Wales's supremacy may have contributed to the 'Hopetoun Blunder'.According to Bennett, Darley's private assessment in 1902 was that 'Australian Federation is so far a pronounced failure'.Darley was knighted in 1887, created a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1897, and received the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) 15 May 1901, in preparation of the forthcoming royal visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later King George V and Queen Mary).