Actually, there has been no confirmation of an annulment of Ted Kennedy’s marriage. You may be confusing it with the “annulment” of his nephew Joseph’s marriage granted by the Archdiocese of Boston, which the Vatican overturned in 2007.
Same concept, different loser.
Could just as easily reference some medal the Queen of England gave the old windbag.
Money and power buys favors and “cheap” honors, be it from the masons, the Queen of England, or the Roman Catholic Church.
Such is man.