RSE Fellows honoured by King Charles III 2026

Three Royal Society of Edinburgh Fellows have been honoured by King Charles III in 2026.

RSE President Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli has congratulated three Royal Society of Edinburgh Fellows who have been honoured by the King this week.

Sir James MacMillan FRSE, KT, CBE and Sir Jim McDonald FRSE, KT, GBE, have been appointed to the Order of the Thistle, while Baroness Katherine Grainger HonFRSE CBE has been appointed Usher of the Green Rod.

Sir James MacMillan is a world-renowned composer who was made a Fellow of the RSE in 2007. His choral anthem Who Shall Separate Us? was commissioned for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

He said: “It was a huge surprise when I was contacted about this and I am honoured to be appointed to the Order of the Thistle. I’m not sure whether someone from The Arts has been selected before and I see this as a recognition of the pivotal place of music in the cultural life of Scotland.”

Sir Jim McDonald was elected as a Fellow in 2003. He is one of Scotland’s most accomplished engineers. Among a raft of senior business appointments, he served as President of the Royal Academy of Engineering from 2019 until 2024.

Sir Jim said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this appointment to the Order of the Thistle. Education, research and innovation have been central to my academic and industrial activities, and I have sought to place engineering and applied sciences in the service of society.

“This recognition is one I accept with sincere gratitude, humility and as a reflection of the many colleagues, friends, partners and students with whom I have had the privilege to work with over the years, not least the many Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh I have enjoyed working with across my career.”

Baroness Katherine Grainger is Team GB’s joint most-decorated woman Olympian, having won four silver medals and one gold medal across five separate Olympic Games. She is now a Member of the House of Lords and holds a Phd in Law. She was appointed Usher of the Green Rod.

RSE President Sir Anton Muscatelli added: “News of the further recognition of three of our Fellows is deeply heartening. The reputation of Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Sir James MacMillan and Baroness Katherine Grainger precedes each of them.

“It is so encouraging to see each of these hugely accomplished Fellows continue to work so diligently and receive their due recognition for it.

“On behalf of all of the Fellows of Scotland’s National Academy, I congratulate them all.”