Two Scots have been appointed as members of the Order of the Thistle by the King.
Professor Sir Jim McDonald and Sir James MacMillan were both appointed by Charles to what is widely regarded as the highest honour in Scotland for their notable contributions to engineering and music respectively.
The King is the sovereign of the order and appoints whom he deems fit entirely through his own accord, without advice from third parties such as the Government.
Additionally, Baroness Katherine Grainger was appointed the Usher of the Green Rod, marking her as an officer of the order.
The order is comprised of 16 knights and ladies, as well as the Queen, The Princess Royal, the Duke of Rothesay and The Duke of Edinburgh.
Sir Jim is known for his work in engineering and university leadership.
He was appointed as the Rolls-Royce chairman in electrical power systems at the University of Strathclyde in 1993, later becoming head of the electronic and electrical engineering department in 2003, and then principal and vice-chancellor in March 2009, where he remained until he retired in 2025.
He served as president of the Royal Academy of Engineering from 2019 to 2024, the first Scot to hold the position.
He was knighted in 2012 for services to education, engineering and the economy, and was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in 2024.
Sir James, a highly renowned Ayrshire-born composer, is known not only for his music, but for achievements including the establishment of the Cumnock Tryst festival.
He was awarded a knighthood during the Queen’s Birthday honours of 2015, with his anthem Who Shall Separate Us? commissioned for her funeral in 2022.
Earlier this year, Charles approved the award of the King’s Medal for Music for Sir James.
Baroness Grainger, a Glaswegian, is known for her achievements in both sport and law.
She won Olympic rowing gold in the double sculls at London 2012 with team-mate Anna Watkins.
Regarded as Britain’s most successful female rower, she is the only woman across any sport to win medals in four consecutive Olympic Games.
Baroness Grainger was made a CBE for services to rowing in the 2013 New Year Honours.
After years of studying law and medical ethics, she completed a PhD in the sentencing of homicide at King’s College London.
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