New appointments to the Order of the Thistle
Published
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY THE PRESS SECRETARY TO THE QUEEN
The Queen has been pleased to appoint the undermentioned to the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle:
The Right Honourable the Lord Steel of Aikwood, KBE, PC to be a Knight of the Order.
The Right Honourable the Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, GCMG, PC, to be a Knight of the Order.
Background
These appointments, made by tradition on St. Andrew's Day, fill the vacancies left by the deaths of The Viscount Younger of Leckie, KT, KCVO, TD (2003) and Sir Donald Cameron of Lochiel, KT, CVO, TD (2004).
Appointments to the Order of the Thistle are entirely in the personal gift of The Queen and are not made on the advice of the Prime Minister, as are most other Honours.
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle represents the highest honour in Scotland. Revived by James VII (James II of England), the Order has a complement of 16 Knights (KT). In 1987, The Queen decided that Ladies should be eligible for the Thistle in the same way as men.
The Motto of the Order is Nemo me impune lacessit ("No one provokes me with impunity").
THE MOST ANCIENT AND MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE THISTLE
SOVEREIGN OF THE ORDER
THE QUEEN
ROYAL LADY OF THE ORDER
HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS ROYAL, 30th November, 2000.
ROYAL KNIGHTS
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE PHILIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH, 21st April, 1952.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE CHARLES, DUKE OF ROTHESAY, 11th February, 1977.
OFFICERS OF THE ORDER
Chancellor
The Most Noble Duke of BUCCLEUCH AND QUEENSBERRY, K.T., V.R.D.
Dean
The Very Reverend Gilleasbuig Iain MACMILLAN, C.V.O.
Secretary and Lord Lyon King of Arms
Robin Orr BLAIR, ESQ., L.V.O., W.S.
Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod
Rear Admiral Christopher Hope LAYMAN, C.B., D.S.O., L.V.O.
KNIGHTS AND LADY OF THE ORDER (16)
The Right Honourable Francis David, The Earl of WEMYSS AND MARCH, K.T. 12th April, 1966.
The Most Noble Walter Francis John, Duke of BUCCLEUCH AND QUEENSBERRY, K.T., V.R.D. 30th November, 1978.
The Right Honourable Andrew Douglas Alexander Thomas, Earl of ELGIN AND KINCARDINE, K.T. 30th November, 1981.
The Right Honourable George Morgan, Lord THOMSON OF MONIFIETH, K.T.
30th November, 1981.
The Right Honourable David George Coke Patrick, Earl of AIRLIE, K.T., G.C.V.O. 29th November, 1985.
Captain Sir Iain Mark TENNANT, K.T. 29th November, 1986.
The Right Honourable John Campbell, Viscount of ARBUTHNOTT, K.T., C.B.E., D.S.C. 29th November, 1996.
The Right Honourable Robert Alexander Lindsay, Earl of CRAWFORD AND BALCARRES, K.T., G.C.V.O., D.L. 29th November, 1996.
Lady Marion Anne FRASER, L.T. 29th November, 1996.
The Right Honourable Norman Somerville, Lord MACFARLANE OF BEARSDEN, K.T., D.L. 29th November, 1996.
The Right Honourable James Peter Hymers Mackay, Lord MACKAY OF CLASHFERN, K.T. 27th November, 1997.
The Right Honourable David Clive, Lord WILSON OF TILLYORN, K.T., G.C.M.G. 30th November, 2000.
The Right Honourable Stewart Ross, Lord SUTHERLAND OF HOUNDWOOD, K.T. 30th November, 2002.
Sir (William) Eric (Kinloch) ANDERSON, K.T. 30th November, 2002.
The Right Honourable the Lord Steel of Aikwood, K.T., K.B.E. 30th November, 2004.
The Right Honourable the Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, K.T., G.C.M.G.
30th November, 2004.
