Britain’s Queen Elizabeth hosted a luncheon for members of the Order of the Merit at Windsor Castle yesterday (15.04.15).
The 88-year-old monarch was accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh and a number of high profile guests including Sir David Attenborough at the event at Her Majesty’s royal residence in Berkshire.
The Order of Merit was originally created by King Edward VII in 1902 and is a special honour, which can be given only by the Sovereign, to recognise great accomplishments in the fields of science, literature, arts and learning.
Although there can only be 24 members at any one time, there are currently only 23 following the death of Sir Anthony Caro in 2013.
The Queen’s former Private Secretary and now Secretary and Registrar of the Order, the Lord Fellowes, was present at the luncheon alongside investment banker and philanthropist the Lord Rothschild, director of the British Museum Neil MacGregor and Czech-born British playwright Sir Tom Stoppard.
A number of members of the Order including the artist David Hockney historian the Reverend Owen were unable to attend the luncheon.
Queen hosts luncheon for Order of the Merit
