The King has appointed the composer behind the 2012 Paralympics as his first Master of the King’s Music.

Errollyn Wallen CBE, 66, has been handed the honorary appointment by the monarch and succeeds Dame Judith Weir DBE, the first woman to hold the role.

In a statement, Ms Wallen said: “I am thrilled to accept this royal appointment. It will be a privilege and a great honour to serve His Majesty The King, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

“I look forward to championing music and music-making for all.”

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

The Belize-born composer is best known for her work for the 2012 Paralympics and the COP26 – the 2021 environmental summit in Glasgow.

Ms Wallen – who studied music and composition at Goldsmiths, King’s College London and King’s College, Cambridge – was the first woman to receive an Ivor Novello Award for classical music, and the first black woman to have a work featured in the Proms.

She was made an MBE by the King when he was the Prince of Wales in 2007, and then a CBE by the Princess Royal in 2021. Both honours were for her services to music.

King Charles banknotes sell at auction for more than 11 times face value

Prince and Princess of Wales send message to Team GB, along with Snoop Dogg and David Beckham

King ‘greatly encouraged by many examples of community spirit’ in the wake of UK riots

While it carries no fixed duties, the Master of the King’s Music will often compose pieces on special occasions for the Royal Family, such as weddings or jubilees if they wish.

Read more:
King visibly moved meeting Southport survivors
Monarchy to get £45m funding boost

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

In recent years the role has a fixed term of 10 years, in line with the comparable honorary position of poet laureate.

It was created during King Charles I’s reign, with the first appointed Master being Nicholas Lanier in 1625.

Related posts:

Long-COVID likely to put ‘significant strain’ on NHS in coming years Oxford jab more effective when doses are delivered three months apart – study BBC journalist abused and chased by anti-lockdown protesters in London Met Police chief apologises for failings in murdered private detective investigation Appeal to female amputees after severed foot found on footpath ‘We are devastated’: Tribute to musician ‘beaten and thrown into river’ on holiday in Georgia Final two protesters evicted from underground HS2 camp after month-long demonstration UK records 38,351 new COVID cases and 157 virus-related deaths, daily figures show Stunning photos show a century of England from the air Jeremy Hunt and Downing Street defend Nazanin after critics said she should be more grateful for release First banknotes featuring King Charles unveiled Two UK Jewish schools close ‘in interests of the safety of our precious children’