Honorary royal post for Maxwell Davies

The composer and conductor Sir Peter Maxwell Davies has been appointed Master of the Queen's Music, Buckingham Palace has announced. Sir Peter, the composer laureate of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, succeeds Malcolm Williamson, who died in March last year.

A composer of almost 300 published works, Sir Peter's theatrical pieces include the operas Taverner and The Lighthouse, and the ballets Salome and Caroline Mathilde. His orchestral works include eight symphonies, 14 concertos and musical works for performance by children.

The Master of the Queen's Music is an honorary position traditionally conferred by the monarch on a musician of distinction. Previous holders of the title include Sir Edward Elgar.