The three Royal Medals, also known as the Queen’s Medals, are awarded annually by the Sovereign on the recommendation of the Council of the Society. Frederick Sanger FRS, Max Perutz FRS and Francis Crick FRS are among those who have been awarded a Royal Medal.
Each year two medals are awarded for the most important contributions “to the advancement of Natural Knowledge” in the physical and biological sciences respectively. A third medal is awarded for distinguished contributions in the applied sciences.
The Royal Medals were founded by HM King George IV in 1825. Between 1826 and 1964 two medals were awarded each year. In 1965 the third medal, covering the applied sciences, was introduced on behalf of HM The Queen.
The award is open to citizens of a Commonwealth country or of the Irish Republic or those who have been ordinarily resident and working in a Commonwealth country or in the Irish Republic for a minimum of three years immediately prior to being proposed.
The three medals are of silver gilt and are accompanied by a gift of £5,000.
Nominations
This year's call for nominations has now closed and the medallists have been announced below. The next call for nominations will open on 30 November 2011.
The recipients are chosen by the Council of the Royal Society on the recommendation of the Physical Sciences Award Committee, Biological Sciences Awards Committee and Joint Awards Committee.
Most recent medallists