Letter: Letters: Royal Fellow

From COLIN FORRESTER

I recently enquired about the qualifications of HRH The Duke of Kent
for Fellowship of the Royal Society, in the absence of scientific achievement.
It seems that under Statute 11 ‘Any one of Her Majesty’s subjects who is
a Prince of the Blood Royal may be proposed . . . by any Fellow’.

Proposed, possibly, but why elected? Surely the letters ‘FRS’ imply
scientific achievement of world class, and their use should be restricted
to such cases.

The foundation of the society was blessed by Charles II, which may explain
this statute. However, its use today is bizarre, and the statute should
be abolished, or revised. At least in such cases the letters ‘Hon. FRS’
might be substituted.

In view of the international standing of the Royal Society, this is
a matter of public concern, not just a private concern.

Colin Forrester Epsom, Surrey