Commenting on the announcement, Professor Phillips said today: "I am delighted and honoured to accept the CBE for services to chemistry. It is particularly pleasing to be given the honour during my time as President of the Royal Society of Chemistry in recognition for a variety of work, the most recent of which has been to promote chemistry through the important activities we continue to carry out at the RSC."

It will be the second time Professor Phillips is being honoured by the Queen at Buckingham Palace. The RSC President received the OBE in the Queen's birthday honours in June 1999 for services to science education.