Regius Professorships fall under the Royal Prerogative and each appointment has to be approved by the Monarch on ministerial advice.
Southampton was one of 12 institutions to be given the accolade in 2013 to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. In 2009, two others were awarded to mark the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s, but before that, the most recent Regius Professorships were created by Queen Victoria.
The University awards the Regius Professor title to an existing professor, or can appoint a new professor to the role.