A royal composer from Connah’s Quay has received a rare award from the King.

Paul Mealor, who composed music for the Coronation, joined an elite group after he was personally appointed a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) by the King at a ceremony in Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh.

Prof Mealor said that he was "honoured and overjoyed" by the honour.

He described the investiture as one of the proudest moments of his life.

The honour was in recognition of his services to the royal family, including original compositions for the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

He is now the first composer to receive this award since Sir Arthur Bliss in 1969, and Sir Edward Elgar before him.

Prof Mealor said: "I have composed music for many Royal occasions but never thought an award of this sort would be presented to me."

The composer was "shocked and surprised" when he received the official letter announcing his honour.

He said the King congratulated him personally and appeared very familiar with his work.

Returning to his duties as artistic director of the North Wales International Music Festival at St Asaph Cathedral, Mr Mealor is now readying for this year's festival which runs from September 12 to 21.

Paul Mealor with his mother, Patricia Mealor, following the presentation of the Lieutenant of the Victorian Order Medal by The King at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh  (Image: Supplied)

He said: "The theme for the festival this year is transformations and everything that it encompasses from the physical and natural world to the poetic, the spiritual and the metaphysical and everything in between."

The festival aims to explore how arts can transform communities, and includes a variety of art forms, styles and genres.

This year's opening concert will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Gresford Mining Disaster, with a new work co-commissioned from Welsh composer Jon Guy and poet Grahame Davies.

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Other attractions include the festival debut of Trystan Lewis’s North Wales Choral Union, who will perform Mendelssohn's Elijah, and the inaugural Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition.

The winner will receive a cash prize of £2,000 and the Pendine Trophy, as well as an invitation to perform at next year's festival.

Entries are being accepted via the festival's website until 5pm on August 31.

BBC Radio Cymru will be broadcasting a number of events from the festival, including the final of the competition.

More information on the festival and the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition is available at www.nwimf.com.

Tickets are now on sale for the events.