Álvaro Siza was presented with the Royal Gold Medal 2009 by Her Majesty The Queen at a private audience at Buckingham Palace on 26 February. This is only the fourth time the medal has been presented by The Queen in person. The Royal Gold Medal & Fellowships Dinner 2009 took place later that evening at RIBA Headquarters, 66 Portland Place. At the dinner the RIBA also presented seven RIBA International Fellowships - recognising the outstanding work of international architects and fourteen RIBA Honorary Fellowships - awarded to non-architects from a wide range of backgrounds that have made a major contribution to architecture in the UK.