Photos: The Queen today receives the Governor-General designate of Canada in Scotland

Today The Queen received Madame Julie Payette, Governor-General designate of Canada, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

Payette is an astronaut, engineer, scientific broadcaster and corporate director. During her time as an astronaut, Payette completed two spaceflights, STS-96 and STS-127 and logged more than 25 days in space.

She also served for many years as CAPCOM (Capsule Communicator) at NASA Mission Control Center in Houston, Texas, and was Chief Astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency.

Payette has become well respected for her work in developing policies to promote science and technology. From 2011 to 2013, she worked as a scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., and was appointed scientific authority for Quebec in the United States.

Ms. Payette can also converse in six languages, holds a commercial pilot license and has 27 honorary doctorates. She is a Knight of the Ordre national du Québec and an Officer of the Order of Canada.