EDINBURGH International Festival director Jonathan Mills said he thought he had done something wrong when a letter marked urgent arrived at his home.
Mr Mills said he was in New Zealand when the notice about his knighthood arrived, with his partner opening up the special-delivery in his absence.
His partner passed on a number for him to contact, but did not tell him what it was about.
He said: "A letter came and I had to sort of scramble a bit. It was opened because I was away for some while and it said 'urgent', and I thought 'what have I done wrong?' I kept missing people and calling them and finally I got hold of a very nice lady in the office that deals with these things and had a chat with her."
Mr Mills, born in Sydney, has dual citizenship of Australia and the UK as his grandfather was Scottish. He said he was "very grateful and honoured to have been included, especially this year, given that it is the 60th anniversary of the Queen's coronation and she has been the patron of the festival since its inception. So I'm delighted with that association. It feels all the more special".
He added: "The people I work with deserve this honour as much as I do. I feel very proud the festival has remained relevant and has remained important."
Mr Mills, who became the director of the festival in October 2006, saying he brought a "perspective other than a European perspective" to the event.
By the time he steps down from the role at the end of next year he will have taken charge of eight of the cultural extravaganzas.
A total of 103 people in Scotland are recognised for their achievements in the Birthday Honours – the highest number since 2003.
She said: "I did not expect this and I'm very pleased. It was all a bit of a surprise."
Moira Andrew, of Scone, Perthshire, was made an MBE for services to the Reduction of Domestic Abuse, with Fiona Birse made an MBE for her work with young people in Elgin
Other Scots who have been recognised for their contribution to public life are microbiologist, Professor Hugh Pennington, and John Carnochan, the anti-violence campaigner who has worked on improving safety and life chances of young men, particularly in the west of Scotland.
The Emeritus Professor of Bacteriology at Aberdeen University received a CBE for his services to microbiology and food hygiene. Mr Carnochan, the former head of the police National Violence Reduction Unit, was awarded an OBE for his services to community safety.
The former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell was awarded the Order of the Companions of Honour for his public and political service.
He said: "This has come out of the blue, but I am greatly honoured to have been recognised in this way. It is as much for my family as it is for me."
Sir Menzies was knighted in the 2004 New Year Honour list. Two years later, he became leader of the Liberal Democrats.
Former Scottish Conservative leader David McLetchie, who resigned the job in 2005 after controversy over his taxi expense claims, is honoured with a CBE.
The Tory MSP said: "I first stood for election more than 30 years ago and I have been fighting the Scottish Conservative cause ever since.
"I suspect this honour is in recognition of my perseverance if nothing else."
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