Twice each year the British monarchy and government release a list of subjects of the crown that receive honours for their service to the United Kingdom and it citizens.
Already knighted, Dame Shirley Bassey was presented with further honours for her contributions to music with the Order of the Companions of Honor – an honour given to a maximum of 65 people. The Welsh born singer known for the James Bond film songs “Goldfinger” and “Diamonds are Forever” is the 64th living person to receive the honour.
Speaking on the honour Dame Shirley said, “entertaining audiences for over 70 years has been a privilege. My heart is full of emotion and I am truly humbled.”
Filmmaker Sir Ridley Scott has an added honour of being named a Knight Grand Cross for his contributions to the UK film industry. He is best known for his films “Gladiator”, “Alien”, and most recently “Napoleon”.
Judge Paul Hollywood from “The Great British Bake Off” has been honoured for his contributions to baking and broadcasting.
“Game of Thrones” actor Emilia Clarke and her mother were both an MBE – Member of the Order of the British Empire – for their work with a brain injury and recovery charity SameYou. Clarke has survived two cerebral hematomas – brain hemorrhages.
Female English World Cup team members Mary Earps, Millie Bright, and Lauren Hemp were honoured for their play in the World Cup that led them to the finals against Spain this past summer.
Over 1,200 British citizens were honoured in the year end list including the youngest recipient; nine year old Tony Hudgell who received a British Empire Medal for work with child abuse prevention.
The British monarchy has been honouring its citizens for “orders of chivalry” since the Middle Ages. In those days the monarch was in charge of presenting the honours; today, the Cabinet Office presents a vetted list to the Prime Minister and King Charles III. An award off Knight Gran Cross of the Royal Victorian Order was presented to the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby by King Charles himself. Welby presided over the coronation ceremony for King Charles last May.
Fashionista Mary Quant was knighted for her contributions to the world of fashion including invention of the mini skirt and hot pants.
Athlete turned broadcaster Denise Lewis was presented with an OBE – Officer of the Order of the British Empire – for her contributions to sports including the Olympics and Commonwealth Games; as well as, her charity work in breast cancer and children’s medical research.
Luke Philip Hardwick Rittner was presented with a CBE – Commander of the Order of the British Empire – who has retired after over 20 years as the Chief Executive Office of the Royal Academy of Dance. He has turned RAD into one of the world’s leading dance companies. He has spent over 50 year working in the arts.
Bassey, Scott Among King’s Honours Recipients
Feb 17, 2012 -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn and his wife, Annie, pose during a luncheon Feb. 17, 2012, celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's Mercury mission MA-6, on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett