Kenneth Branagh knighted in Queen’s birthday honours

Reuters/London

Kate Winslet

British actor Kenneth Branagh, Titanic star Kate Winslet and Take That frontman Gary Barlow head the list of Queen Elizabeth’s annual birthday honours, announced by Britain’s Cabinet Office yesterday.Branagh, a renowned Shakespearean actor on stage and screen, will now be known as “Sir Kenneth” after he was knighted in one of the highest awards.He said the award was very special to him. “I feel very humble about it, I feel elated about it,” he told the BBC.Winslet, winner of an Oscar in 2008 for her role in holocaust drama The Reader, and who starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1997 blockbuster Titanic, was made a CBE, or Commander of the British Empire.Barlow, also a judge in Britain’s X Factor television music contest, picked up the lesser OBE award, or Order of the British Empire.He received the honour just days after overseeing a glittering pop concert outside the queen’s Buckingham Palace residence in London as part of the Jubilee celebrations marking her 60-year reign.In another royal connection, Sarah Burton, designer of the dress worn by Prince William’s wife Kate at their wedding at London’s Westminster Abbey last year, was made an OBE.Among sportsmen, there were honours for former England international soccer goalkeeper David James, golf world number one Luke Donald, and former Wales international rugby player Shane Williams.In all, some 1,201 people were honoured by the queen, with the majority - 72% - being “unsung heroes” nominated because of their contribution to their local community, such as foster care, charity work and even road sweeping.Luke Donald, the world number one golfer, led the list of British athletes honoured by Queen Elizabeth II yesterday for services to their sports. Donald, who has topped the rankings for 48 weeks, was made a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), in the honours list published to mark the queen’s official birthday. “I am truly honoured to be awarded an MBE by Her Majesty—particularly in her jubilee year,” Donald said at the US Open in San Francisco “Both 2011 and 2012 have been very significant years for me, both personally and professionally, and I am touched that my accomplishments have been recognised in this way.” In football, former England goalkeeper David James, who holds the Premier League record for the most clean sheets at 173, was also made an MBE in the order of chivalry. James, who is in Ukraine supporting the England team at the European Championships, said he was “intensely jealous” of his countrymen playing in the tournament. Paul Elliott was upgraded from member to commander in the order, getting the CBE for his services to equality and diversity in football—the highest honour received by any player from the Premier League era. “I have just tried to make a bit of a difference,” said the former Chelsea and Celtic defender, who has spearheaded campaigns to rid football of racism. Rugby union player Shane Williams, Wales’ all-time record try scorer, received an MBE. “I have been lucky enough to have had a fantastic career and what a great way to finish,” the winger said. Terry Downes, the oldest surviving winner of a boxing world title, receives the British Empire Medal. The 76-year-old Londoner won the world middleweight crown in 1961. Alex Arthur, a former world super featherweight champion, was awarded the MBE. “It was a surprise. I’ve spent all my life beating people up,” the Edinburgh boxer said. Former culture secretary Tessa Jowell, who played a key role in bringing the 2012 Games to London, was knighted for her services in support of the event, which gets under way on July 27. Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid, who designed the Aquatics Centre at the Olympic Park, which has a distinctive, wave-like roof, was also made a dame. Those behind the organisation of the London Games are recognised for their efforts, with honours going to several members of the Olympic Delivery Authority. Former British Sport performance director Peter Keen, who spearheaded the funding strategy that saw Britain finish fourth in the medals table at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, was awarded a CBE.