Singer Shirley Bassey, director Ridley Scott and England goalkeeper Mary Earps have been recognised in King Charles III’s New Year Honours list, which celebrates the achievements and service of more than 1,000 people across the UK.
Key points:
- This year’s UK New Year Honours list includes 1,227 recipients, almost half of whom are women
- Singer Shirley Bassey says she is “truly humbled” after being recognised for her services to music
- Other well-known recipients include director Ridley Scott, goalkeeper Mary Earps and actor Emilia Clarke
Bassey, 86, who is already a dame — the female equivalent of a knight — was appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour for her services to music. The Welsh singer, best known for her James Bond theme songs Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever, became the 64th living member of the order, a special status held by no more than 65 people at any one time.
“Entertaining audiences for over 70 years has been a privilege,” she said. “My heart is full of emotion and I am truly humbled.”
Scott, whose films include Gladiator, Blade Runner, Alien and more recently Napoleon, was awarded for his services to the UK film industry. He was made a Knight Grand Cross, upgrading his previous knighthood.
Other well-known names in entertainment on the list included The Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood, who was honoured for services to baking and broadcasting; and Game of Thrones actor Emilia Clarke, who along with her mother were made Members of the Order of the British Empire, or MBE, for their work founding a brain injury recovery charity.
Clarke survived two brain haemorrhages and started the SameYou charity to raise awareness about brain injuries and help advocate for better treatments and rehabilitation for survivors.
Pop singer Leona Lewis was given an OBE, or Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for her contributions to music and philanthropic work.
Michael Eavis, who started the Glastonbury Festival in 1970 on his farm in south-west England, was knighted in recognition for his services to music and charity.
Felicity Dahl, who set up a children’s charity in memory of her late husband Roald Dahl in 1991, was awarded a damehood.
In sport, Earps was honoured along with Lioness players Millie Bright and Lauren Hemp for their part in helping the Lionesses reach the Women’s World Cup final in Australia. England lost 1-0 to Spain in the final in Sydney.
In all, this year’s list includes a total of 1,227 recipients, with 48 per cent of them women. About 14 per cent came from an ethnic minority background.
Many on the list are ordinary people who have served their communities. They include nine-year-old Tony Hudgell, the youngest recipient, who was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to the prevention of child abuse.
Rizwan Javed, a 33-year-old train station assistant, was awarded for helping save 29 vulnerable people at risk of ending their lives at the railway.
British-born national security expert Fiona Hill, who as a former adviser to then-US President Donald Trump testified in his impeachment inquiry in 2019, was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for “exceptional and sustained career contributions”.
UK monarchs have awarded honours as part of orders of chivalry since the Middle Ages. In modern times, nominations are submitted to the government’s Cabinet Office and vetted by a committee before being passed on to the prime minister and King Charles.
An exception was Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual head of the Anglican Church, who was awarded a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order by Charles independently of the government.
Archbishop Welby conducted the service for the king’s coronation, and had the key task of anointing and crowning Charles and Queen Camilla at the ceremony.
AP/Reuters