King Charles III on Friday announced awards for show business royalty Shirley Bassey and Ridley Scott, while a bereaved father who took on social media giants over harmful online content was also recognized in the UK’s traditional New Year Honours.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who crowned the king in May, led those being honored for their role at the glittering ceremony in Westminster Abbey.
Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke was also honored for cofounding the brain injury recovery charity SameYou after she survived two brain hemorrhages.
Photo: AFP
The annual honors list recognizes the achievements and contributions of people across the UK.
Bassey, who has sold more than 135 million records, became a Companion of Honour, an elite order that can only have 65 members at any one time.
“My heart is full of emotion and I am truly humbled,” the singer, who already has damehood, said ahead of the announcement.
Director and producer Ridley Scott, whose works include Gladiator, Alien and Napoleon, was also made a Knight Grand Cross, upgrading his previous knighthood, while “bonkbuster” author Jilly Cooper became a dame.
Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis, who is to receive a knighthood, joked that he might hand over some tickets for the world-famous event at his investiture next year.
“I think [Prince] William might do the ceremony. He’s made a few mentions of wanting to come to the festival, so I’ll probably take a couple of tickets in my pocket,” he said.
Famed as much for its mud as its music, the festival at Worthy Farm in southwestern Somerset has become a fixture in British life since it began in 1970.
In the world of sport, former England cricketer Stuart Broad, 37, was among those decorated.
Broad announced his retirement from the sport during the final Ashes Test in the summer, bowing out in stunning fashion by hitting a six off his final ball and taking the match-winning wicket as England leveled the series at the Oval.
Soccer players Millie Bright, Mary Earps and Lauren Hemp were recognized for their part in helping England reach the FIFA Women’s World Cup final in the summer.
England lost 1-0 to Spain in the World Cup final in Sydney having won the UEFA European Championship last year.
Others receiving awards included Ian Russell, 60, who campaigned against harmful online content and contributed to the establishment of online safety legislation after the death of his 14-year-old daughter Molly.
Her family set up the Molly Rose Foundation suicide prevention charity in her memory.
Russell said the London schoolgirl had been a caring person and would have been “tremendously proud” to have helped others struggling with suicidal thoughts and mental health problems.
The Online Safety Bill, currently making its way through parliament, has been introduced to crack down on harmful content including graphic self-harm and suicide material.
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