King’s Birthday Honours: Gary Oldman and Roger Daltrey Knighted
The King’s Birthday Honours list has been announced, with a number of notable figures receiving prestigious awards. The actor Gary Oldman and Roger Daltrey, frontman of the Who, have been knighted for their services to drama and charity and music, respectively. According to The Guardian, the honours list, which recognises outstanding contributions to society, also confirms a knighthood for David Beckham, who is being honoured for services to sport and charity.
Beckham, 50, expressed his gratitude for the honour, saying he "never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour". He added: "It will take a little while for the news to sink in but I’m immensely proud and it’s such an emotional moment for me to share with my family." The Guardian reported that Beckham had previously been on the verge of receiving a knighthood in 2014, but HM Revenue and Customs placed a red flag on his nomination due to his involvement in an alleged tax avoidance scheme.
Roger Daltrey, 81, who launched the Teenage Cancer Trust’s Royal Albert Hall concerts, said he felt "very humbled" to be made a knight for services to charity and music. He told The Guardian that he would be celebrating with "a bottle of plonk" and added: "It’s a dream come true for me, but it’s especially a dream because the charity means so much." Gary Oldman, 67, who won an Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, is recognised for services to drama.
Other notable recipients include Pat Barker, the author of The Regeneration Trilogy, who is being made a dame for her services to literature. Barker, 82, said the bedrock of the awards were those who devoted long hours for free to what they believed in for the benefit of others, "and knights and dames are just cherries on the top of that cake. I am happy to be a cherry." The Guardian also reported that Sir Antony Gormley, the sculptor of the Angel of the North, has been awarded the top gong of Companion of Honour, alongside the astrophysicist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, 81.
The honours list also recognises a number of other notable figures, including the West End performer Elaine Paige, who said she was in "complete disbelief" at becoming a dame. Rufus Norris, 60, a former director of the National Theatre, is made a knight and said it was an "extraordinary privilege". Those to receive CBEs include the broadcaster Martha Kearney, the actor Jane Lapotaire, and the former tennis player Virginia Wade.
The Olympian Alistair Brownlee receives an OBE for services to triathlon and charity, while Claudia Winkleman and her Strictly colleague Tess Daly each receive an MBE. Georgia Harrison, 30, who has starred in The Only Way is Essex and Love Island, receives an MBE for her campaigning on violence against women and girls after becoming a victim of "revenge porn". Tracy-Ann Oberman, who has also been in EastEnders and played Auntie Val in the Channel 4 sitcom Friday Night Dinner, has been made an MBE for services to Holocaust education and combating antisemitism.
In a heartwarming story, three family members have been named in the same honours list for their charity work. Jenna Speirs and her parents, Caroline and Duncan Speirs, from the Isle of Bute, each receive a British Empire Medal (BEM) for their charity Calum’s Cabin, which they started after Jenna’s twin brother Calum died of a brain tumour aged 12. The charity helps thousands of people each year, providing holiday homes and Glasgow flats for families of children facing cancer to spend time together during treatment.
The King’s Birthday Honours list is a celebration of outstanding contributions to society, and this year’s recipients are a testament to the impact that individuals can have on their communities. As The Guardian reported, the list includes 1,215 people receiving an award, with 48% being women and 11% from minority ethnic backgrounds.
The honours list is a fitting tribute to the tireless efforts of individuals who have made a positive impact on society. As the news was announced, many recipients expressed their gratitude and humility at receiving such a prestigious award. For those who have been recognised, it is a moment of pride and celebration, and a reminder of the importance of their work.
