Queen Elizabeth's Birthday Honors List Includes Some Familiar Faces
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee is surely captivating the world. As Her Majesty sets forth to celebrate her 70th year on the throne, she becomes the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee (USA Today). While her real birthday was April 21st, the Queen celebrates a public birthday in the second week of June each year when the weather is a bit warmer for festivities (via Town & Country).
The Queen bestows honors during this time on private citizens who have done great things to help change the world, in addition to celebrities. People reports that over 100 medical personnel and people who work for charities have gained the Queen's honors since the COVID pandemic.
This year, there is quite an age range in recipients, from 11-year-old twins Elena and Ruben Evans-Guillen, who collected £50,000 for NHS charities, to 104-year-old Angela Redgrave, who created and runs the Bristol School of Dancing. Ironically, Redgrave has also worked for over 70 years, just like Her Majesty. She received the British Empire Medal (BEM).
The Queen honored these celebrities
Each year, the Queen's honors are given to famous faces who have done work to make the world a better place (via BBC). This year, the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) honor went out to British journalist Clare Balding, actor Damian Lewis, and fashion designer Stella McCartney, who is also the daughter of the legendary musician, Paul McCartney.
Singer Bonnie Tyler, best known for the '80s hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart," received an MBE, which stands for Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Tyler she says is proof that "anyone from any background can become a success" (via BBC).
She shared, "I'm just a girl from a small town in Wales who just loves to sing, so to be recognised for that in this way is very significant to me and my family and friends."
Others who were honored included author Sir Salman Rushdie and illustrator Sir Quentin Blake, who received the Companions of Honour distinction, which honors those who have made contributions to the arts, science, medicine, or government (via Royal UK).