Simon Le Bon, Heather Small Recognised In King’s Birthday Honours List
The King’s Birthday Honours list has been published, with iconic Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon, leading artist Tracey Emin and stage and screen actress Imelda Staunton among those recognised.
Simon Le Bon, 65, gets a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to music and charity.
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British artist Dame Tracey, 60, and The Crown actress Dame Imelda, 68, were given their damehoods for services to art and drama and charity respectively.
Reacting to receiving the award, Dame Tracey, who is known for her autobiographical and confessional artwork, said: “Dame Tracey has a good ring to it. I’m very, very happy.” While Dame Imelda said she felt “genuinely humbled” to be recognised.
Singer Heather Small, 59, also gained an MBE for voluntary and charitable services. The 59-year-old actively supports several charities including Action Breaks Silence, which aims to protect women and girls from all forms of male violence.
Former X Factor contestant Rebecca Ferguson was also being honoured with an MBE for services to the music industry. The 37-year-old came second on the singing contest in 2010 and has since campaigned for the introduction of a regulatory body for the music industry, in a bid to ensure artist welfare.
Other well-known faces recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List include Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden and actor Alex Jennings, with the highest award, Companion of Honour, being given to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown for services to public and charitable services both in the UK and abroad.
Elsewhere, Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish, 39, also received a knighthood for services to cycling and to charity work.
The honour comes weeks after the cyclist achieved his 164th career victory, confirming him as one of the most successful men’s sprint cyclists of all time, the Isle of Man government – where Sir Mark is from – said.
Historian Professor Niall Ferguson, 60, who first came to the attention of many in the UK with the hit 2003 Channel 4 series Empire: How Britain Made The Modern World, and a best-selling book of the same name, is also receiving a knighthood.
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