London--Singer-songwriter Van Morrison was given a knighthood and Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne was made an OBE in Queen Elizabeth II's birthday honours announced Friday.
Rugby stars Gareth Edwards and Jonny Wilkinson as well as William Pooley, a British nurse who contracted Ebola while working in Sierra Leone, were also honoured.
US actor Kevin Spacey, who is ending a 10-year run as artistic director of London's Old Vic theatre, was awarded an honorary knighthood, which he said made him feel like an "adopted son" of Britain.
Two historians who helped discover the remains of 15th-century king Richard III under a car park, Philippa Langley and Louis Ashdown-Hill, received honours as well.
The queen's honours are awarded twice a year and although the focus is often on celebrities, most are ordinary people recognised for work in their communities.
Decided by an independent committee, the awards include knights and dames and various orders of the British empire, whether commander (CBE), officer (OBE) or member (MBE).
AFP
