Queen Elizabeth Announces Knighthood of Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, COVID-19 Officials
Tony Blair beat the Major with a resounding Labor victory in 1997 and has enjoyed a decade in office. (File)
London:
Queen Elizabeth II on Friday announced the knighthood of former prime minister Tony Blair, while the traditional New Year’s Honor Ceremony also decorated officials who have spearheaded Britain’s fight against Covid-19.
The Queen has personally appointed Blair as the Companion of the Most Noble Knights of the Garter, the highest-ranking knightly order.
She previously knighted former Conservative prime minister John Major in this way in 2005.
Blair, now 68, beat the Major with a resounding Labor victory in 1997 and has enjoyed a decade in office.
His successes include ensuring peace in Northern Ireland and widening gay rights. But he was widely criticized at home for his support of the 2003 US-led war in Iraq.
Blair said: “It is a great honor to be appointed a Companion Knight of the Garter’s Highest Order, and I am immensely grateful to Her Majesty the Queen.”
The main New Year’s Honors List has been awarded a knighthood to Chris Whitty, the UK government’s chief medical adviser, and Britain’s deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam.
In particular, Van-Tam made a big splash with his use of colorful metaphors related to football and trains at Downing Street press conferences.
The Queen’s traditional annual ceremony recognizes the achievements and contributions of people across Britain, including a minority from showbiz, sport and politics.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson then signed the selections, before the Queen presented the honorary award at ceremonies throughout the year.
The Cabinet Office said this time nearly a fifth of the honors were related to the virus.
Recipients “have inspired and delighted us and contributed so much to their communities in the UK or in many cases around the world,” Johnson said.
The government’s chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, became Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath after receiving a knighthood in 2019. His counterparts in Scotland and Wales were also knighted. doctor on Friday.
Vallance said he was “really pleased” that the titles would be awarded to “those who have worked tirelessly as part of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic”.
Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, a government body set up during the pandemic, was left stunned.
The UK’s drug regulator, the Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority, in December 2020 became the first in the world to approve the Pfizer vaccine. Its CEO, June Raine, also became a dame.
Daniel Craig, 53, who plays James Bond for the fifth and final time in “No Time To Die”, released in September, has been named Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, an honor. rare privilege that author Ian Fleming bestowed on him. Fictional Bond.
American Bond film producer of more than two decades, Barbara Broccoli, has been chosen as the CBE, or Commander of the British Empire for cinematographic services, drama and philanthropy.
Actress Joanna Lumley, 75, who played Champagne-smashing Patsy in the BBC’s “Wonderful Amazing” series, said she was “unspeakably delighted and moved” to be a female. Idol.
Musician Bernie Taupin, 71, who with Elton John wrote hits like “Rocket Man” and “Candle In The Wind” has been awarded an OBE (Officer of the British Empire).
Former Spice Girls star Melanie Brown has been awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) for her work with the Women’s Aid charity against domestic violence.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from an aggregated feed.)
