Benedict Cumberbatch and 10 Other Celebrities Who Have Been Honored by the Queen Inline
Photo: Yui Mok / AP Images1/11Benedict Cumberbatch
Queen Elizabeth II presents the actor with his CBE medal at Buckingham Palace.
Photo: Corbis2/11Elton John
Like Cumberbatch, Elton John was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, in 1996. Only two years later, the Grammy- and Oscar-winning singer officially graduated to knight status.
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images3/11Helen Mirren
In 2014, Academy Award winner Helen Mirren revealed she was once hesitant about becoming a Dame of the British Order. “In Britain, a damehood is very much being welcomed by the establishment . . . so I was a bit wary,” she said in an interview with the The Telegraph. “To me, actors shouldn’t be too establishment. Our job is to be sort of anti-establishment.”
Photo: Walter McBride / WireImage4/11Sting
Even though Sting, aka Gordon Sumner, had been one of Britain’s most celebrated singers, he didn’t meet the queen until 2003, when she awarded him a CBE title for his contributions to the music industry.
Photo: AP Images5/11Judi Dench
The British actress, who is known worldwide for playing M in several James Bond films, was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1988.
Photo: Getty Images6/11Michael Caine
Even though he was knighted in 2000, Michael Caine doesn’t let the distinction go to his head. “No one has to call me Sir,” he once said in an interview.
Photo: Anthony Devlin / AP Images7/11Angelina Jolie Pitt
During the queen’s birthday last year, U.N. ambassador Angelina Jolie Pitt was named an honorary Dame Commander for her charity work and campaign to end sexual violence.
Photo: WENN8/11Bono
U2’s lead singer was awarded British knighthood in 2006 for his music contributions and humanitarian work. But unfortunately for the Irish rock star, the title of Sir is still out of the question, since that honor is bestowed only to British citizens who have been knighted.
Photo: WENN9/11Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey’s tenure as artistic director at London’s Old Vic theater earned the American actor an honorary knighting at this year Queen’s Birthday Honors.
Photo: PA Images10/11Daniel Day Lewis
Three-time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis graduated to the title of Sir last summer. This time, he was knighted by the queen’s grandson William, the Duke of Cambridge.
Photo: PA Images11/11Maggie Smith
The 80-year-old Downton Abbey star is a British national treasure, so it’s no surprise to learn that she was anointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1990 for her considerable contributions to the performing arts.
