Emilia Clarke, Ridley Scott Receive King Charles’ New Year Honours
Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke, director Ridley Scott, singer Leona Lewis and Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis were among those recognized by King Charles’ 2024 New Year Honours list.
Clarke will receive a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) not for her acting but for her charitable work: The actress, who survived two brain hemorrhages, established the SameYou foundation with her mother, to help those suffering with the same condition. Clarke called the New Year honor “wonderful awareness building for the cause,” the BBC reports.
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Alien and Gladiator filmmaker Scott, who was knighted 20 years ago by Queen Elizabeth, will be upgraded by King Charles to Knight Grand Cross, the highest honor possible.
Eavis, who transformed the Somerset event into one of the most widely celebrated music festivals in the world, will receive the knighthood for services to music and charity, Rolling Stone UK reports. In an official announcement, Eavis was hailed for creating “one of the greatest British artistic and philanthropic success stories of all time.”
In an official listing, Buckingham Palace hailed Glastonbury for contributing “more than ￡2m to charities and good causes each festival year. As well as the endless list of causes he has supported are practical initiatives such as the provision of more than 50 social houses in Glastonbury Festival’s home village of Pilton, providing affordable accommodation to local people at government-controlled rents, and never to be sold.”
Lewis will receive an Officer of the Order of the British Empire “for services to music and charity,” the BBC reports, while Dame Shirley Bassey, who sang the James Bond theme “Goldfinger,” will become the 64th living member of the Order of the Companion of Honour, which only has 65 members at one time.
Other honorees in the entertainment field include Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood (a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to baking and broadcasting), Oscar-winning lyricist Don Black, and BBC Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright.
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