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| | GEO Entertainment | | Britain honours actress Zeta-Jones, F1 racer Coulthard | Updated at: 0924 PST, Saturday, June 12, 2010
 LONDON: Hollywood star Catherine Zeta-Jones and Formula One racing driver David Coulthard were among those awarded British royal honours Saturday.
Winter Olympics gold medalist Amy Williams and veteran musicians John Cale and Graham Nash were also named in Queen Elizabeth II's traditional birthday honours list.
In a possible nod to the football World Cup in South Africa -- where England were due to play their first match against the United States on Saturday -- the goalkeeper in England's shock defeat by the US in 1950 was also honoured.
Oscar-winner Zeta-Jones was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the honours released to mark the British monarch's official birthday.
The Welsh screen siren, who is married to Hollywood veteran Michael Douglas, was recognised for her services to the film industry and to charity.
Also given CBEs were cookery writers Pru Leith and Marguerite Patten.
OBEs -- Officer of the Order of the British Empire -- went to Tamara Mellon, founder of luxury shoemakers Jimmy Choo; Velvet Underground co-founder Cale; jockey Tony McCoy and former rugby international Andy Ripley.
Cale said: "I'm stunned. It makes you think 'well maybe I did something right' -- and now I've got to figure out what that was. I thought I was too much of a tearaway."
Graham Nash, member of the British pop group The Hollies and the 1960s quartet Crosby, Stills Nash and Young, was also given an OBE.
"Everything I learned about being a decent human being I learned in England and I am grateful to be honoured by the country of my birth," said the US-based performer.
Racing driver Coulthard was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
So to was skeleton bob star Amy Williams, who at this year's Vancouver Games became the first British woman to win gold at a Winter Olympics in over half a century.
Former Wales football captain Gary Speed, the first player to reach 500 English Premier League appearances, was also awarded an MBE.
And mountaineer Chris Bonington became a commander of the Royal Victorian Order.
The top gong was a knighthood for South African-born playwright and screenwriter Ronald Harwood, who will be able to call himself Sir Ronald. He won an Oscar for the 2002 Roman Polanski film "The Pianist".
Among the oldest recipients was Bert Williams, the 90-year-old former goalkeeper who was in the England team when they were unexpectedly beaten 1-0 six decades ago. He was made an MBE.
Joining the order was the "icing on the cake" of a wonderful career in which he won both the league title and the FA Cup, he said.
As is customary, three-quarters of the awards in the honours list go to unsung local heroes. |  |
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