Queen Elizabeth gave out some honorifics for her birthday today. Among them are Eddie Redmayne, this year’s Oscar winner, who received Order of the British Empire. Actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Kevin Spacey. and Chiwetel Ejiofor received a CBE (Commander of the British Empire).
The best of all the Queen’s awards, however, is to Van Morrison, the magnificent Irish musician. He gets the OBE, for his contribution to music and refusal to play his hits properly in concert. (The second part I made up.) I’m surprised he never got this before, but Van is turning 70 and receiving a lot of accolades right now.
Spacey is the rare American to receive an honor, but he’s been living in the UK and running the Old Vic Theater for quite a while.
Also on the Queen’s list are actress Lesley Manville, and classical music conductor Neville Marriner, who has been a knight for 30 years. The Queen just wanted to remind everyone.
