Prince William is presented with traditional attire on stage at St Leonard's Herd Boy School
Happy Birthday Queen Elizabeth!
Prince Harry arrives in Botswana
Africa Reception
Princes visit hospital on southern Africa tour
Catherine Zeta-Jones honored by Queen Elizabeth II By JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press Writer
LONDON – From Wales to Hollywood to "Chicago" — now Catherine Zeta-Jones has an appointment at Buckingham Palace. Zeta-Jones added a royal honor to Hollywood stardom when she was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire Saturday by Queen Elizabeth II. The Academy Award winner is part of an eclectic list of honorees, announced to mark the queen's official birthday, that includes the founder of the Jimmy Choo footwear label and 1960s rocker Graham Nash. Swansea, Wales-born Zeta-Jones, 40, began her career in British theater and television before moving to Hollywood and marrying actor Michael Douglas. The actress, who won a best supporting actress Oscar in 2003 for the musical "Chicago," can now put the letters CBE after her name. "I am absolutely thrilled with this honor," Zeta-Jones said in a statement. "As a British subject, I feel incredibly proud. At the same time, it is overwhelming and humbling. And my mum and dad are delighted beyond belief." Ronald Harwood, 75, a screenwriter whose films include "The Dresser" and the Oscar-winning "The Pianist," becomes Sir Ronald with the award of a knighthood. "It's more exciting than the Oscar because of the secrecy that's involved," said Harwood, who learned of his honor six weeks ago but was not allowed to tell anyone. "The Oscar is a sudden shock, you take it all in and people make a fuss. But this feels like a very big event." U.S.-British scientist Charles K. Kao, who shared the 2009 Nobel Prize for physics for his work on fiber optics, also received a knighthood. Actress Sophie Okenedo, 41, Oscar nominated for "Hotel Rwanda," was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, or OBE. Tamara Mellon, co-founder and creative director of designer shoe brand Jimmy Choo, also was awarded an OBE. Mellon, 42, who is divorced from American banking heir Matthew Mellon, enlisted east London cobbler Jimmy Choo to design a range of high-fashion shoes. The brand, launched in 1996, was embraced by models, celebrities and the fashion-conscious characters on "Sex and the City." In 2007 Mellon sold her stake to a private equity firm, in a deal which valued the company at 185 million pounds, but remained creative director. The list also sees a couple of musical rebels join the establishment. John Cale, 68, one of the founders of experimental 60s rock group The Velvet Underground, was named an OBE, as was musician Nash, 68, co-founder of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Nash said he was "humbled" by the accolade. "I have been a writer for most of my life but I could never have written this script," he said. In literary and artistic honors, Guyana-born novelist Wilson Harris, 89, was awarded a knighthood, and Portugal-born artist Paula Rego, 75, was made a dame, the female equivalent of a knight. Horror writer James Herbert, 67 — author of spine-tinglers "The Rats" and "The Fog" — said he was "totally staggered and deeply honored" to receive an OBE. Restaurateur Prue Leith, 70, and 94-year-old food writer Marguerite Patten, who both helped Britain shake a dire culinary reputation, received CBEs. Britain's honors are bestowed twice a year by the monarch — on her official birthday in June and on New Year's Day — but recipients are selected by committees of civil servants from nominations made by the government and the public. In descending order, the honors are knighthoods, CBE, OBE and MBE. Knights are addressed as "sir" or "dame." Recipients of the other honors have no title but can put the letters after their names. Most of the honors go to people who are not in the limelight, for services to their community or industry. Former soldier Bryn Parry and his wife Emma, who founded the "Help for Heroes" charity to help wounded troops, were awarded OBEs. The awards include MBEs for Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis, statisticians who devised the Duckworth-Lewis Method, a mathematical system for calculating target scores in cricket matches interrupted by rain. Other honors went to Susan Gibbs, an announcer at London's Fenchurch Street railway station, who received an MBE "for services to public transport," and farmer James Fitchie, granted an MBE "for services to plowing in Northern Ireland.' Princes 'moved' by plight of African Aids sufferers Prince Harry rode into an African village on horseback before introducing brother William to young HIV/Aids sufferers helped by his charity. The prince, dressed in a tribal blanket, arrived at the Lesotho village to highlight the plight of teenagers affected by the illness.Prince William, joining him later, said he was "moved" to meet those supported by Sentebale - co-founded by Harry.But he joked about Harry's hero status, saying he would soon be "deflated".Prince Harry, 25, was given the respect usually reserved for the ruling family as he rode into the mountain settlement escorted by locals on horseback.Continue reading the main story The guys in there express themselves through dancing and music and I definitely felt very moved in there with the kids Prince William He was later joined by his older brother, Prince William, who travelled to the region to learn about the isolated young men who work as herd boys in the area - many of whom are abused, uneducated and later contract Aids.The charity Sentebale has opened schools to help them, teaching them how to read and write and about their health, in a bid to help them avoid Aids and other diseases."It's the main thing to do," said Harry. "They're herd boys from aged eight to 18, then they come back at 18 with no education, no social skills." 'Roller-coaster' Some 23% of adults among Lesotho's population of 1.9 million are HIV-positive and average life expectancy is 34. Prince William, 28, later joined Harry and the brothers spoke to many of the herd boys at the Mamohato Networt Club. As he toured the schools his charity has built or supported, Prince Harry was joined by Lesotho's Prince Seeiso, who also co-founded the organisation."The guys in there express themselves through dancing and music and I definitely felt very moved in there with the kids," Prince William told the BBC."Seeing them smile makes you feel really happy. You know how difficult life is here, and so the fact that they smile to complete strangers shows you just how fantastic they are."Prince Harry said setting up the charity and schools had been a "roller-coaster"."We have had ups and downs... Now things are going in the right direction and I am really proud of it and of all of the boys and kids that help out, they help themselves and that is part of the struggle. It is a great thing."But when Prince William was asked about his brother's "hero status", he admitted he intended to bring him back down to earth."Whilst we are here, it is all right, but once we get back, it will be thoroughly deflated!" he told the BBC.The princes have visited Botswana and will end their tour of southern Africa in South Africa.The royal brothers, whose six-day tour is their first joint overseas trip, will support England in their World Cup match against Algeria on Friday and promote the Football Association's bid to host the global soccer tournament in 2018. Photo Credit: Wireimage
Thursday, December 27, 2012 at 06:10PM