It's once again time for the Queen's Birthday Honours List and there's a raft of worthy names upon it. Perhaps the highest profile is that of Angelina Jolie, who is made an honourary Dame (as a non-British citizen, the title has to be honourary). She receives the recognition - technically entitled 'Honourary Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George' - for the considerable hard work she has put in to being a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador.
In particular, Jolie has been in the UK this past week helping bring attention to the horrendous rise in rape and sexual assaults in war-torn regions. The four-day 'Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict' Summit acheived a protocol signed by 151 countries and her combination of undeniable star-power and informed commitment to the cause has put a spotlight on the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) and maximised the coverage the summit could acheive.
"To receive an honour related to foreign policy means a great deal to me as it is what I wish to dedicate my working life to. Working on PSVI and with survivors of rape is an honour in itself. I know that succeeding in our goals will take a lifetime and I am dedicated to it for all of mine," she said in a statement.
Other familiar names in the Honours List include actors Daniel Day-Lewis, (My Left Foot, Gangs of New York, Lincoln) who will receive a Knighthood , Damien Lewis (late of Homeland) who receives an OBE, veteran actress Dame Maggie Smith (now a 'Companion of Honour') and Stephen Sutton, the 19 year old who passed away from cancer last month but not until after his positive-attitude blog and promotion raised millions for research. He receives a posthumous MBE, which he was told about before his death. Entertainers such as John Barrowman and Cerys Matthews were also given MBEs.