The Queen's Birthday Honours list is not short on famous faces from fashion designer Stella McCartney to BBC Masterchef duo John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

Big names across showbiz, sport and politics have been recognised in this year's Honours list released ahead of Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee.

The awards celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions to British society made by UK nationals and citizens of 15 Commonwealth “realms” where the Queen is the head of state.

This year's list is said to reflect the monarch’s “invaluable” qualities ahead of her Platinum Jubilee.

Gazette & Herald: Stella McCartney. Credit: PAStella McCartney. Credit: PA

Those representing crucial themes like youth engagement, the environment and sustained public service have been given more consideration according to those behind the selection process. 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “This historic Platinum Jubilee is not only a celebration of the monarch but of the qualities she possesses.

“The honours she confers this week reflect many of those qualities that have been invaluable from all different walks of life and to communities across the UK.

“I pay tribute to all of this year’s winners. Their stories of courage and compassion are an inspiration to us all.”

Celebrities named on the Queen's Birthday Honours list

The English-Indian author Sir Salman Rushdie ( known for his 1981 work The Midnight's Children and 1988 novel The Satanic Verses) is on this year's list.

Sir Rushie joins illustrator Sir Quentin Blake ( the major artist behind Roald Dahl's books) with both men being made Companions of Honour for services to literature and illustration respectively.

Sir Quentin said: “Of course, it is an enormous privilege to be appointed a Companion of Honour, but it is also of special interest to me because it is not, unlike so many awards, just a medal that is pinned on you.”

Sir Salman said: “It was with great surprise and delight that I learned of this extraordinary honour. It’s a privilege to be included in such illustrious company, both past and present.”

Ian Rankin, who is the author of the Inspector Rebus novels as well as the winner of several national and international awards, is also knighted for services to literature and charity.

Damian Lewis, Clare Balding and Stella McCartney named on Queen's Honours list

Gazette & Herald: Damian Lewis and Clare Balding. Credit: PADamian Lewis and Clare Balding. Credit: PA

Elsewhere in showbiz, Homeland actor Damian Lewis, BBC Sport presenter Clare Balding and fashion designer Stella McCartney are made CBEs.

Balding said: “I am so surprised and truly thrilled to receive such a prestigious honour and very much see it as a reflection of how much people care about sport.

“I love being given the opportunity to broadcast sporting events and to talk about the positive impact of sport.”

Meanwhile, the popular Masterchef duo John Torode and Gregg Wallace are to receive MBEs for services to food and charity.

Gazette & Herald: (Left to right) BBC Masterchef duo Gregg Wallace John Torode. Credit: PA(Left to right) BBC Masterchef duo Gregg Wallace John Torode. Credit: PA

Torode said: “I am truly thrilled, humbled and very grateful and I’d like to thank those who nominated me for this great honour of an MBE.”

And his co-star Wallace said: “From a council estate in Peckham to being recognised by the Queen is for me something akin to a fairytale story. I am incredibly, incredibly proud.”

In the sporting world, the five-time Champions League winner and former Tottenham winger Gareth Bale and Liverpool player James Milner are made MBEs.

Gazette & Herald: (left to right) Rio Ferdinand and Gareth Bale. Credit: PA(left to right) Rio Ferdinand and Gareth Bale. Credit: PA

The footballers join the former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand who becomes an OBE.

Following her Winter Olympic success, Eve Muirhead, of Great Britain’s women’s curling side, will be made an OBE after helping the country to top the podium earlier this year. 

Her teammates Jennifer Dodds, Hailey Duff, Mili Smith and Victoria Wright will also be recognised with MBEs alongside coach David Murdoch.

Gazette & Herald: Eve Muirhead, Credit: PAEve Muirhead, Credit: PA

English Cricketer Moeen Ali has also been made an OBE in this year's list.

Ali said: “It’s an honour to be recognised, it’s amazing and my family are really proud and happy. More than anything, I know it makes my parents happy.”

Looking to the political sphere, former DUP leader Arlene Foster has been made a dame.

While the Conservative MP and former attorney general Jeremy Wright is to be knighted, just days after calling for the Prime Minister to resign after Sure Gray's Partygate report.

Tory MPs Maria Miller, Tracey Crouch and Chris Skidmore have also made the list, with a damehood, CBE and OBE respectively.

Gazette & Herald: Former DUP leader Arlene Foster. Credit: PAFormer DUP leader Arlene Foster. Credit: PA

Labour MP Nia Griffith is also made a dame and her colleague Stephen Timms is also knighted.

A Government spokeswoman told a briefing at Lancaster House, in central London, on Tuesday: “Each of our selection committees was asked in particular to consider the themes of the Jubilee, looking at youth engagement, environment and sustainability and sustained public service.

“So those were considered alongside all of the things usually looked at, service to others, sustained commitment.

“But we have sought particularly to consider and promote cases which exemplify those themes, which are the themes across the entirety of the Jubilee.”