Arise Sir Alex
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson picks up his fourth major honour of the year - a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Gong for the king of the bongs
Newscaster Trevor McDonald says he is "stunned but absolutely delighted" to be knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Norma Major honoured for fundraising
Norma Major, the wife of former prime minister John Major, is made a dame in the Queen's birthday honours.

Walters leads stars honoured by Queen
Actress Julie Walters joins Simon Callow and Juliet Stevenson and other stars of stage, screen and music featured in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Honour for courageous Helen
BBC Sports Presenter Helen Rollason has told how she was in tears when she heard she had received an MBE in the Birthday Honours list.

Service with a smile honoured
People whose service to the community ranges from tireless church-bell ringing to tending war graves are awarded MBEs in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

HIV workers awarded honours
Two leading figures in the fight against HIV and Aids have been recognised in the Queen's Birthday honours.

Sports stars top the list
Arsenal defender Tony Adams was one of a number of top sporting stars rewarded for their efforts by being honoured by the Queen.

'Ordinary headteacher' made a dame
A primary school headteacher in a socially deprived part of Newcastle upon Tyne is made a Dame Commander of the British Empire.

Education honoured
The full list of education-related birthday honours.

Business in the community
The Birthday Honours list has honoured a number of the UK's most important businessmen - but only one, Dennis Stevenson of Pearson, becomes a Lord.

The Scots who made the grade
A chief police officer, a groundbreaking scientist and a lifeboatman are among Scotland's recipients of the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Athlete Thomas leads Welsh awards
Athlete Iwan Thomas and writer Jan Morris were two of the celebrity names from Wales to receive awards in the honours list.

Northern Ireland figures honoured
The Ulster rugby coach and a former president of the Ulster Farmers Union are among 62 Northern Ireland people honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Knighthood for treble-winner Ferguson
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson receives a knighthood for his services to football - becoming only the eighth football manager or player to do so.

Happy Birthday - whenever it is
The Queen's birthday is a highly moveable feast. How does someone get more than one birthday a year?

Guide to the Queen's Birthday Honours
News Online presents a guide to the honours awarded on the Sovereign's birthday to British and Commonwealth nationals for exceptional achievement and service.

Knights Bachelor
Knights Bachelors are given the title of "Sir" and their wives "Lady", and women receiving the honour are styled "Dame".

Diplomatic and Overseas List
Every year, a number of British citizens abroad and Commonwealth nationals are awarded honours by the Sovereign.

Life Peers and Privy Counsellors
A life peer is a baron who may sit in the House of Lords on conferment of peerage.

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) A - L
The orders are now awarded mainly to civilians and service personnel for public service and other distinctions.

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) M - Z
The orders are now awarded mainly to civilians and service personnel for public service and other distinctions.

Civil List - CBE, GBE, DBE and KBE
Hundreds have been honoured with these prestigious awards.

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
The orders are now awarded mainly to civilians and service personnel for public service and other distinctions.

Order of St Michael and St George
This Order was founded by King George III in 1818 and is awarded to British subjects who have rendered extraordinary and important service abroad or in the Commonwealth.

Order of the Bath
The Order of the Bath is an order of chivalry and was founded in 1725. The order has a civil and military division and is awarded in the following ranks: Knight Grand Cross (GCB), Knight Commander (KCB) and Companion (CB).

Military honours: the Air Force
Many of the awards given by the Sovereign have military and civilian divisions.

Military honours: the Navy
Many of the honours awarded by the Sovereign have military and civilian divisions.

Military honours: the Army
Many of the awards given by the Sovereign have military and civilian divisions.

Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a personal award for services performed on behalf of the Sovereign.

Royal Victorian Medal
Associated with the Royal Victorian Order, the two awards can be held by the same person.

Commonwealth Honours
The orders are now awarded mainly to civilians and service personnel for public service and other distinctions.

Colonial Police and Fire Service Medal
An award given for distinguished service to an overseas fire brigade or police force

Queen's Police Medal
An award for distinguished service in the Police Force.

Queen's Fire Service Medal
An award given for distinguished service to the fire brigade.

Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal
The Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal is awarded to a selection of outstanding reserves.