One of the rocks thrown through palace windows by Suffragettes in 1914

Trevor Baylis, inventor of the wind-up radio, and Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to run a mile in under four minutes, was among those on the guest list for Monday's night event.

The reception helped celebrate Britons who have made a significant contribution to society, said officials.

Guests were able to see a rare exhibition of royal archives - including two rocks thrown through Buckingham Palace windows by protesting Suffragettes in 1914.

Each of the three-inch rocks bears a slogan with one saying "Constitutional methods being ignored drive us to window smashing".

The windows were smashed six days after a deputation of women demanding the vote with a petition for the king was refused.

Most extraordinary Queen Victoria, commenting on her first experience of the telephone

Also among the exhibits was Queen Victoria's intial response to Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the telephone.

Finding it "most extraordinary", she ordered one for herself, but did comment: "It is rather faint, and one must hold the tube close to one's ear".

Many famous names attended Monday's reception - including Delia Smith, Cliff Richard and Pete Waterman.

Ten Nobel prizewinners were also be guests of honour.

But lesser-known ground-breakers were also be celebrated, including the inventor of a non-spill children's beaker and a heart transplant surgeon.