Rugby star Sinfield and authors Donaldson and Blackman lead honours list

Rugby star Sinfield and authors Donaldson and Blackman lead honours listJust nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleGeorge SandemanPA / BBC / BBCKevin Sinfield is knighted while Malorie Blackman and Julia Donaldson are made damesRugby league star Kevin Sinfield is knighted while children's authors Malorie Blackman and Julia Donaldson are made dames in the King's Birthday Honours.In addition to his sporting career, the former England captain is recognised for raising millions of pounds for charities tackling motor neurone disease (MND).Dame Julia and Dame Malorie are honoured for their services to literature. Their best known works - The Gruffalo and Noughts & Crosses - have both been adapted for the screen.Several of the Lionesses who won Euro 2025 are appointed MBEs, including Chloe Kelly who scored the penalty to win the tournament, while Charlotte Tilbury, founder of her eponymous beauty brand, is made a CBE. The actress Dame Helen Mirren and photojournalist Sir Don McCullin are made Companions of Honour, of which there are only 65 at any one time. Members are recognised for major contributions to arts, science, medicine, or government over a long period of time.Getty ImagesSir Don McCullin and Dame Helen Mirren are made Companions of Honour, a select group of 65Two women who set up support groups for families that lost relatives during the pandemic are appointed MBEs; Deborah Lewis for Covid-19 Families UK and Constance McCready for Covid-19 Families Scotland. They, like the majority of the list, are recognised for work in their communities and for charity.Peter Lord and David Sproxton founded Aardman Animations in 1972 after meeting at schoolIn the world of entertainment, the founders of the animation studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run - Peter Lord and David Sproxton - are knighted. The broadcaster Anneka Rice - best known for Treasure Hunt - is made MBE and Catatonia singer Cerys Matthews is made OBE.Sports personalitiesSir Kevin,...