BALLET star Darcey Bussell and veteran television presenter Esther Rantzen are among the record number of women honoured today in the Queen's birthday honours list.
Nearly half the awards have been bestowed on women in a list that reflects the contribution made to British society by individuals ranging from celebrities to hairdressers and chip shop workers.
However, despite 42 per cent of the honours going t
o women - compared with 37 per cent in the New Year List earlier this year - men continue to dominate the upper echelons of the honours system with only a tiny fraction of the most prestigious awards going to females.
Ms Rantzen, the broadcaster and founder of the ChildLine charity was awarded a CBE for services to young people.
She said: "It's an honour to receive this on the Queen's own 80th birthday. I'm extremely honoured and thrilled. When the letter came there was much celebration in our home."
Prima ballerina Darcey Bussell, 37, who retired this year as Company Principal of The Royal Ballet in order to spend more time with her husband, Angus Forbes, and two young children, Phoebe and Zoe, was also delighted by her CBE.
She said it was "a great reminder of my dancing career as a member of The Royal Ballet".
But easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou said he didn't know if he deserved his knighthood.
"It came as a surprise to me and I'm not sure at this stage that I deserve an honour which is usually reserved for those with a lifetime of business achievement," he said. "I only started easyJet some 11 years ago."
Sir Stelios tried to brush off his own personal success and said he would dedicate the award to more than 10,000 staff in the businesses he created, who he said worked to make a difference to the lives of millions of consumers every day.
But the entrepreneur, who has expanded his "easy" empire into hotels, internet cafes, cruises, car rental, pizza delivery and male toiletries, said receiving a knighthood was "a joy" and "a great honour".
The swashbuckling retail billionaire Philip Green, the man behind some of the biggest and most successful names on the high street including Top Shop and Bhs, said of his knighthood: "I think it is a nice honour - to have made your mark. It is nice for me and my family."
From the world of sport, Scottish double world champion and Olympic silver medallist rower Katherine Grainger receives the MBE. The 30-year-old is the most successful female rower in British history after collecting two world titles and second-places finishes in the Olympic Games of 2000 and 2004.
Willie McDougall, the head of security at the Scottish Football Association and Perthshire-based balladeer Sheila Stewart also receive the MBE.
Scotland captain Barry Ferguson, who is now in his second spell with Rangers and has won 33 caps for Scotland, receives an MBE.
David Murray, Rangers chairman, said: "Everyone associated with Rangers Football Club is very proud of Barry. and I'm sure his family is very proud of the recognition he has had for his football and his charity work."
John Watson, chairman and chief executive of Glasgow-based printing firm John Watson and Co was awarded an OBE for services to printing and to charity.
In the entertainment world, Charles Dance, the actor known for playing upper-crust roles, gets an OBE.
The acclaimed British soul singer Beverley Knight, is also awarded an MBE.
Miss Knight, who grew up in a strict Pentecostal household, has released four studio albums and one compilation album to date.
Knight said: "I'm surprised and honoured to be recognised in this way for what I do.
"The best reason for accepting this award is knowing how thrilled and proud my family, who have given me so much love and support, will be to see me get it."
An OBE was awarded to Gurinder Chadha, a British film director best known for her films Bhaji On The Beach and Bend It Like Beckham.
Spiky-haired celebrity chef Gary Rhodes said that getting an OBE was "just unbelievable" and even had "the edge" over a Michelin star.
He said: "It's very, very exciting. It's just unbelievable, something you never even dream about. As a young lad growing up you would hear about these people getting these honours and think how proud they must feel. I'm glad to say I'm now experiencing that."
Rolf Harris, 76, the musician, composer, painter and TV host who brought the didgeridoo to the masses, gets a CBE.
He made his name in 1960 with the first of his novelty songs, Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport, accompanied by his "wobble board".
Harris, whose recent painting of the Queen was slated by some critics, was known to millions for painting pictures live on TV with his catchphrase: "Can you guess what it is yet?"
He described the award as "just wonderful - it's a lovely feeling".
But he harbours no thoughts of retirement: "Retirement is something I equate with lying down and dying. It's not me."
