Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Branagh knighted

Updated at 11:58 am on 16 June 2012

Actor and director Kenneth Branagh has been knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Dames include ex-Olympic minister Tessa Jowell, Dr Mary Archer and Games architect Zaha Hadid.

Ms Jowell was a leading member of the 2012 bid team in the previous Labour government while Dame Zaha recently created the Olympic Aquatic Centre.

Branagh, 51, is known for his work in Shakespearean film adaptations and as Professor Gilderoy Lockhart in the Harry Potter films.

Professor Tim Gowers - winner of the Fields Medal, the mathematical equivalent of a Nobel Prize - was made a knight.

Sarah Burton, the designer of the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress, was made an OBE.

Take That singer Gary Barlow, the brains behind the Diamond Jubilee concert, was made an OBE.

The BBC reports the 2012 Birthday Honours list sees the reintroduction of the British Empire Medal.

In total 1201 people were recommended to the Queen for honours - 72% for work in their communities.

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