Ribbons awarded in England; from Duran Duran frontman to actress Imelda Staunton

King Charles has presented several royal awards, titles and ribbons to notable British personalities. Actress Imelda Staunton, known for The Crown, Downtown Abbey and the Harry Potter films, among others, has been appointed Dame. The same goes for artist Tracey Emin.

The awards are handed out every year on the occasion of the king’s birthday and are called the ‘Birthday Honours’.

Former post office owner Alan Bates has also been knighted. He became known as a victim of the post office scandal. Between 2000 and 2014, 3,500 postal employees were wrongly accused of theft and fraud. About 900 people were prosecuted for it and 230 innocent people also ended up in prison.

Ultimately it turned out that an error in a computer system caused it to appear as if money was being disposed of at post offices.

Bates, one of the victims, supported by other victims, took the Post Office to court. Earlier this year he was given the honorary title ‘Officer of the Order of the British Empire’, but Bates refused. According to him, it was a slap in the face to other victims.

Sir Bates accepts the new royal award. “So many people wanted me to receive something. I felt like I would offend them if I refused this too,” he told the BBC. He emphasizes that the award is not only for him, but also for all other victims who supported him.

Simon Le Bon and Mark Cavendish

Charles also handed out other titles. For example, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown can now call himself ‘Companion of Honour’, a title that only 65 people can hold.

Furthermore, Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon and Boney M singer Liz Mitchell were appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). Cyclist Mark Cavendish, dancer Amy Dowden and actress Rose Ayling-Ellis also received an award.