DAME TWIGGY
» Fashion icon gets New Year’s gong at age 69 » Harry finds he has got MBE just before big game
TWIGGY has spoken of her joy after being made a Dame in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours.
The model, 69, is joined on the list by England World Cup hero Harry Kane.
He learned he was getting an MBE just before playing a Premier League match.
Twiggy, up for services to fashion, arts and charity, said: “It’s wonderful. The hardest thing has been keeping it secret.”
MODEL Twiggy says she has woken up laughing every morning since discovering that she will be made a Dame.
The fashion icon leads a New Year’s Honours list that runs from stars of the screen and sport to politicians and life-saving heroes.
Twiggy, married to actor Leigh Lawson, said of her gong: “It’s wonderful, but it makes me giggle.
“When we wake up every morning we turn to each other, my husband and I, and we just giggle.
“So it’s a very nice, warm feeling, and obviously I am very honoured.
“The hardest thing has been keeping it a secret. We’ve known for about three-and-a-half weeks.”
Born Lesley Hornby and raised in Neasden, North West London, by her mum Nell and dad Norman, Twiggy’s success story started when she was just 16.
It is often claimed she was the world’s first supermodel.
She went on: “My only sadness with this is my mum and dad aren’t here to know. They’d have been so proud. We were a real workingclass family.
“[My dad] was from Lancashire, in Bolton, and my mum was a real cockney, and I think they’d have been so proud. But hopefully they are looking down and they know.”
Twiggy added: “I’m a very proud Brit, I feel I’m an ambassador for Britain... I think it’s the best country in the world.”
Also representing their country on the list are former England rugby union skipper Bill Beaumont and former England cricket captain Alastair Cook, who both receive knighthoods.
England football captain Harry Kane and boss Gareth Southgate, who gets an OBE, are recognised for the team’s semi-final run at this year’s World Cup.
Harry found out about his MBE shortly before his club Tottenham’s Premier League match against Southampton on December 5 after fiancee Kate Goodland had urged him to give her a call.
The striker, 25, said: “I thought something was wrong, but Kate was excited and told me that we’d had a letter from the Queen saying we’d get an MBE.
“I’m proud for her as well and the whole family. We’re part of a journey together. It shows that the hard work has paid off.”
Joining Twiggy with a top honour are author Philip Pullman and Monty Python’s Michael Palin.
Michael, 75, paid tribute to his fellow Python stars as he became the first member of the comedy troupe to become a Sir.
He is recognised for services to travel, culture and geography, after a successful second career as a travel writer and TV presenter.
Michael, who played a knight in films including 1975’s Monty Python and the Holy Grail, said the news was yet to sink in.
He said: “I don’t think it will until I see the envelopes addressing me as Sir Michael Palin. I have been a knight before, in Python films. I’ve been several knights, including Sir Galahad and the knight who said ‘Ni’.” He added he may “just have a quiet celebration, just myself and a glass of Horlicks, and then go to bed”.
Other actors being honoured include Line of Duty’s Thandie Newton and Downton Abbey star Jim Carter, who get OBEs. Thandie, 46, was recognised for services to film and charity.
She has won critical acclaim for movies including The Pursuit Of Happyness and Solo:
A Star Wars Story.
Jim, 70, said he was thrilled he could tell his mum about his gong for services to drama.
The actor, who plays butler Charles Carson in Downton, said: “I’m particularly delighted this honour came in time to share with my mum Molly, who is 99.
“She was thrilled, she lit up at the
news, so that was very good.” Meanwhile CBEs go to Dunkirk filmmaker Christopher Nolan, TV host and naturalist Chris Packham and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason. Chris, 57, said his was a thank you from the animals saved due to his conservation work.
He said: “Maybe a terrified fox, a wounded harrier or a trapped badger whispered and this is their thanks. I’ll take that, say ‘Ta very much’.”
Nick, 74, received his honour for services to music. He has featured on every Pink Floyd album produced by the band since he co-founded it in 1965.
In sport, Tour de France champ Geraint Thomas was upgraded from MBE to OBE, to add to his BBC Sports Personality of the Year accolade. There was also an OBE for ex-Scotland rugby union player George Weir, for services to rugby and research into motor neurone disease, which he has. British rowing’s three-time Olympic silver medallist Frances Houghton, former England cricketer Matthew Maynard and ex-footballer Leroy Rosenior, vice president of charity Show Racism the Red Card, all received MBEs. And bravery is recognised, with gongs going to emergency responders to the terror attacks in London and Manchester, plus the British divers who rescued youngsters trapped in Thai caves.