Prime Suspect star at Palace

Prime Suspect star Helen Mirren was invested as a dame at a glamorous ceremony at Buckingham Palace today and said: "It is just the greatest theatre I have ever been in."

Dame Helen, 58, received her honour from the Prince of Wales.
She said: "It was just lovely. I just felt my mouth go ever so slightly dry. I just thought 'don't be so silly'.

"I am incredibly proud. I am amazed. I never thought I would be asked."

Dame Helen was born Ilynea Lydia Mironoff and is the daughter of an exiled Russian aristocrat.

She received Oscar nominations for the Madness Of King George in 1994 and for Gosford Park in 2001. She also appeared in this year's hit film The Calendar Girls.

She was joined at the ceremony by her husband Taylor Hackford, her sister Kate Mirren and her niece Natalie Fitzgerald.

Alec Stewart, 40, England's Test legend and veteran wicket keeper, collected an OBE.

"It has been brilliant. Any opportunity to come to Buckingham Palace is always nice," he said.

"It is reward for what I have done over the last 23 years and the last 14 years with England."

He is calling it a day after a record 133 Tests and 170 one-day games.

Life after cricket will involve working in corporate PR and new business at Surrey. He will also work with the player management company which represents him and Vodafone, the England team sponsors.

He said: "The bat and gloves have been placed away. I guess I will have to find a briefcase."

His wife, Lynn, and children, Andrew, 10, and Emily, 7, watched as he collected his honour.

Simon Russell Beale, 42, whom critics have hailed as one of the finest stage and Shakespearean actors of his generation, collected a CBE.

This year, he won an Olivier award for best actor in the lead role of Uncle Vanya.

He said: "I was extremely nervous. I'm not good at this sort of thing. I did not expect it at all."