Golfer Donald leads the honours

Luke Donald, the world number one golfer, led the list of British athletes honoured by Queen Elizabeth II yesterday for services to their sports.

Donald, who has topped the rankings for 48 weeks, was made a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), in the honours list published to mark the queen’s official birthday.

“I am truly honoured to be awarded an MBE by Her Majesty – particularly in her jubilee year,” Donald said at the US Open in San Francisco.

In football, former England goalkeeper David James, who holds the Premier League record for the most clean sheets at 173, was also made an MBE in the order of chivalry.

James, who is in Ukraine supporting the England team at the European Championships, said he was “intensely jealous” of his countrymen playing in the tournament.

Elliott upgrade

Paul Elliott was upgraded from member to commander in the order, getting the CBE for his services to equality and diversity in football – the highest honour received by any player from the Premier League era.

“I have just tried to make a bit of a difference,” said the former Chelsea and Celtic defender, who has spearheaded campaigns to rid football of racism.

Rugby union player Shane Williams, Wales’s all-time record try scorer, received an MBE and Terry Downes, the oldest surviving winner of a boxing world title, gets the British Empire Medal.

The 76-year-old Londoner won the world middleweight crown in 1961.

Honours lists are produced twice a year, at New Year and to coincide with the queen’s official birthday in June.

She turned 86 in April.