Veteran singer Rod Stewart has received a knighthood for his services to music and charity.

Other well-known faces to be honoured include Tim Peake, Forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn, TV duo Ant and Dec, actor Brian Blessed and actress Penelope Wilton.

London-born Stewart – full name Roderick David Stewart – received a knighthood for his services to music and charity. The 71-year-old kicked off his latest UK tour in Norwich last weekend.

In another record for Major Peake, being made a CMG – Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George – made him the first person to be honoured while in space.

Major Peake, honoured for space research and scientific research, said from the International Space Station: 'I am honoured to receive the first appointment to the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George for extraordinary service beyond our planet.'

He added that the award was not just for him, and dedicated it to everyone who had made his mission possible.

Dame Vera, 99, joined Sir David Attenborough, Dame Maggie Smith and Stephen Hawking from previous years in becoming a Companion of Honour, as did former governor of the BBC, Lord Smith of Kelvin.

Ant and Dec became OBEs for services to broadcasting and entertainment, with Blessed receiving the same honour for services to the arts and charity.

He said: 'It is marvellous that the son of a Yorkshire coal miner should be given such an honour.'

Olivier award-winning actress Wilton was made a Dame for her services to drama, one of 13 women to be bestowed the honour.

Nineteen men were awarded knighthoods.

Among them were Damon Buffini – recently appointed chairman of the National Theatre – for voluntary and charitable services, and artist Michael Craig-Martin for services to art.

Women made up 47pc of the recipients, with 538 being recognised, and the list also saw the greatest number of people – 90 – from a Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) background to be honoured.

Seventy per cent of the awards went to people who had undertaken outstanding work in or for their local community, either in a voluntary or paid capacity. Around 10.8pc were for work in education and 7.3pc in health. Industry and the economy made up 12.8pc of the list, with science and technology honours 3.3pc. When asked about the number of civil servants on the list, Sir Jonathan Stephens, chairman of the Main Honours Committee, said: 'Just under 10pc are state servants, very considerably down – as a percentage – on what it used to be.'

A string of stars from the sporting world were also recognised for their achievements, with record-breaking England cricket captain Alastair Cook and former England football skipper Alan Shearer being made CBEs for their services to cricket and charity, respectively.