LONDON (AP) — Acclaimed singer and songwriter Van Morrison is joining a select group of music giants with a knighthood to their name. 
 
 The Belfast-born Morrison was honored Friday by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to music and tourism in Northern Ireland, the inspiration for many of his classics. Many of his wistful, mystical songs are set on the streets of Belfast. 
 
 The musician, known for hits such as "Brown-Eyed Girl" and his unique take on American roots music, will join Sir Elton (John), Sir Paul (McCartney), Sir Mick (Jagger) and several others in the British pantheon. 
 
 Morrison is among more than 1,000 people recognized by the queen in her annual Birthday Honors list for their achievements and services to the community. 
 
 Recipients in entertainment include Academy Award best actor winner Eddie Redmayne, who was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, or OBE. Redmayne has enjoyed a stellar year with a slew of awards for his portrayal of physicist Stephen Hawking in "The Theory of Everything." 
 
 "Sherlock" actor Benedict Cumberbatch and "Twelve Years A Slave" actor Chiwetel Ejiofor were both named Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or CBE. 
 
 Kevin Spacey, who is finishing a 10-year run as artistic director at London's Old Vic theater, was awarded an honorary knighthood for his services to culture and British theater. 
 
 Spacey said he was "honored and humbled" by the monarch's recognition and thanked Britons for supporting his work. "I feel like an adopted son," he said. 
 
 Others honored included people from a wide range of professions, from sports players to historians, women's rights campaigners and health workers. They include Will Pooley, the first British person to contract the Ebola virus, who was honored for his services in tackling the outbreak in Africa. 
 
 Almost three-quarters of the list of 1,163 recipients is made up of those away from the public eye who are honored for their work in local communities. 
 
 Knights are addressed as "sir" or "dame." Recipients of the other honors have no title, but can put the letters after their names. The ranks for the Orders of the British Empire are Commander, Officer and Member, in descending order. ||||| Legendary Northern Irish folk-rock singer Van Morrison and veteran TV personality Lenny Henry have been awarded Knighthoods in the Queen's birthday honours list. 
 
 Kevin Spacey has been recognised with an honorary Knighthood, while Van Morrison and Lenny Henry also received the top nod Credit: Reuters/PA 
 
 Non-Brit Kevin Spacey, a Hollywood film star turned British theatre maestro, was also recognised with an honorary Knighthood, following a highly acclaimed 11-year tenure as Artistic Director of the Old Vic. 
 
 Throughout my career I have always preferred to let my music speak for me and it is a huge honour to now have that body of work recognised in this way. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the fans who have supported me on my musical journey. – Van Morrison 
 
 The American Beauty actor, who was recognised for his services to British theatre and international culture, said he feels like "an adopted son". Other showbiz stars to make the list include Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne, who was awarded an OBE. Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch and 12 Years a Slave's Chiwetel Ejiofor were both given CBEs. 
 
 Actors Eddie Redmayne, Benedict Cumberbatch and Chiwetel Ejiofor were recognised in the honours Credit: PA 
 
 A host of campaigners, volunteers and survivors were recognised in the list. These include journalist Caroline Criado-Perez, Charity founder James Jukes and Ebola nurse Will Pooley. Criado-Perez, who successfully campaigned to keep a woman on a British banknote, has been named an OBE for her work towards equality and diversity. Orders of the British Empire: 
 
 CBE - Commander of the Order of the British Empire 
 
 MBE - Member of the Order of the British Empire 
 
 OBE - Officer of the Order of the British Empire 
 
 KBE - Knight Commander or DBE - Dame Commander 
 
 James Jukes, who set up the charity to secure housing for homeless ex-service personnel was named as a CBE, while Mr Pooley, who returned to Sierra Leone last year after contracting the deadly virus there, was named an MBE for his services in tackling the outbreak in Africa. Duwayne Brooks, who survived the 1993 race-hate attack in which Stephen Lawrence was murdered has received an OBE. Mr Brooks, has been a Liberal Democrat councillor in the inner city region of Lewisham in south east London, was given the award for public and political service. 
 
 Journalist Caroline Criado-Perez, James Jukes, founder of UK Homes 4 Heroes and Ebola survivor William Pooley were recognised in the Honours List Credit: PA 
 
 Mother-of-one Katie Cutler, 22, who launched a fundraising campaign for disabled pensioner Alan Barnes after he was mugged outside his home, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM). She hoped to raise £500 for Mr Barnes after learning of the attack but was staggered to see donations rise to more than £300,000 when her appeal went viral, affording the 67-year-old a new home. 
 
 Other notable honours given to people out of the public eye: 
 
 Businesswoman Zarine Kharas, founder of JustGiving.com, was awarded a damehood for her innovative work in business and charity 
 
 Clarissa Baldwin, former chief executive of the Dogs Trust, was named a CBE 
 
 Captain Christopher Fagan was named an MBE for services to the Gallipoli Association 
 
 Fay Maxted, chief executive of The Survivors' Trust, was named an OBE for her work with victims of rape and sexual violence 
 
 Prominent sports figures who have made it onto the list include Jonny Wilkinson, who was awarded a CBE for his dedication to rugby union. Last year false rumours circulated that the player would be awarded a knighthood in the December honours. Former England footballer Frank Lampard was named an OBE, as was record-breaking cricketer James Anderson. Boxer Carl Froch was named an MBE, as was England women's football captain Casey Stoney, who is currently competing in the World Cup in Canada. 
 
 Rugby star Jonny Wilkinson, footballer Frank Lampard, boxer Carl Froch, athlete Jo Pavey and footabller Casey Stoney were honoured in the list Credit: PA 
 
 Former Welsh rugby star Gareth Edwards has been awarded a knighthood for his long service to the game. 
 
 Former Welsh rugby star Gareth Edwards has been knighted Credit: PA 
 
 The creator of much-loved Paddington Bear, Michael Bond, was awarded a CBE for services to children's literature, while Sharmadean Reid, founder of Wah Nails, was recognised with an MBE. Mr Bond, who received an OBE in 1997, said: "I think it [the award] will be good for children's books as a whole. "I am delighted but I do think that my pleasure is mostly directed at Paddington getting it because he is a very real person to me." 
 
 Michael Bond, creator of Paddington bear and Sharmadean Reid, founder of Wah Nails, have both been named in the Queen's Birthday Honours List Credit: PA 
 
 Other famous faces to make the list include TV actor Martin Clunes, who was awarded an OBE for services to drama, charity and the community in Dorset. The Doc Martin star said he is "tremendously proud" of the accolade. Actress Lesley Manville, singer Patti Boulaye and dancer-turned-TV producer Nigel Lythgoe were all given OBEs, while TV star Loyd Grossman was given a CBE for services to heritage -which he said was like "unwrapping a wonderful present". 
 
 Lesley Manville, Patti Boulaye, Nigel Lythgoe, Martin Clunes and Loyd Grossman were named in the awards Credit: PA ||||| What does it really mean to become a knight? Do you get a sword and a squire to boss around? Inquiring minds want to know, so we did a bit of research. Here are the answers to some of your most pressing knighthood-related questions. 
 
 WHAT EXACTLY IS A KNIGHTHOOD? 
 
 Since 1917, the British government has been awarding notable citizens with spots in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, which just recently welcomed Beatle Ringo Starr into its ranks. Although the Order, which was established by King George V, was originally meant to honor top-notch civilian and military behavior in wartime, it quickly expanded to include peacetime achievements as well. 
 
 Congratulations Sir Ringo Starr! Today at Buckingham Palace, the Beatles drummer was honoured by The Duke of Cambridge for his services to music. pic.twitter.com/bdSe2lrRwn — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) March 20, 2018 
 
 The Order has five separate ranks: Knight and Dame Grand Cross (GBE), Knight and Dame Commander (KBE and DBE, respectively), Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE), and Member (MBE). Achieving one of the first two ranks earns a person a slot in the knighthood, which means they can add "Sir" or "Dame" to their names, i.e. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dame Judi Dench. All members of the Order of the British Empire can add the initials of their rank to the end of their names, though, which is why you sometimes read about celebrities with ranks following their names, like "Roger Daltrey CBE." 
 
 CAN NON-BRITISH CITIZENS BE KNIGHTED? 
 
 Sort of. Notable non-Brits are only eligible for honorary knighthood, meaning they aren’t allowed to add “Sir” or "Dame" to their names. They do, however get to append the suffix “KBE” to their monikers if they so desire. Bono, Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, and Michael Bloomberg are all technically “KBEs.” If any of them later become citizens of the realm, the honor is usually made substantive and they are “bumped up” into real knighthood. In 2005, Irish-born BBC personality Terry Wogan received an honorary knighthood, and when he became a British citizen later that year, he could start making people call him Sir Terry Wogan. 
 
 WHO DECIDES WHO GETS TO BE A KNIGHT? 
 
 Technically, the reigning monarch is the sovereign of the Order and is in charge of making all appointments. On a more practical level, though, the monarch receives counsel and recommendations from the Secretary of State for Defence and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. 
 
 
 
 Lieutenant General Sir Oliver Leese of the British Army receives a knighthood from King George VI, during the King's visit with the Eighth Army in Italy in 1944. Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 
 
 Membership in the Order of the British Empire is available for all sorts of reasons, from superlative civil or military service to artistic achievement to charity work. 
 
 WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET A KNIGHTHOOD? 
 
 While lots of notable figures are offered the honor of joining the Order of the British Empire, only a few heavy-hitters get to become knights and dames commander. Simply put, these higher honors go to the bigger names. For example, current Dames Commander include Judi Dench, Jane Goodall, and Helen Mirren. Generally, it's a good idea to make a pretty substantial service and cultural contribution to the British realm. 
 
 A few members of the Order of the British Empire aren't technically knights within the organization's hierarchy, but they're allowed to call themselves "Sir." These guys have been knighted by the monarchy, but not as part of an order of chivalry like the Order of the British Empire. They can call themselves "Sir," but don’t have any additional letters added to their names. Elton John, Paul McCartney, and some other famous "Sirs" have this type of knighthood. 
 
 DO YOU HAVE TO BE A KNIGHT IF IT'S OFFERED TO YOU? 
 
 Nope. In fact, a number of people have turned down the honor due to uneasiness with its militaristic or imperialist overtones. According to an AP story, approximately two percent of the 3000 or so people offered spots in the Order each year decline them. 
 
 
 
 Hulton Archive/Getty Images 
 
 David Bowie supposedly twice declined offers to join, including an offer of knighthood in 2003, because he felt the whole business was a waste of time. John Cleese rejected a CBE and said he felt much more honored when a Swiss zoologist named a lemur after him in 2005. Vanessa Redgrave became a Commander of the British Empire in 1967, but she turned down an offer of damehood in 1999. When asked about the decision to just say no in 2002, Redgrave told The Independent, "My difficulty is in receiving anything that says British Empire, because I am a Unicef special representative at the service of children from any country. If there were no mention of the British Empire, I would be as honored as anybody. If I were asked to be a baroness, for example, I would see that in a different light." 
 
 Keith Richards turned down a spot as Commander of the British Empire and viciously mocked bandmate Mick Jagger for taking a knighthood, which he called a "f***ing paltry honour." 
 
 Generally, when a person declines an honor, they don't crow to the media about it. Rather, they discreetly tell the tale after some time has passed. 
 
 WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A KNIGHT? 
 
 You don't get to joust or wear armor, but you do pick up a few unusual garments. Knights and Dames Grand Cross get to wear special gear to formal events like coronations. This getup includes a pink-with-gray-edges satin mantle and a collar of six gold medallions. 
 
 
 
 Queen Elizabeth II shakes hands after knighting Sir Rodney Williams in 2014. Jonathan Brady, WPA Pool/Getty Images 
 
 All members of the Order are allowed to wear the group's badge. The badge is basically a cross hanging from a pink ribbon with gray edges, although various ranks wear their badges in unique ways. Members and Officers simply wear their badges like military medals pinned to their chests, while higher-ups wear theirs on sashes or around their necks. 
 
 Other benefits include getting a spot in the British order of precedence, the arcane system that develops the hierarchy of ceremonial importance for things like state dinners. Furthermore, knights win their wives the right to be called "Lady," and Knights and Dames Grand Cross can modify their coats of arms to reflect the honor. 
 
 Have you got a Big Question you'd like us to answer? If so, let us know by emailing us at bigquestions@mentalfloss.com. 
 
 An earlier version of this post originally appeared in 2009.
– The queen doled knighthoods and other honors today, with Kevin Spacey and Van Morrison among the notables on the list. Spacey, who is wrapping up a decade-long run as artistic director at London's Old Vic theater, received an honorary knighthood for his contributions to British culture, reports ITV. Because he's a foreigner, he doesn't get the title of sir, but he can stick the initials KBE (Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire) after his name if he wants. Not so for Morrison. As a native of Northern Ireland, he's now Sir Van Morrison. Also among those honored was Will Pooley, the first Brit to contract Ebola, for his efforts to fight the disease in Africa, reports AP. "I feel like an adopted son," Spacey said of his honor.