Singer Annie Lennox collects OBE

28 June 2011 Last updated at 14:05 GMT Annie Lennox collects an OBE from the Queen. Video courtesy British Ceremonial Arts.

Singer Annie Lennox has collected an OBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace for her charity work fighting Aids and poverty in Africa.

The former Eurythmics singer, 56, said: "It's quite magical. It's really meaningful to me that it's for charity work.

"To get this acknowlegement means people are listening," she added following the investiture ceremony.

Lennox was accompanied by her daughters Tali and Lola.

"Campaigning has been taking up a great deal of my commitment for quite a few years, and what it means is that there's a significance to what I'm doing - I'm not just working in a void," said the star.

She added that she had been "so affected" by the issue of human rights, especially where women and girls in the developing world were concerned.

Lennox is an Oxfam ambassador and founded the Sing campaign to raise awareness of Aids in Africa.

Lennox's foundation of Sing in 2007 was inspired by Nelson Mandela to help children and women affected by the illness.

The musician is also a Unesco Goodwill Ambassador for Aids and a prominent peace activist.

Lennox has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide with the Eurythmics and as a solo artist.

The singer released her latest album in November - A Christmas Cornucopia - topping off three decades of UK chart hits.

She has collected the Best Female Singer title at the Brit Awards on six different occasions.

An exhibition of the life and inspirations of Lennox is set to go on show later this year.

The Aberdeen-born star will feature in a display at London's Victoria and Albert museum for five months from 15 September.

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Actor David Suchet collects CBE

22 June 2011 Last updated at 15:02 GMT Actors David Suchet and Harriet Walter are honoured for their services to British drama

Actor David Suchet, best known for playing Agatha Christie's great detective Hercule Poirot, has collected his CBE from the Prince of Wales.

The 65-year-old, who was honoured for his services to drama at Buckingham Palace, said the medal was "a very great honour".

Harriet Walter was invested as a dame, also for her services to drama.

The actress, who has had a successful career on both the stage and screen, said: "My heart's fluttering."

Dame Harriet was joined by her new husband, US actor Guy Paul, whom she married five weeks ago.

"I think actors feel they've got to keep proving themselves and that they haven't quite made it," she said.

"This makes you feel settled and that all your work has been noticed. To have a solid medal in your hands is quite nice."

The actress cited playing Cleopatra with the Royal Shakespeare Company as one her highlights so far.

She also starred in the 2006 film Babel and in 2007's Atonement in 2007.

'Lifelong dream'

Suchet has had a long and varied career on British TV, including roles in The Way We Live Now and ITV's Henry VIII opposite Ray Winstone.

The star has been nominated for Olivier and Tony Awards for his stage work, more notably for his portrayal of Antonio Salieri in Peter Shaffer's Amadeus.

Dame Harriet Walter has had a long and varied career

"I've had a fantastic career. Although I will be remembered for Poirot I have never been typecast," he said.

"I'm very rarely me. I'm a character actor and that's the joy and the challenge."

The actor admitted he was hoping to fulfil a "lifelong dream" to film the remaining Agatha Christie's Poirot novels.

"I have done all but five of the stories. My lifelong dream will be releasing the Poirot boxset of all the novels she wrote.

"It may happen. There's a green light flickering and I'm waiting for it to be steady. It may be next autumn."

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