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Kenneth Branagh to be knighted at Buckingham Palace Kenneth Branagh has been knighted at Buckingham Palace
(about 3 hours later)
Actor and director Kenneth Branagh will be made a knight by the Queen at Buckingham Palace later. Actor and director Kenneth Branagh has been made a knight by the Queen at Buckingham Palace today.
Famous for roles from Shakespeare to the lead in the BBC's Swedish detective series Wallander, he is being honoured for services to drama and the community of Northern Ireland. Famous for roles from Shakespeare to the lead in the BBC's Swedish detective series Wallander, was being honoured for services to drama and the community of Northern Ireland.
The 51-year-old, who was born in Belfast, said he felt "humble, elated and incredibly lucky".The 51-year-old, who was born in Belfast, said he felt "humble, elated and incredibly lucky".
Branagh was knighted in the Queen's birthday honours in June. 30 years after he first met the Queen, he did a performance for her.
He becomes a Sir, joining the ranks of fellow thespians such as Alec Guinness, Patrick Stewart and Laurence Olivier, who he played in last year's My Week With Marilyn. Back then he was a 19 year-old drama student at the Royal Acadeny of Dramatic Art.
Branagh, who recently directed comic book blockbuster Thor, also had a starring role in this summer's Olympics Opening Ceremony.Branagh, who recently directed comic book blockbuster Thor, also had a starring role in this summer's Olympics Opening Ceremony.
He played Isambard Kingdom Brunel in the show, which was directed by Danny Boyle.He played Isambard Kingdom Brunel in the show, which was directed by Danny Boyle.
Speaking after his investiture at Buckingham Palace today for services to drama and the community of Northern Ireland, the Belfast-born star said: "I'm so very pleased this has happened in the year of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics and the Paralympics.
"It's been a hell of a year for the UK and I feel very honoured to be a tiny part of this part of it."
Now Sir Kenneth Branagh, he joins the ranks of fellow thespians such as Alec Guinness, Patrick Stewart and Laurence Olivier, who he played in last year's My Week With Marilyn.
Branagh, who recently directed comic book blockbuster Thor, also had a starring role in this summer's Olympics Opening Ceremony.
He played Isambard Kingdom Brunel in the show, which was directed by Danny Boyle.
Branagh spent his early years in Northern Ireland, where he is now honorary President of NICVA supporting all the organisations in the voluntary and community sector.Branagh spent his early years in Northern Ireland, where he is now honorary President of NICVA supporting all the organisations in the voluntary and community sector.
He moved to Reading with his family when he was nine, where he first adopted an English accent to avoid bullying.He moved to Reading with his family when he was nine, where he first adopted an English accent to avoid bullying.
"When I was a kid I dreamed of pulling on a shirt for the Northern Ireland football team," said Branagh. Celebrating the work he does in his homeland, he said: "It is special because it is to do with my roots in Northern Ireland and to do with a lot of work other people do and I'm happy to be associated with, lots of charitable institutions and real hard work on the part of a lot of people over there.
"I could only imagine how proud you might feel. Today it feels like they just gave me the shirt and my heart's fit to burst." "I'm pleased the link with Northern Ireland is recognised, I'm very proud of coming from there."