Mayor of London Sadiq Khan receives his knighthood from King Charles at Buckingham Palace
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan received his knighthood at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
The honour recognises political and public service and was bestowed upon the Labour politician, 54, by King Charles.
Sir Sadiq has been Mayor of London since 2016 and was re-elected as mayor of the capital in both 2021 and 2024, making him the first London mayor to win a third term.
Following the announcement of the knighthood in the New Year Honours list, Sir Sadiq said: 'I am truly humbled to have received a knighthood in the King's New Year Honours.'
Others to receive honours included author Dame Jacqueline, 79, was formally made a Dame Grand Cross for her services to literature.
The former children's laureate is widely known as the creator of Tracy Beaker, as well as for other children's novels including Candyfloss and Double Act.
Last year, Dame Jacqueline released her first adult novel since the 1970s as she returned to her beloved Girls series.
The novel, Think Again, was nominated at this year's British Book Awards.
Rugby league star Billy Boston, 90, who scored 478 tries in 488 matches for Wigan after making the switch from rugby union to league in 1953.
The 90-year-old, who was born in Wales and has family links to Ireland and Sierra Leone, revealed in 2016 that he was living with vascular dementia.
In 1954 he made history as the first non-white player to be selected for a Great Britain rugby league Lions tour, scoring 36 tries in 18 appearances around Australia and New Zealand, including a then-record four in one match against the Kiwis.
He made two more Lions tours in 1958 and 1962 and ended with 24 tries in 31 Test appearances for Great Britain.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the first knighthood for a rugby league player was a 'long overdue recognition for a game that has contributed so much to our national life'.
Sir Loyd Grossman chairman of The Royal Parks, also received a knighthood for services to heritage.
The broadcaster and author, widely known for his range of cooking sauces, presented the BBC's MasterChef in the 1990s and ITV panel show Through The Keyhole with Sir David Frost from 1987 until 2003, inviting viewers into celebrity homes.
Responding to the announcement of the knighthood, Sir Loyd, 74, previously said it was 'pretty amazing' and that he was 'delighted, surprised, thrilled, overwhelmed and excited'.
Broadcaster and author Sir Loyd Grossman, 74, chairman of The Royal Parks, and widely known for his range of cooking sauces, also received a knighthood for services to heritage
Director general of MI5 Sir Kenneth McCallum has also been knighted for public service.
Sir Kenneth led MI5's strategic response to the 2017 terrorist attacks and to the 2018 attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal, being appointed director general of the domestic counter-intelligence and security agency in April 2020.
The director general is the only avowed member of MI5, meaning they are the only member whose identity is publicly disclosed.
The novelist Robert Harris, 68, also received a CBE for services to literature at the ceremony.
Harris is best known for his works of historical fiction, and his 2016 novel Conclave was adapted into a film starring Ralph Fiennes that was nominated for the best picture Oscar at this year's Academy Awards.
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