Honours mark Queen Mother's birthday

The Queen has recognised services to her mother

The Queen has issued a special Honours List to mark her mother's 100th birthday.

Nine people are honoured, including five who helped stage the Queen Mother's centenary pageant on London's Horse Guards parade ground last month.

Major Michael Parker, the pageant's producer, is knighted along with Major General Evelyn Webb-Carter, chairman of the pageant committee.

The two men become Knight Commanders of the prestigious Royal Victorian Order, an honour in the Queen's personal gift.

Crowds gather at centenary pageant

Miss Fiona Fletcher, secretary to the Queen Mother's ladies in waiting, receives a CVO, becoming a Commander of the Victorian Order.

Also made CVOs are Ian Gill, registrar and seneschal of the Cinque Ports, Kent, of which the Queen Mother is Lord Warden, and Captain Ashe Windham, chairman of the Castle Mey Trust, set up to administer the Queen Mother's Scottish home.

Equerry honoured

Colonel William Toby Browne receives an LVO (Lieutenant of the Victorian Order) for his work as organiser and parade commander of the Queen Mother's centenary pageant.

The Queen Mother's equerry, Captain William de Rouet of the Irish Guards, gets an MVO (Member of the Victorian Order) as does Coldstream Guards Warrant Officer Alan Mason, who was the pageant's parade sergeant major.

Major Parker's assistant as producer of the pageant, Mrs Emma Bagwell Purefoy, receives an RVM (Silver), a Royal Victorian Medal.

Major Parker also masterminded the Queen Mother's 90th birthday pageant on Horse Guards, the VE and VJ Day 50th anniversary commemorations in London five years ago, and the Royal Tournament and other military tattoos.