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 Known for hits such as "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" and "Maggie
May", Stewart was among more than 1,000 people to receive awards
in the annual list which recognizes Britons from famous
celebrities to community charity workers.
The queen herself was honored earlier on Friday at a National
Service of Thanksgiving at London's St Paul's Cathedral,
attended by dignitaries including Prime Minister David Cameron
and all the senior royals.
In a ceremony laden with the pageantry that accompanies
significant royal events, the monarch was greeted by a trumpet
fanfare while the entrance to the cathedral was flanked by her
Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard, veteran soldiers dressed
in scarlet uniforms.
It was a double celebration for the royals, with the occasion
falling on the same day as the 95th birthday of Prince Philip,
the queen's husband of 68 years.
"Your Majesty, today we rejoice for the way in which God's
loving care has fearfully and wonderfully sustained you, as well
as Prince Philip marking his 95th birthday today," Justin Welby,
the Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual leader of the
Anglican Communion said in his sermon.
He said the country looked back at her decades of service to the
nation, through war, hardship, turmoil and change, with deep
wonder and gratitude.
The queen, who has been on the throne for 64 years, turned 90 in
April but in keeping with a tradition dating back to 1748, she
also has an official birthday, usually in June, to ensure
celebrations take place when the weather is likely to be better.
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It is when a list of honors is issued, with this year's recipients
including 99-year-old singer Vera Lynn, who entertained British
troops during World War Two, and Tim Peake, the first British
astronaut to visit the International Space Station.
Other well-known figures to be honored were England cricket captain
Alastair Cook, former England soccer player Alan Shearer and Jamie
Murray, who topped the tennis doubles rankings this year - the first
British man to be a world number one since computerized rankings
were introduced in the 1970s.
On Saturday, Elizabeth will attend the traditional Trooping the
Colour parade of soldiers in ceremonial uniforms in central London
followed by a fly-past of Royal Air Force aircraft over Buckingham
Palace.
To conclude celebrations, the queen hosts "The Patrons Lunch" for
10,000 guests at the largest street party ever to be held on the
Mall, the grand avenue that leads to Buckingham Palace, an event
organized by her grandson, Peter Phillips.
The guests will come from some of the more than 600 charities and
other organizations of which she is patron with the festivities
beamed to large screens in the capital's parks.
The government has said millions of Britons are expected to join the
occasion at local street parties across the country.
(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Stephen Addison)
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