Helena Bonham Carter was honoured by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth yesterday.

The actress was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to drama, and attended Buckingham Palace in London to receive it with partner, director Tim Burton, and their children, son Billy Ray, eight, and four-year-old daughter Nell.

Helena wore a red tartan dress and a miniature top hat to receive the award, and posed for pictures afterward. When asked if the pink mobile phone she was holding had gone off in front of the Queen she quipped: “No, but the four-year-old did, she added that the day had been “very, very special”.

Helena – who famously portrayed Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in ‘The King’s Speech’ – has previously joked about the title, and whether it means she can regain order over her own household, she said: “I am wondering does it mean I get to command? Because at the moment it’s my four-year-old daughter who does the commanding in our household. Must inform her of the change in situation.”
Helena has also said she would accept the award in memory of her father, Raymond, who passed away in 2004 after a long period of illness following a brain tumour.

Of being named in the honours list, she said: “I am thrilled, though not sure that I deserve it. I always thought my father deserved a medal for facing 25 years of chronic disability with quiet daily heroism so I am delighted to accept such a wonderful honour in his memory.”