Former cabinet minister , who carried ceremonial swords during the Coronation, has been made a Dame in Charles's Birthday Honours. The former defence secretary famously played a starring role during the pageantry as she carried the 17th-century Sword of State made for Charles III into Westminster Abbey and exchanged it for the Jewelled Sword of Offering, which she delivered to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Dame Penny then carried the Jewelled Sword of Offering and walked with it in front of the King as he left the abbey. It was part of her duties as leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Privy Council.

Dame Penny was MP for Portsmouth North but lost her seat in last year's General Election. However, she is still seen as a potential future Tory leader if she one day returns to Parliament.

Dame Penny said: "It is lovely to be appreciated in this way, and I'm very conscious that everything I have ever got done has been with the help and efforts of others.

"So I'm feeling very grateful on many counts today."

The former defence secretary twice challenged for the Conservative leadership, losing to Liz Truss and then pulling out of the race against Rishi Sunak.

In other political honours, Sir Mark Tami, who has served as a Labour whip since 2010, has also been awarded a knighthood.

Newcastle MP Chi Onwurah becomes a Dame. She said she was "totally overwhelmed and surprised" when she found out.

"I grew up on a council estate in Newcastle in a one-parent family," Dame Chi said.

"I never thought about being made a Dame, as you can imagine."

She said she would be "really proud" to accept it "on behalf of my constituents".

Outside of politics, former England football captain David Beckham has said he "never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour" after being knighted in the King's Birthday Honours.

Sir David, who was made an OBE in 2003, receives a knighthood alongside actor Gary Oldman and The Who singer Roger Daltrey.

Strictly Come Dancing presenting duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have been made MBEs, along with teenage darts star Luke Littler and his rival Luke Humphries.

Actress and singer Elaine Paige and novelist Pat Barker have been given damehoods.