Maggie Smith receives royal honour from Queen Elizabeth

LONDON: Veteran actress Maggie Smith was made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour by Queen Elizabeth.

The 79-year-old 'Downton Abbey' star was made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour, one of Britian's highest honours, at a special ceremony at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England in recognition of her services to drama over the past six decades, reported BBC online.

The actress joins an elite group of just 65 other Companions of Honour, including Professor Stephen Hawking, Judi Dench and Ian McKellen, but the prestigious accolade carries no title.

The 'Harry Potter' star enjoyed a private conversation with the Queen upon being presented with her gold badge, but declined to speak after the ceremony.


The Order of the Companions of Honor - sometimes regarded as a junior class of the Order of Merit - was instituted in 1917 by George V at the same time as the Order of the British Empire was founded.

The two-time Oscar winner, who is currently filming 'The Lady In The Van,' received her formal Dame title, which is the highest honour bestowed upon a citizen of the British Empire, in 1990.