Film director Stephen Frears receives knighthood

Stephen Frears has received his knighthood in an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.

The director and producer was presented with the honour, in recognition of his services to film and television, on Wednesday.

Among his most famous films is The Queen, made in 2006, which earned him a best director Oscar nomination.

Leicester-born Sir Stephen said his knighthood was down to "just being lucky".

Sir Stephen, who also been lauded for My Beautiful Laundrette, Dangerous Liaisons, Victoria & Abdul, Philomena and The Grifters, said: "It is a really nice thing. I have no complaints.

"I have been very, very lucky and you still need an enormous amount of luck.

"I have been very, very lucky in my choice of material and the people I have worked with."

He was awarded his knighthood in the birthday honours in June but has now formally received it.

With King Charles III due to be treated in hospital this week for an enlarged prostate, and the Prince and Princess of Wales also away from their regular duties after her abdominal surgery, the Princess Royal conducted the ceremony.

Sir Stephen's work in television includes A Very English Scandal, Quiz and The Deal, about the friendship and rivalry between Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

The 82-year-old worked in theatre and at the BBC before making his feature film debut with Gumshoe in 1971.

He first made his mark with the 1985 interracial drama My Beautiful Laundrette, based on a Hanif Kureishi story and starring Sir Daniel Day-Lewis.

He also made a documentary called Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight, about the boxer's refusal to fight in Vietnam.

His film The Lost King, which was released in 2022, told the story of the amateur historian who found King Richard III's long-missing remains in a Leicester car park.

Sir Stephen said his next project is a drama TV series with Kate Winslet called The Regime, which is airing in March.

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, external, on X, external, or on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk, external.