Queen Elizabeth Announces Knighthoods For Former UK Prime Minister, Covid Officials

Queen Elizabeth II personally appointed UK former prime minister Tony Blair as Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the most senior order of knighthood.

Queen Elizabeth II on Friday announced a knighthood for former prime minister Tony Blair, while the traditional New Year's Honours also decorated officials who spearheaded Britain's fight against Covid-19.

The Queen personally appointed Blair as Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the most senior order of knighthood.

She previously knighted former Conservative prime minister John Major in this way in 2005.

Blair, now 68, defeated Major with a landslide Labour victory in 1997 and spent a decade in office.