Annie Lennox, Richard Thompson and More Receive Queen's Honors

Annie Lennox, David Suchet, Trevor Horn and Richard Thompson are ringing in the new year with top honors from the Queen.

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The artistic quartet were among charitable celebrities in the U.K. who topped Queen Elizabeth II's semi-annual honors list released Friday.

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The monarch's honors, selected by committees of civil servants, are given to those who have made outstanding contributions to their communities and/or industries. They are announced biennially at New Year's and on the Queen's birthday in June.

Eurythmics singer Lennox's efforts with charities working to fight AIDS and poverty in Africa garnered her a nod as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Lennox founded the SING campaign, which helps women and children with HIV, and is an ambassador for Oxfam.

In addition, Agatha Christie's Poirot star Suchet, actress Sheila Hancock, Grammy-winning artist and producer Horn ("Video Killed the Radio Star"), and fashion designer Katharine Hammett who created the famed "Choose Life" t-shirts, were dubbed Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). Pink Panther star Burt Kwouk and musician Thompson received OBEs.

Joining the celebrities who made the cut on this New Year's list, the majority of the 997 people honored by the queen are local heroes who have made an impact in their communities.

PHOTOS: Check out more celebrity do-gooders in our gallery.