I am bemused by the honour accorded to Salman Rushdie. It might seem then that to be persecuted by the Islamic orthodoxy and get your name in the papers is a sure way to gain a knighthood.
As far as I can see, only one of his novels, "Midnight's Children", has been generally praised, while there must be a good many deserving writers waiting in vain to be honoured.
Maybe in this day and age we should expect Claris Hilton to be the next 'big' recipient for some kind of honour. For her courage in the face of a crushing jail sentence.

Mike Parsley, Malaga, Spain

These awards are meaningless in a modern country of 60 million & an insult to the ordinary citizen who wants to honour those many unsung heroes & heroines who do good by stealth & without material reward in a savagely secular society tolerating religious fanatics. The recipents have already been well rewarded by financial gain & resoundingly esoteric titles of occupation. I am all in favour of romance & pageantry in Public Life but it will not be achieved by simply perpetuating the values of the Mutual Admiration Society.

Kenneth Perry, Street, U.K

Giving knighthood to the mediocre writer who had become a celebrity first after insulting prophet Muhammed means only one thing: arrogance and disrespect for millions of Muslims throughout of the world. Or maybe this award is the contribution to the war on terror?

Bess, Uppsala , Sweden

The unknown people who toil to build a nation should always be the more important criteria for an award of such prestige. But will anyone know the unknown people when no one publicizes their work. The second criteria should be people who have given their time and effort to make things better not for themselves but for others. I thought these were two things we used to teach our young people to uphold in their life. To love their country and to sacrifice for the good of others. Guess not anymore, looking at the list. Sports personnel play the game for self-enjoyment and many like Beckham probably for financial gain and fame, so how can they qualify. Awarding celebrities is another no-no because they are already narcissitic enough and do not need another award to boost their ego. So, can the panel of judges for the Queen look beyond the publicity, and investigate for people whom have worked their whole lives for Queen, country and nation. But are there any more people like this in UK?

Andrew C, London,

with all the knighthoods floating around why is it that we have not got a Sir in Golf , all the good work over the past few years ie. Ryder cup, money raised for charities representation all over the world. one name comes to mind who should be considered is Nick Faldo, who has done quite a large amount to putting BRITISH Golf on map, and there are quite a few more that could be considered for other honours, is it that footballers and cricketers are the only ones that are thought to be above other sports.

reddall, Tamworth, staffordshire uk

Dame Edna has already been honoured hence the name

Kieran, Tokyo, Japan

0nce again Ken Dodd, britains greatest living entertainer/comedian is overlooked , whilst the list is full of troublemakers and second raters?

Alan Cairns, Tadley, Hampshire

Still too many Honours "for services to self" and not enough for those who have really put themselves out to help their communities. Too many Honours for those who have "served time" in the public sector,

F R Dear, Crawley , W Sussex

Congratulations to them all though the inclusion of the mens ' Tennis hero, Tim Henman would have been well-deserved for all his efforts and years of endeavour on the grass. We cannot all be winners and surely the thing is to keep trying.

Brian Charles Seals, Scarborough, Nth Yorks, England

Why Beckham I thought. Two World Cup quarter-final games and a European Champions League medal. Not exactly services to his country or his sport. Tim Henman I suppose, was mentioned, another "he's a nice boy but never a great sportsman". Have me doubts about Sherringham, which World Cup matches did he play in?

dachaidh, RHU, Scotland

Darn. I didn't make the list again.

Jerry Scroggin, Phoenix, Arizona/USA