Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II on Friday in recognition of his campaign to feed vulnerable children, alongside hundreds of key workers who helped in the fight against the coronavirus, reports AFP.
The England international is one of the highest-profile figures in the monarch's birthday honours list, which was postponed from June in order to include frontline health workers and others in the Covid-19 effort.
The 22-year-old forced a government U-turn over its free school meals policy, ensuring children in need would receive meal vouchers throughout the summer months, and has formed a child food poverty task force. Rashford, who has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), said he was "honoured and humbled" to receive the award. "Let's stand together in saying that no children in the UK should be going to bed hungry," he said. "As I have said many times before, no matter your feeling or opinion, not having access to food is never the child's fault."
More than 42,000 people have died in the outbreak in Britain -- the worst toll in Europe -- and concern is currently mounting about rising infection numbers.
The honours list includes 100-year-old Dabirul Islam Choudhury, was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) after he raised £420,000 ($545,000) for Covid-19 relief while fasting during Ramadan.
Several experts working in the science, health and pharmaceutical fields have also been recognised for their efforts, including Emma Walmsley, chief executive of pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, who becomes a dame.
