The rock star, Elton John - whose reworked hit, Candle in the Wind, encapsulated national mourning after the death of the Princess of Wales - receives a knighthood in the New Year's Honours List, published today.
Sir Elton's formal citation describes his award in recognition of his services to music and to charity. But his astonishing performance at Westminster Abbey, which helped to transform state ritual into the unique commemoration of "the people's princess", is the undoubted key to this headline-grabbing and most popular announcement in Mr Tony Blair's first full Honours List since coming to power last May.
From Queen Elizabeth there is personal recognition, too, for two people who were close to the princess - and two more who played key roles in her funeral. Princess Diana's most senior aide, Mr Michael Gibbons, who is now treasurer of the Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Fund, is made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order. Mr Sidney Clarke, who drove the hearse on that last memorable journey from the abbey through the streets of London and on to Northamptonshire and Princess Diana's final resting place at Althorp Park, receives the Royal Victorian Medal.
Mr Clarke was forced repeatedly to use his windscreen wipers to see through the cascades of flowers thrown by thousands of people lining the funeral route, and his citation specifically refers to "services in connection with the funeral of the late Diana, Princess of Wales". The same citation goes to Mr Martin Neary, the organist and master of the choristers at the abbey, who played a leading role in arranging the music for the funeral service. He also becomes a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order. Inspector Ken Wharfe, who had worked with the princess for five years and became her senior bodyguard, becomes a Member of the Royal Victorian Order.
In addition to those four awards, which are all in the personal gift of the queen, the government list includes a series of awards to civil servants, police officers, airmen, and other members of the services who were involved at various stages of the arrangements for the princess's funeral.
An OBE goes to the chief constable of the Royal Parks, Mr Walter Ross, who had the mammoth task of arranging the policing of the parks, the scene of mass tributes by the public. Among six MBEs awarded, one went to the RAF flight sergeant in charge of the arrangements at RAF Northolt, to which the princess's body was flown from Paris, and another to the Welsh Guard officer in charge of the bearer party on the day of the funeral.
Mr Blair's list, which honours some 900 people, comprises the usual array of celebrity names from the worlds of sport and entertainment, as well as politics and business. The entertainer, Petula Clark, becomes a CBE, and there is an OBE for the actress, Annette Crosbie, who plays the long-suffering Margaret Meldrew in the hit BBC series, One Foot in the Grave. Mark Hughes, the Chelsea and former Manchester United star, receives an MBE, while Tom Finney, whose illustrious football career ended in 1960, receives a knighthood.
The actress, Deborah Kerr (76), who played opposite Yul Brynner in The King and I, is made a CBE in the overseas list. Miss Kerr received various honours and six Academy Award nominations culminating in an Honorary Oscar in 1994. She is also remembered as Burt Lancaster's lover in the then sensational surf embrace in From Here to Eternity.
However, 58 of those named are connected with the world of education, reflecting Mr Blair's commitment to make this the priority issue of the Labour government. And Downing Street this morning confirmed that 44 per cent of the awards go to people nominated by members of the public - up from 28 per cent four years ago, when Mr John Major determined to open the lists to a more representative section of British society.
For the first time, three head-teachers from state secondary schools are honoured, one becoming a knight and two dames of the British Empire. Mr Leslie Hampton is honoured for turning around the performance of Northicote School in Wolverhampton after it had failed examination by school inspectors, and Mrs Tamsyn Imison and Mrs Patricia Collarbone are similarly recognised for their achievements at schools in Camden and Hackney in London.
While there are no actual political honours, Mr David Trimble, the Ulster Unionist leader, becomes a member of the Privy Council. Mr Chris Patten, the former Governor of Hong Kong, becomes a Companion of Honour, while there is a knighthood for Mr Christopher Meyer, Britain's new Ambassador to Washington, who was once press secretary to Mr Major.
There are four new life peers: Sir Robin Butler, the outgoing Cabinet Secretary; Sir Ron Dearing, head of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education; Mr Paul Hamlyn, millionaire publisher; and Dr David Sheppard, the former Bishop of Liverpool.