Nicholas Hytner, Patrick Stewart Receive Knighthoods at Buckingham Palace

Actor Patrick Stewart and director Nicholas Hytner were knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremony held at Buckingham Palace on June 2.

The artists were among the Queen’s previously announced 2010 Honours List. Other theater luminaries honored this year include Tony and Olivier Award winner Margaret Tyzack and Mamma Mia! director Phyllida Lloyd, , who were made CBEs; and Peter Tear, artistic director of New York’s 59E59 Theatres, who was made MBE.

Honors also were given to concert pianist Peter Howard Donohoe, conductor James Loughran, National Youth Music Theatre founder Jeremy James Taylor, Northern Ballet Theatre artistic director David Nixon, film composer Rachel Portman, and jazz pianist Marian McPartland.

Stewart will return to Broadway in September, starring in David Mamet’s A Life in the Theatre. His previous stage credits include Waiting for Godot, Macbeth, The Caretaker, and The Tempest. He is best known for his work as Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek series and for his role as Professer Xavier in the hit X-Men films.

Hytner is the artistic director of the National Theatre. Among the many shows he’s directed are The History Boys and Carousel, for which he received Tony Awards, as well as Sweet Smell of Success, Jumpers, and Miss Saigon.