Bonham Carter honoured at Palace

British actress Helena Bonham Carter has been made a CBE by the Queen, two years on from playing her mother in Oscar-winning film The King's Speech. The 45-year-old wore a striking tartan dress as she received her honour. Afterwards the actress - who won a Bafta for playing the future Queen Mother in Tom Hooper's acclaimed royal drama - declined to speak to reporters. Her King's Speech co-star Colin Firth also kept his counsel when he received a CBE from Prince Charles last month. Since coming to prominence in such costume dramas as 1985's A Room with a View, Bonham Carter has enjoyed an eclectic career that includes several movies with her partner, US director Tim Burton. When she learned she had been recognised in the New Year's Honours, the actress paid tribute to her late father Raymond "for facing 25 years of chronic disability with quiet daily heroism". "I am delighted to accept such a wonderful honour in his memory," she said at the time. Record producer Steve Lillywhite and novelist Maggie Gee were also honoured at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, receiving a CBE and OBE respectively.