But the 75-year-old — who found TV fame playing a Sir in Ivanhoe 45 years ago — is NOT honoured for his celebrated acting career.

Instead it is for something now even closer to his heart — his charity work.

In recent years, Roger has become a tireless worker for the United Nations Children’s Fund acting as its goodwill ambassador.

The star, famous for “shaken not stirred” dry martinis in the Bond movies, also works for Kiwanis International, another kids’ charity.

His work for Unicef has seen him and Swedish wife Christina Tholstrup, 63, travel the globe raising funds and heightening awareness of the problems facing youngsters in the Third World.

Exclusive ... our Becks story

Roger proved his devotion to the cause last month when he had a pacemaker fitted after collapsing on stage in New York — then honoured a long-standing commitment to speak at a Unicef event less than 48 hours after.

He said last night: “I am so proud to be the recipient of this great honour. I am doubly proud because this is an acknowledgement of Unicef, an organisation I am honoured to work for.

“I accept this title on behalf of the many thousands of volunteers and workers at Unicef who dedicate their lives to helping the millions of children in need around the world.”

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He added touchingly: “I only wish my mother and father could have been alive to see this day.”

Roger, who played Simon Templar in The Saint on TV in the Sixties, starred as Bond in seven films.

He follows in the footsteps of fellow former 007 star Sir Sean Connery, 72, who was knighted for his services to film and drama in 2000.

Sun story ... Helen Mirren's award

As exclusively revealed by The Sun yesterday, Prime Suspect TV actress HELEN MIRREN, 57, is made a Dame for her work on stage and screen.

KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS, 43, star of Four Weddings And A Funeral and The English Patient also gets the OBE for her services to acting.

And England and Manchester United football hero DAVID BECKHAM, 28, gets one too — as revealed exclusively in The Sun last Saturday.

Harry Potter and the Order
of the British Empire

HONOURS include an OBE for HARRY POTTER — a 60-year-old grandad.

Mr Potter, from Liverpool, works for the Department for International Development.

He is rewarded for his work advising on agricultural and rural development in Malawi. Body Shop founder ANITA RODDICK, 60, becomes a Dame for services to retailing.

She said: “Women in their advancing years are unstoppable and as they become older, they are more radical.”

Eton housemaster DR ANDREW GAILEY, who guided Princes William and Harry, becomes a Commander of the Prestigious Royal Victorian Order.

And there are knighthoods for transport union leader BILL MORRIS, 64 — as revealed in The Sun this week — and for president of the National Farmers’ Union BEN GILL.

COLIN PILLINGER, the head scientist of Britain’s Beagle 2 Mars probe, gets a CBE.

Six Britons who helped victims of the Bali bombing and their families are also honoured.

There are OBEs for Mark Wilson, 56, the honorary British consul on the island and his brother Philip, 55, the assistant consul.

MBEs go to four Brits living there who rushed to help — Peter Barnett, 53, Marina Brook, 40, Marie-Clare Kelsall, 37, and David Magson, 58.