‘Thrilled and humbled’ Ant and Dec celebrate as they’re named on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list
The Geordie presenting duo are set to become Officers of the Order of the British Empire
POPULAR presenting duo Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly - better known to millions across the UK as Ant and Dec - have been named on the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
This means the two Geordies are set to become Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of their services to broadcasting and entertainment.
The pair told their Twitter followers: "We are thrilled, honoured and humbled to receive OBE's in Her Majesty's Birthday Honours.
"Not to mention very shocked!! #BirthdayHonours"
As news of their Royal recognition broke, the friends shared a celebratory drink together.
Ant, 40, posted an picture of them with shot glasses in one hand and bottles in the other and joked: "Maybe celebrating too much?"
Paying tribute to their humble beginnings, the presenters said: "We are just two ordinary lads from the west end of Newcastle.
"We absolutely LOVE what we do and have done since we started out aged 13."
The TV personalities went on: "We hope us receiving this honour can inspire young people to chase their dreams and believe that anything is possible.
"This will definitely be the proudest our mams have ever been!"
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Among those to congratulate the Newcastle lads was Britain's Got Talent judge and comedian David Walliams, who said: "Huge congratulations to my friends @antanddec on their OBEs.
"They are the two nicest kindest humblest people in showbusiness."
The two have been on TV screens together since the 1990s, when they starred in children's drama series Byker Grove.
They then went on to have a music career using the moniker PJ & Duncan, releasing memorable songs such as the BRIT Award nominated single Let's Get Ready To Rhumble.
These days Dec, also 40, and Ant are best known for fronting ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and Britain's Got Talent.
The duo even count Prince Charles among their long list of celebrity friends after hanging out with the Royal for a year to film fly-on-the-wall documentary, When And and Dec Met the Prince: 40 Years of the Prince's Trust.
Aired in January, And and Dec, who are also ambassadors for the youth charity, are seen chatting to those closest to the Prince, including his sons Harry and William, and wife Camilla.
Others named on the Queen's Honours list include crooner Rod Stewart, who will receive an knighthood for his music and charity work.
Loose Women panellist Janet Street-Porter is set to become a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to journalism and broadcasting.
While former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis, mum to singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, is to be awarded with an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).
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