THE honours system has long been the haunt of celebrities and minor public servants, as well as being a place where the great and the good can pick up a gong to add a little more prestige to their lives.

So it comes as a welcome surprise today to cast an eye over the latest Queen's Birthday Honours List and find a celebrity who deserves his knighthood.

The rock and pop world now seems to have more knights than the court of King Arthur. Sir Elton, Sir Cliff and Sir Paul have already taken their seats at the Round Table - and now, at last, comes Sir Mick.

Many will have wondered when the Rolling Stone would be honoured by Her Majesty. Would his infamous lifestyle continue to count against him, no matter how many hits he recorded or how many millions of pounds his music earned for Britain?

At last, the answer has come and Sir Mick has been honoured by the Establishment - and what child of the 60s would have believed that could happen?

Now there remains just one question. If Mick deserves his honour what of Keith Richards, the other half of the most glorious partnership in rock 'n' roll.

They wrote the songs together, performed together, led that Earth-shattering life together and - together - they changed the face of society.

So come on, Your Majesty, a knighthood for Mr Richards is overdue too.