Jackie Stewart knighted!

Jackie Stewart, one of Formula One's most successful men, was knighted yesterday at Buckingham Palace.

The 62-year-old Scot received his honour from Prince Charles for his services to motor racing.

"He (Prince Charles) said I was very brave to be knighted by him with a sword - I suppose he was referring to his recent injury," Stewart told the BBC, referring to an accident Prince Charles recently had, hurting his eye whilst pruning a tree.

The Scot has proven his brilliance both on the track and off. His first championship title was won in 1969 behind the wheel of a Matra and two more followed in 1971 and 1973, driving Tyrrells. Stewart scored a record breaking 27 wins in his driving career, which ended in 1973.

A number of years on, in 1997, the three-time world champion formed his own team, Stewart Grand Prix, with his son Paul. A second place in only the fifth outing for the team, confirmed expectations of a highly competitive force and in 1999 Johnny Herbert took the outfit's only victory at the European Grand Prix. Later that year the team was taken over by Ford and re-branded Jaguar Racing for the following season.